Gross motor development
A toddler practices throwing a large ball to knock over empty milk jugs.
Be Prepared: This activity is for toddlers who can easily stand and walk. Set up a row of milk jugs in an open area, and place the ball on the floor. You may wish to add interest to the milk jugs by wrapping them in colored tape.
[Sit near the milk jugs and invite one toddler to throw a ball with you. Example: “Hi Ryah. Would you like to throw our big ball at the milk jugs? Maybe you can make a jug fall down!”]
Please stand in this spot. Hold the ball with both of your hands. Look at the jugs. Then try to throw the ball toward the jugs. Push the ball forward when you throw it.
[Provide a demonstration if the toddler seems uncertain about what to do. Emphasize the use of two hands, looking at the jugs, and pushing the ball forward.
Offer enthusiastic verbal support. Encourage the toddler to try throwing the ball again. You may wish to suggest the toddler use more strength. Example: “Try a big throw.” It also may be helpful for the toddler to move closer to the jugs.
Describe the toddler’s actions. Example: “You are holding the ball and looking at the milk jugs. You are getting ready to throw.”
Reset the milk jugs if they tip over.
Repeat and extend the toddler’s responses to throwing the ball. Directly face the toddler so he/she can see your face as you speak.]
[Describe what happened. Example: “You practiced throwing a big ball. You used two hands to throw the ball at our milk jugs. First you looked at the jugs. Next you pushed the ball forward for a good throw. Some jugs fell down!”]
Some toddlers will be excited to throw the ball. Others may wish to participate after they see peers use the ball. A toddler is more likely to attempt a controlled throw if there is a specific, achievable target, such as the milk jugs used in this activity. Encourage all toddlers to participate in throwing during the week. Practice in throwing may start and end within a few minutes.
A large ball encourages use of two hands and engages a toddler’s entire body, fostering strength and body coordination. The focus is the toddler’s body movement, use of both arms, and a push forward motion.
The activity plan’s suggested phrase “big throw” is a way to help a toddler informally understand the concept of throwing with more strength. It is not appropriate to formally teach toddlers about the use of body strength in throwing a ball.
Throwing involves skills in eye-hand coordination and upper body strength. Toddlers will gain experience in spatial awareness as they see where the ball goes.
Extra support
Enrichment
Gross motor development
A toddler practices throwing a sock ball toward colorful streamers.
Be Prepared: Prepare 4–5 sock balls by rolling adult tube socks into balls (one sock per ball). Cut streamers of different colors long enough to hang within 24 inches from the floor. Tape overlapping streamers along the bottom of the hanger. Hang the streamers in a space for throwing soft items. Throwing rolled socks is an activity easily adapted for a small space.
Invite a toddler to stand about two feet from the paper streamers and throw a sock ball toward them. Kneel next to the toddler as he/she throws. Tailor your support to the toddler. Some may benefit from a demonstration. Some may need help in slowing their actions so they can better control their arm. Encourage a toddler to let go of the sock ball so it travels forward. It may be helpful to offer “Get ready, Throw” guidance. Encourage the toddler to retrieve the ball(s). Offer as many practice throws as time and child permit.
Toddlers will delight in seeing the colorful streamers move when touched by the balls. The activity is a fun way to strengthen balance. Pay attention to how a toddler positions his/her feet for a throw and encourage standing on both feet, if appropriate. Allow plenty of time to practice throwing. Avoid keeping any kind of score. Catching a ball is a different skill and should not be combined with throwing.
Extra support
Enrichment
Gross motor development
Toddlers practice throwing a ball.
In an open space indoors or outside, invite 2–3 toddlers to play with balls. Give an easy-to-hold ball to each toddler and demonstrate how to throw overhand. Help toddlers focus on the sequence of throwing the ball by saying aloud: “Put the ball near your ear. Now throw.” Encourage overhand throwing in a certain direction with no specific target, such as “throw toward the fence.” Avoid talking about how far the ball traveled. Provide practice opportunities as long as time and child interest permit.
Toddlers generally begin to develop an ability to throw overhand as they reach their second birthday. As in any developmental area, there are striking differences in how toddlers progress in large motor skills. Throwing a ball in a desired direction may be a skill some toddlers have not yet developed. Some toddlers’ attempts to throw may be disorganized. Some toddlers may simply fling a ball in any direction. If a toddler’s throw is mostly disorganized, provide very soft items to throw, such as adult-size tube socks rolled up like a ball (see Option 2) with a large target, such as a wall or a laundry basket.
Extra support
Enrichment
Materials Needed: low box or laundry basket, soft larger balls, basket of shower scrubbies
Create an area of the room for toddlers to throw soft items. Toddlers like to throw shower scrubbies, probably because it is a common item generally used for other purposes. Provide a large, low box or laundry basket as a target for toddlers’ throwing. Keep a couple of very soft larger balls in the room for toddlers to roll.
Materials Needed: small ball or beanbag, balls of soft material or beach balls
Older children may enjoy helping younger children learn to throw a ball in any of the activity plan’s three options. Infants generally enjoy experiences with balls. During play times with infants, sit on the floor facing an infant who can sit. Roll a small ball to the infant and encourage him/her to roll a ball back to you.
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