Week 1: Bouncing Balls

Choose a ball that bounces well and can be easily grasped by the child's hands.However, if the ball is too small it will be more difficult for the child to hold. A ball,approximately eight to ten inches in diameter, is recommended.

Show the child how to drop the ball from the hands and catch it when it bounces up.Emphasis should be placed on watching the ball as it goes down and comes back up so that the child can anticipate the ball's position in order that she can grasp (catch) it at the precise time. Explain to the child that when you drop the ball and it comes back up, that is what is meant as a bounce. Do this several times for the child as you say, "Down and up."

Allow the child to hold the ball, drop it, watch it bounce and attempt to catch it. Stand behind the child if necessary and help her drop the ball. Assist her in determining when to catch the ball. Coordinating the eyes and hands at the correct moment is difficult for some children. Repeat this activity so that the child will develop skill in bouncing and catching a ball.

Encourage the child to catch the ball with the hands without touching the body. If the child uses her body to help catch the ball, avoid negative correction. Simply show the child that she should try to catch the ball without touching her body. If she continues to use her body to help catch the ball, ignore this incorrect style until the child develops more skill in anticipating the timing of the bouncing ball.

At another time, count how many times the child can bounce and catch the ball without missing. This will help the child become aware of her progress, and at the same time enrich her understanding of sequential counting.

To make the bouncing of a ball even more fun, the child may enjoy throwing the ball against a designated inside wall, the side of a building outside or a net pitch back to watch the ball bounce on the floor or ground bac:a catching it. This will serve to help the child improve her skill in catching. She may also develop number skills by counting each time she throws the ball against a wall and catches it.

This activity develops:

1. eye-hand coordination
2. Skill in throwing and catching a ball 
3. Further awareness of "up" and "down"
4. Tactile enhancement (the feeling when catching a ball)
5. More of an awareness of counting in sequence
6. confidence