Ok, so let me start by saying that I wasn’t even sure that I would write this up as a post, because the images I have for it are just quickly taken on my phone. The daybed is a mess, there are hatchimals on the floor, it was completely last minute…. you get the idea.
But, here’s the thing….
This is Serious Mumma life.
And one of the things that is important to me about this website, is that it’s authentic.
And this little activity here is definitely authentic. So I want to share it with you.
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We have been working on throwing and catching for quite some time. It’s an important developmental milestone and without practice, it’s difficult to master.
There are so many components included like:
- hand-eye coordination – great for future exercise and fitness, but can also impact areas like writing
- executive function – how we use ourselves and our resources to think, act and solve problems
- bi-lateral coordination – using both sides of the body in an organised manner to complete a task
- crossing the midline – reaching across to the other side of the body without changing hands
- motor sequencing – sometimes called motor planning. Knowing how to carry out a task with your body from start to finish
- gross motor skills – using the larger muscles of your body to complete a task
- grading – knowing how much pressure to exert
- social skills – there is a certain amount of cooperation and communication that needs to occur to play this game successfully
- emotional regulation – dealing with the frustrations that inevitably come when learning a new skill, or playing a new game
- perseverance and grit – this will see them through challenges in the future.
From a sensory perspective there are some great skills to be gained here with visual processing, tactile, vestibular and proprioception.
If you are familiar with working on skills, you will know that if your child is not having fun doing it, your life will be a living hell.
So I thought back to some of the things I enjoyed as a child with catching and throwing and decided to go buy a Toss & Catch game. Thanks to my local KMart, I was able to pick this classic game up for a measly $5!!!
It took them a few tries to work out their grading (how much pressure they needed to use). We started off with underhand throws, and then progressed to overhand.
By laying out hoops and having them stand inside them you get to limit the distance.
As their confidence grows you can change arm position, height and also the distance between the hoops
Removing the ball from the velcro is great heavy work and fantastic for kids who are under receptive to touch or sensory seekers. Just look at that smile!
After allowing them some time to try their own ways of getting the ball off (brute force!) we talked about some other possibilities, like twisting the ball off
As we frequently work on deep squats and sustained squats, I suggested that they roll the ball to each other
They held these squats without complaint and didn’t even realise the benefits they were getting. If the ball went off course, I asked them to waddle like a ducky to go and get it
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