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Bean Bag Games to Play

Beanbags can be a fun learning tool for children of all ages. From preschoolers to high school students, play and learning material can be adjusted to fit for each level. In addition, these handheld beanbags can easily be made using fabric and filling material on hand such as beans, rice or beads.

Sorting
- For preschool-age children sorting is an essential skill to learn. Children ages 2 through 5 learn how to sort objects based on color, size and shape. Using beanbags to practice sorting makes it more tactile and fun for youngsters. Simply gather various beanbags that fit the criteria you wish to practice, then have children (one at a time) toss the bean bags into different containers representing the color, size or shape you wish to be held there. Praise and correct children as is appropriate.
Skill Toss
- For children who are a bit older, think kindergarten to third grade, practicing skill mastery is vital to success in the classroom or in the world. Skills to practice might include the alphabet, counting by ones or skip counting (by twos, fives, or 10s), rhyming words, word families, opposites or words with the same initial sound. To play the game, a child will choose a partner and a skill. If the child chose to practice skip counting by fives, he and his partner would stand a few feet apart and would toss the ball back and forth. For each catch a person makes, he would say the next number in the skip counting sequence -- for example: five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and so on.
Target Practice
- Throwing beanbags at a target will gradually improve throwing accuracy.
  
  Whether the child is just learning to throw or if she is training for a high school sport, target practice is a wonderful way to improve accuracy in throwing. Using heavy-duty cardboard and scissors, construct a target with multiple holes cut into it. Make the target and it's holes large enough for the student or athlete's skill level. Choose a distance in relation to the board and mark it with tape on the floor. Have the child throw beanbags at the target and keep track of how many beanbags make it through the holes and how many have not. Adjust the board or distance when necessary as skill improves.
Rhythm Circle
- Practicing rhythm can be fun with a fun beanbag toss to go along with it!
  
  A change of pace for a music class of any level might include a beanbag toss to practice rhythm. The students would form a circle and every child would have a beanbag. The teacher would set the rhythm (or use a metronome) that the students must follow and each time a down beat would hit, the students would toss their respective beanbags to the person on their right. This will help the students to practice keeping rhythm, which is key to successful music making.

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