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Hand-eye coordination develops in infancy, and although it is intuitive, you can
enhance it by encouraging ball games and introducing stimulating toys and other
objects that will help develop motor skills.
The ability to use hands and eyes together to perform a task requires kids to
synchronise vision, touch, movement, and cognition. This can be quite a challenge
initially! Children who have developed good coordination skills will benefit greatly
from the self confidence they feel as a result.
Every child develops at his own pace. However, these skills will improve with repetition.
Most everyday activities such as dressing, mealtimes and tidying up automatically help kids
to improve their coordination. And you can give your child's coordination a boost by
introducing toys that require manipulative play - i.e. toys that call for grasping, aiming,
tracing, digging, and fitting pieces together.
Games that involve catching and throwing are a fun way of developing coordination too. Ball
games sharpen a child's ability to interact with moving objects as well as supporting very
basic lessons in give and take when played with others. As well as throwing and catching
(overarm, underarm, through your legs, over your shoulder and around your back), try laying
a hula hoop on the grass and throwing the ball so it bounces in the hula hoop each time before
you catch it.
Motor skills are essential when it comes to learning to write, and are crucial to success in
school and beyond. The good news is many well-loved play activities - including sports,
music and artistic pursuits - help kids fine-tune hand-eye coordination and build self
esteem. Encouraging your child with the right stimulating toys and games will avoid coordination
problems becoming a lifelong hurdle.
Here are some games to try with your kids that will help develop these vital skills in a fun way!
Pitch and toss
Gently throw a soft ball and get your child to hit it with a bat.
Basketball
Get your kids 'shooting hoops'. Basketball (product 4828) is a fantastic way of improving
kids' throwing and bouncing skills.
Cricket
Everyone taking turns batting, bowling and catching using a children's cricket set is sure
to bring hours of fun for the whole family.
Egg and spoon race
An egg is placed on a spoon, and the children run along a straight track, the object being to
win the race and not smash the egg!
Indoor obstacle course
Crawl under chairs, tables or dad's legs - the possibilities are endless!
Relay races
Get your kids passing the baton. Relays teach direction, timing, agility and coordination.
Wheelbarrow
Giggles are guaranteed with this enjoyable game. Hold your child's legs whilst they walk on
their hands.
Hopscotch
A wonderful hopping game that can be played anywhere. Use chalk to draw a hopscotch pattern on
the ground or use masking tape on a floor.
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