6 Fun Beach Ball Games for Preschoolers
4th May, 2011 - Posted by - 9 Comments
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Research shows that adding play props such a balls and hoops is a great way to get kids moving during play. They provide children ample opportunity to practice motor skills and increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), while keeping the focus on fun!
Here are six fun ideas that involve a beach ball:
1. Catch and Do! On each section of a beach ball (traditionally sectioned by color) write an action word such as jump, turn, shake, etc… Children can play catch with a partner or in a group. Roll or throw the ball to each other. When the child catches the ball, they should look to see where their hand is on the ball and do that action. Throw the ball to another child.
2. Musical Beach Ball: March around as the music plays. When the music stops have children sit on their beach ball. Once the music starts again call out a different locomotor skill such as walk, run, skip, gallop or slide, as children move to the music. Change tempo of music to travel to different speeds. When music stops, sit on top of ball until music starts again.
3. Traveling Beach Ball: Set up an obstacle course using cones, hula hoops, chairs or other objects to create movement pathways. Children use the beach ball as they go over and around the obstacle course. Create a variety of pathways, straight, curved or zigzag to give children an opportunity to practice moving their bodies in different directions. Carry the ball through the obstacle course. Now try to kick it.
4. Toss It In: Place laundry baskets around an open space. Toss beach balls into the laundry baskets or other large containers. To increase or decrease the challenge place some baskets closer to the children and others further away to vary the distance in which the ball is thrown. Run, walk, slide or skip to collect beach balls and do it again! Also, include a variety of other rubber or plastic balls to allow children to practice tossing.
5. Batter Up! Set the beach ball atop a cone. Children can hit the ball across an open outdoor space with a flat open hand or strike it with a thick wiffle bat. Once it lands on the ground, run after the ball and strike it again, and again!
6. Cooperation Carry: Pair two children to walk across a play area carrying the beach ball together. First they might use two hands, then one hand each. No hands?! What fun and silly ways will they think of to carry the ball?
Do you have any ideas for beach ball play? Share them in the comments section — we would love to hear how you get your play on!
~ Bethe
PS: This post is part of We Play at Childhood 101 and It’s Playtime at Let the Children Play.
photo credit: kevinspencer
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Tags: activity, development, ECE, exercise, fun, motor skill development, movement, obesity. HSBS, Parent, Physical Activity, Play, preschool
Posted on: May 4, 2011
Filed under: Physical Activity, Play
9 Comments
jenny @ let the children play
May 10th, 2011 at 1:33 am
Thanks for sharing this great collection of ideas Bethe. Our kids are really into ball games at the moment, so very timely
hsbs
May 11th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
My pleasure, Jenny! Love how much fun you can get up to with a simple beach ball!
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Margaret@growingplay
May 2nd, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Great ideas. How about trying to roll the ball up your body and back down? beach ball volleyball? Beach ball volleyball with your feet only? Hang the beach ball from the ceiling and bat at it? I love beach balls so cheap and easier for little ones to handle.
wendy
May 10th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
I thought the cooperation carry was a cute idea but I thought it would be fun if you made 2 teams and had them try to keep the beachball between their bellys and walk to a line and back without letting the ball touch the ground and hand it over to the next 2 in line. Even more fun if they are not allowed to use their hands
hsbs
May 18th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Great idea, Wendy!
Bethe
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