The wonders of a beach ball
Like to play kick the ball with your toddler? Want to make it fun for him or her as well? Then a beach ball may be the answer. We happened to have one lying around at home and one day our son started to kick it around. Although our house is not that big, it does have high ceilings, and a beach ball feels right at home in the family area we have.
For the toddler, a beach ball provides some key benefits:
-
- It’s big, so it’s hard to miss when they kick it (eliminates frustration when kids are first starting out)
- It’s usually too soft to break anything, and
- Because it’s so light, toddlers can kick it quite far or high, which they enjoy immensely.
Actually, with regards to (3), it’s interesting to note that your toddler doesn’t have to have that much umph in his kick to kick it roughly as far as you can. Even though you have a lot of power in your legs (compared to your little one, at least), kicking a beach ball hard sort of reminds you of the law of diminishing returns. In short, you won’t be able to kick it that far. And once your toddler sees that he or she can kick it roughly just as far as you can, it very well adds to their interest, in their desire to emulate you. At least, that is what we found.
You have to be a little careful - watch out for anything that’s somewhat top heavy and can be knocked over, and/or fill it up with a bit less air - but it’s a lot of fun. Our son started playing with it when he was old enough to walk reasonably well. You can’t beat the price (usually under $5), it’s a great indoor physical activity, and the smiles you get from the little one are obviously worth it!
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January 9th, 2009 06:45
You are so spot on with your observations here! New to me is the realization that, indeed, beach balls are much easier to kick, which builds a sense of “I can do this!” But oooh, years later, I *still* can’t kick anything smaller than a beach ball.
I, too, have watched with endless amusement as little ones start grasping what they can do with a beach ball. Fun, isn’t it?
January 20th, 2009 14:22
I love kicking the beach ball around the house with my Dad, it’s the first and last thing I do everyday. Just one problem - it keeps going flat and we can’t find any in the stores. Looks like I’ll have to wait till summer.
Thanks
Carl
January 21st, 2009 10:10
Carl, if your dad will let you, head on over to amazon.com:
http://tinyurl.com/94vbgh
you can buy a beach ball anytime there! And if keeps going flat, stop wearing those pointy-toed shoes!