Ball Games for Infants: Develop your Toddlers Coordination and Give them the Best Start in Sport
The phrase, ‘they came out of the womb kicking a football’ is considered a hyperbole. A figure of speech that uses huge exaggerations to add emphasis to a point. But, what if we told you that, for many able athletes, this isn’t as much of a hyperbole as it seems. Incorporating balls into early years play can greatly improve a child's coordination and overall physical development. The act of catching, throwing, and dribbling a ball requires the use of multiple body parts, which can enhance a child's coordination and gross motor skills. Ball play also promotes cognitive development by requiring children to use problem-solving skills and make quick decisions.
We wouldn’t preach about the potential positive impact of ball play on future sporting performance unless the science backed it. A study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that children who participated in ball games had significantly better coordination, balance, and agility than those who did not. These findings were complimented by a study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, which found that ball games enhanced cognitive development in children by promoting problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Both of these cognitive attributes are just as important on the sports field as physical abilities. In addition, The Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology showed that early year's ball play helps improve social skills in infants by encouraging turn-taking, sharing, and communication. With all these benefits available, how should parents start their child’s journey to mastering these spherical toys?
One of the first balls to be introduced to your toddler is the O-ball. Lightweight and with holes in, the O-ball is an excellent toy for developing both fine and gross motor skills in infants. The O-ball is easy for small hands to grip, so it is a great toy to help develop the muscles in the hand as your child practices grasping and releasing. Additionally, the O-ball can be used to encourage gross motor development as infants roll, toss, and crawl after the ball. The soft and flexible material means that its safe and the bright colours make it a visually stimulating toy for young children. The O-ball can be introduced to infants as soon as they are able to grasp and manipulate objects. It is great for keeping an infant occupied during tummy time as are different colour balls of different shapes and textures. However, don’t expect these toys to stay within reach of your baby for long. Whilst it is a key characteristic, the ability to roll away can be one of the more annoying things about a ball when you are too immobile to go after it!
Gradually increasing the difficulty of activities will strengthen the connections in the brain linked to coordination, which will have a long-lasting impact on athletic performance.
The next ball that can be key for development is the balloon. OK, so it’s not a perfect sphere, but think of it as an ancestor to the ball family! Balloons are a versatile and cost-effective tool that can aid in the development of fine and gross motor skills in infants and young children. Hand-eye coordination is improved as infants try to catch, toss, and hit the balloon. Additionally, playing with balloons can promote sensory development as children touch and feel the balloon's surface, and auditory development as they hear the sound of the balloon as it is hit. Balloons are a safe toy to use with infants and young children, as long as they are closely supervised and kept away from the child's mouth. Balloons can be introduced to infants as soon as they can sit up and start to manipulate objects with their hands.
There are many fun activities and games for babies and infants that involve a balloon. Here are a few examples:
1. Balloon tapping and hitting: Hold a balloon in front of your baby and encourage them to tap it with their hand. This activity helps to develop hand-eye coordination and can be done while your baby is lying down or sitting up. You can also bounce the balloon off their swinging limbs and celebrate as it flies into the air. As well as make them laugh, this will also start to teach your infant about cause and effect.
2. Balloon catch: Sit facing your baby and gently toss a balloon back and forth between you. As your baby becomes more confident, you can increase the distance between you and encourage them to reach out and catch the balloon.
3. Balloon keepy-ups: Work with your infant to keep the ball in the air. The unpredictability of the balloon's movement in the air means infants must really concentrate to make clean contact. Celebrate as you both keep the balloon from touching the floor.
4. Balloon volleyball: Place a sheet or blanket on the floor and use it as a net. Blow up a balloon and play a game of "volleyball" with your baby. Encourage them to hit the balloon over the "net" using their hands. They now must think more about directing the balloon.
Soft sponge balls are an excellent toy to introduce to infants once infants have developed the ability to grasp and manipulate objects with their hands. These balls are lightweight and easy to hold, making them perfect for developing fine motor skills as babies practise grasping and releasing the ball. Soft sponge balls can also be used to promote gross motor development as infants roll, toss, and crawl after the ball. Parents and caregivers can play simple games with infants, such as rolling the ball back and forth, encouraging the baby to catch the ball, or playing basketball-like games such as placing a laundry basket on the floor and encouraging your infant to throw the ball inside. These activities can be made more difficult by incorporating moving targets to hit, smaller containers to throw balls into and different size balls to catch. Gradually increasing the difficulty will strengthen the connections in the brain linked to coordination, which will have a long-lasting impact on athletic performance.
Developing high levels of coordination in children requires time, patience, and consistent practice. To summarise, here are a few tips for parents on how to develop their child's coordination using balls during infancy:
- Start early: Introduce your child to balls as early as possible. As soon as they can grasp and manipulate objects, you can start encouraging them to play with soft balls and other age-appropriate toys.
- Focus on the basics: Begin with simple games that focus on basic skills, such as catching, throwing, and rolling the ball. Gradually increase the difficulty of the games as your child becomes more confident.
- Encourage physical activity: Make sure your child is getting plenty of opportunities to move around and play. Regular physical activity is essential for developing coordination and motor skills.
- Be patient and positive: Remember that developing coordination takes time and practice. Be patient with your child and offer lots of positive reinforcement and modelling of the activity.
- Practice regularly: Consistency is key when it comes to developing coordination. Try to set aside regular time each day to play with balls and practise coordination skills with your child.
Remember, every child develops at their own pace, so don't compare your child's progress to others. Focus on their individual progress and celebrate their achievements along the way. Have lots of fun participating in these activities with your child, but make sure you don't hog the ball!
Gary South
Gary is the founder of Infant to Athlete and has consulted on Physical Education and sports coaching internationally.
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Studies mentioned in the article:
- Logan, S. W., Barnett, L. M., Goodway, J. D., Stodden, D. F. (2017). "Promoting Fundamental Movement Skill Development and Physical Activity Behaviors Among Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Journal of Sport and Health Science, 6(2), 201-211.
- Strouse, G. A., Borden, L. A., & Flores, J. J. (2016). "Teaching children to play: A review of the literature and implications for physical education." Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 45, 33-44.
- Schott, N., & Hagemann, N. (2019). "Cognitive training in young children by playing a digital ball game improves processing speed and inhibition." Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 60(10), 1075-1082.
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