logo
BabySparks
logo
  • What is BabySparks?
  • The Science
  • Childcare Providers
  • Learning Center
  • Get BabySparks
  • en
    • es
Prev
Month 24 milestones 0
Congratulations on Two Fabulous Years with Your Child!
06 April 2020
Next
Month 27 milestones 0
Puppets, Pretend Play, and Monsters Under the Bed – A Snapshot of Month 27
06 April 2020
Gross Motor
Catching a Ball: A Fundamental Toddler Milestone
6 April, 2020 by BabySparks in Gross Motor

Toddler milestone: catchingLearning to catch a ball is surprisingly beneficial for your little one! She learns to move, become more coordinated, and stay fit, all while having tons of fun! Let’s talk about the whys of catching, and how it develops.

Why Is Catching Important?

Learning to catch a ball targets a wide range of skills, including:

  • Hand-eye coordination: Your toddler learns to move her hands and arms to where she tracks a ball with her eyes, helping her to coordinate these movements together.
  • Bilateral coordination: Bilateral coordination means syncing both sides of the body to work together. As your toddler reaches and runs to catch a ball, she works on improving this skill. Her proprioceptive sense is also hard at work, as it tells her brain how to move her body parts.
  • Developing a dominant hand: Your toddler may not show a preference for a dominant hand until around age four, but she’ll do the important work of developing one throughout toddlerhood. Over time, catching helps one hand become the “worker,” and the other hand become the “helper.”
  • Spatial skills: Around 18 months, your toddler has a good understanding of spatial awareness, which includes knowing where her body is compared to other objects and people. Catching further hones this skill as she judges the ball’s distance and how to position her body to catch it.
  • Problem-solving: When a ball comes toward your toddler, she has to think about how to move and position her body to catch it. Trial and error put her problem solving abilities to work!
  • Fitness: Catching is a fundamental movement skill that is linked to lifelong fitness and health!

How Does Catching Develop?

Catching tends to take longer to develop than throwing, because it requires more coordination of the arms, legs, and eyes. Although throwing usually begins around the one-year mark, catching may not happen (without falling over) until closer to age three.

Most toddlers start “catching” a ball as you roll it on the floor (as opposed to tossing it in the air). This gets her arms and hands moving and helps her learn to visually track the ball.

Your toddler may be able to start learning to catch an airborne ball around age 18 months. She’ll probably feel a bit more steady catching a ball while sitting. You may notice her clumsily swatting her hands together to try to grab the ball, until she learns to use her hands and fingers to get a better grip.

Throughout months 24-36, your toddler’s catching skills will improve along with her other gross motor skills, like throwing, running, and turning, as she learns to remain balanced while making different movements. Around age 30 months, she may be able to hold out her arms and catch a ball you toss from a couple of feet away. By her 3rd birthday, she may be able to catch a ball tossed from four or five feet away.

Working on catching skills is a fun way to keep your toddler moving. Our BabySparks program has tons of catching activities, delivered at just the right stage in your little one’s development!

0 Comments
  • catch
  • fundamental movement skills
  • hand-eye coordination
  • spatial awareness
  • toddler
  • gross motor skills
0 Like!
Share
BabySparks

Recent comments

    Tags

    baby child cognitive feeding fine motor gross motor health language language skills milestones parenting sensory social-emotional speech toddler
    ABOUT US
    THE TEAM
    TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY
    support@babysparks.com
    FacebookInstagramPinterestTwitter
    Copyright © 2020 BabySparks LLC. All rights reserved
    logo
    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 2 of 2
    ACTIVITY PACKAGE:
    (All Prices in USD)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $1.25 per month/per child
    Annually: $12.00 per year/per child (20% discount)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $2.25 per month/per child
    Annually: $21.50 per year/per child (20% discount)

    Form of Payment

    Monthly: $5.00 per month/per child
    Annually: $45.00 per year/per child (25% discount)

    Number of children:

    x per child

    Total Amount

    SELECT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
    * Required field
    Buy now BS

    BabySparks Premium Gives You…

    Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

    An expert-created program to support the development of children under your care

    Tools to increase family engagement, invite each family to use the program at home

    Ability to track each child's progress in real-time (and share it with his/her family)

    Add unlimited children, caregivers and locations to your account

    Manage and track progress across your organization through our desktop dashboard

    Cancel your subscription at any time

    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
    X
    EDIT YOUR ACCOUNT
    Your account
    Change your password
    X
    EDIT YOUR METHOD OF PAYMENT
    Update payment method
    * Required field
    Buy now BS
    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.
    X
    UPDATE YOUR PACKAGE
    Your Activity Package
    (All Prices in USD)

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    1 Year

    $ 23 99

    per year

    Update your package at any time
    (All Prices in USD)
    Pay as you go

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    50% Discount

    1 Year

    $ 23 99

    per year

    60% Discount

    Lifetime

    $ 39 99

    one time

    How does it work?

    You can change your activity package at any time.

    The change will take place at the end of your current subscription period.

    You will only be charged the new rate once the change takes place.

    Cancel Activity Package
    X
    LOGIN BABYSPARKS

    Forgot your password?

    X
    PASSWORD RESET
    X
    RESET PASSWORD
    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 1 of 2
    Create Your Account

    Already Have an Account? Login

    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 1 of 2
    Create Your Account

    Already Have an Account? Login

    X
    GET BABYSPARKS
    Step 2 of 2
    Logged in as: (Not me)
    Select Your Activity Package
    (All Prices in USD)
    Pay as you go

    1 Month

    $ 3 99

    per month

    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    50% Discount

    1 Year

    $ 1 99

    per month

    Paid Annually: $23.99
    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    60% Discount

    Lifetime

    $ 39 99

    one time

    YOUR OFFER

    $ 2 99

    BabySparks Premium Gives You…

    Access to 1,300+ development activities & milestones

    An expert-created program to support your child’s development

    Weekly development reports summarize progress

    Browse activities for any situation

    Expert-written articles about development

    Sync up to 5 devices (add family and caregivers)

    Add up to 5 babies to your account

    Cancel your susbcription at any time

    * Required field
    Buy now BS
    By clicking on the button below, you agree to our Terms of Service & privacy policy.