• Big Heart World
    • About Big Heart World
    • Who’s Involved
    • Big Heart World FAQ
    • Big Heart World News
    • Contact Us
  • For Families
    • Big Heart Beats Album
    • Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast
    • Big Heart World Activities
    • The Big Heart World Book List
    • Big Heart World Vocabulary
    • Big Heart World Interactive
    • En Español
  • For Parents
    • Self-Care for Parents
    • Big Heart World Family Guide
    • Big Heart World Events
  • For Educators
    • Big Heart World Educators’ Guide
  • Blog
  • Big Heart World
    • About Big Heart World
    • Who’s Involved
    • Big Heart World FAQ
    • Big Heart World News
    • Contact Us
  • For Families
    • Big Heart Beats Album
    • Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast
    • Big Heart World Activities
    • The Big Heart World Book List
    • Big Heart World Vocabulary
    • Big Heart World Interactive
    • En Español
  • For Parents
    • Self-Care for Parents
    • Big Heart World Family Guide
    • Big Heart World Events
  • For Educators
    • Big Heart World Educators’ Guide
  • Blog
  • Big Heart World
    • About Big Heart World
    • Who’s Involved
    • Big Heart World FAQ
    • Big Heart World News
    • Contact Us
  • For Families
    • Big Heart Beats Album
    • Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast
    • Big Heart World Activities
    • The Big Heart World Book List
    • Big Heart World Vocabulary
    • Big Heart World Interactive
    • En Español
  • For Parents
    • Self-Care for Parents
    • Big Heart World Family Guide
    • Big Heart World Events
  • For Educators
    • Big Heart World Educators’ Guide
  • Blog
  • Big Heart World
    • About Big Heart World
    • Who’s Involved
    • Big Heart World FAQ
    • Big Heart World News
    • Contact Us
  • For Families
    • Big Heart Beats Album
    • Little Kids, Big Hearts Podcast
    • Big Heart World Activities
    • The Big Heart World Book List
    • Big Heart World Vocabulary
    • Big Heart World Interactive
    • En Español
  • For Parents
    • Self-Care for Parents
    • Big Heart World Family Guide
    • Big Heart World Events
  • For Educators
    • Big Heart World Educators’ Guide
  • Blog

Have a Ball and Be a Friend

Home Activities Have a Ball and Be a Friend
July 7, 2021 by admin

Have a Ball and Be a Friend

Blue’s favorite toy is a ball! Blue knows that balls are fun to chase, roll, and hide! They’re also the perfect toy to use with a friend. 

An activity as simple as passing a ball back and forth can help your child practice skills like taking turns, focusing on another person, and working cooperatively. 

Children start working on these skills from birth — long before they start thinking about friendship (typically between two and three years old). The skills your child can learn by playing with balls can take years to perfect — so keep practicing and having a ball!

Parent/Caregiver Tip: Playing with a ball can help your child learn to take turns, listen, and play cooperatively. This can help them become a better friend — while also gaining communication skills, empathy, focus, and even improving self-regulation! Balls might be the least fancy and most effective teaching tools in history!

Roll, Bounce, Toss (For Babies)

Print Activity Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
Age Groups: Babies
Skills: Focus, Gross Motor, Self Regulation, Trust

Materials

  • A ball

Instructions

  • Let’s sit on the floor facing one another.
  • I’ll roll a ball to you, and say, “Your turn!” It’s your turn to catch the ball.
  • Then I’ll say, “My turn! Roll the ball to me!” Roll it back to me and I’ll catch it.
  • Let’s roll the ball back and forth. We’re taking turns!

Vocabulary

Roll - to keep turning over
Ball - a round object
Back - return

Roll, Bounce, Toss (for Toddlers and Little Kids)

Print Activity Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
Age Groups: Little Kids, Toddlers
Skills: Focus, Gross Motor, Self Regulation, Trust

Materials

  • A ball

Instructions

  • Let’s stand facing each other with a little space between us.
  • I’ll roll the ball to you and you roll it back to me. Next, I’ll pass the ball to you with a bounce. Try to catch it! Now bounce the ball back to me. Last, I’ll lightly toss the ball to you and you can toss it back.
  • We're ready to play! Hold the ball and listen for my words. I’ll say, “roll,” “toss,” or “bounce” to let you know how to pass the ball to me
  • I’ll pass the ball back to you the same way. Let’s keep going!

Vocabulary

Roll - to keep turning over
Ball - a round object
Back - return

Roll, Bounce, Toss (For Big Kids)

Print Activity Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
Age Groups: Big Kids
Skills: Focus, Gross Motor, Memory, Self Regulation, Trust

Materials

  •  2-3 different colored balls

Instructions

  • Let’s stand facing each other with some space in between us. We’re going to play catch with these balls. Our goal is to keep the balls moving for as long as possible.
  • First, let’s discuss the rules of the game: The first ball can ONLY roll. When we pass it back and forth, we’ll have to ROLL it. The second ball can ONLY bounce. If we’re using 3 balls, the third can only be tossed.
  • We’re ready to play! Let’s start by rolling the first ball. Then, let’s introduce the second ball that bounces while we keep rolling the first ball. Can we pass both balls back and forth simultaneously without making a mistake? Remember, our goal is to keep going as long as we can. Let’s work together to beat our record.

Vocabulary

Simultaneous - at the same time
Cooperate - to work together
Together - with each other
132
In The BagJuly 7, 2021
A Friend Like You!July 7, 2021

Related Posts

Children Reading
BooksDiversity and Inclusion
June 2, 2021 by Becki Last

First Book Tips for Building a Diverse and Inclusive Home or Classroom Library

Read More
Data/NewsSocial Emotional
March 7, 2022 by Julia Levy

What is Social and Emotional Learning?

Read More
Search Activities
Recent Activities
  • A Friend Like You Coloring Book
  • Heart Yoga
  • Get Help When You Need It
  • Say it Loud!
  • Make a Sign to Stand Up for What’s Right!
contacts_icon_03

support@bigheartworld.org

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram

Copyright © 2021 Sparkler Learning. Portions of this website under license from ViacomCBS.

Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

 Site design by Craver.