Infant Ball Toss

• Balls of varying size/texture
• Large, open space

This is a really fun activity for more mobile infants, but not required for baby to be on the move. If they are sitting up, have them sit across from you, chest facing chest so you can see each other. If they aren't fully sitting unassisted, put a boppy or pillows around them. If they are not sitting at all, place them between your legs, leaning against your chest.

It's very simple, but what you say is what extends the learning for this one. I start with the ball and toss it to the baby across from me (or in front of us if baby isn't sitting). More likely than not, they won't catch the ball. Say some power words like "oh no!" "uh oh!" "bounce!" "catch" as you do different motions. These sort of trigger the language mechanism and your baby will know the cause and effect of throwing the ball, noise, catch, noise. 

I really like to do "ready, set, catch!" with babies around 8-12 months old. They'll start to connect the one, two, three pattern the more you play this game. I also like to shout different colors when they go beyond 12 months old. Sometimes the dialogue goes like this: "One, two, three! Throw! Catch blue! Yay! Blue! Mama get!" It's really all about the easy to mimic words you say and repetition. 

1. Hand eye coordination
2. Practice with tracking skills
3. Expanding vocabulary
4. Repetitive sounds and easy to mimic words for babies
5. Gross motor skills: catching, throwing, sitting up, movement