Throwing & Catching Activities for Kids

Catching Activities

• Cool off a hot summer day with a game of water balloon toss. Have the children select a partner and give each pair a water balloon. See which pair can catch the water balloon from the farthest distance without it popping. This game also works on throwing skills. Alternatively, use an egg for a messy game or a ball for a clean game. The children can also hold buckets and have their partners try to toss the items into buckets.

Beanbag Activities

• Create a few beanbag games for the children to practice their tossing skills. Purchase pre-made beanbags online or at your local craft store. Place buckets on the ground and write a point value on each bucket. Give each kid 10 beanbags to try to toss into the buckets. The child who earns the most points wins the game. Other ideas include cut holes in a piece of plywood or hanging hula hoops from trees. The children can try to toss the beanbags into the holes or through the hoops.

Balloon Activities

• Hang a rope between two trees or poles and place a large sheet or blanket over the rope. Divide the players into two teams and have each team stand on one side of the sheet. Be sure the teams cannot see each other. At anytime, one team can toss a balloon to the other team. If they catch the balloon, they toss it back at anytime. If a team misses the balloon, the other team earns a point. Make the game more difficult by adding more than one balloon. You can also add small balls inside the balloons to make they travel faster, which will make the game more difficult.

Throwing Activities

• For a simple game, have the children sit in a circle and toss an inflatable beach ball to one another. Add an educational value to the game by having the children count while doing this activity. You can also call out a category such as food or sports. The children must say words in that category when passing the ball. Other tossing activities include giving each child a ball like a tennis ball or rubber ball. They must toss the ball in the air and catch it, toss the ball in the air and let it hit the ground once before catching it or toss the ball in the air and clap their hands once before catching it.