It is nice when parents can get involved with kids’ games and activities. Not only does it motivate children, but adults also get some exercise, too. But that’s not always possible or necessary. For those times, suggest one of these fun and simple games for your child to play on their own. If you have a rebounding net, kids don’t need a partner to play catch with a football or baseball, either. Also, a pitching machine is an inexpensive way for kids to put in some extra baseball practice. How many can they get in a row? Can they top their personal best? Skill drills like these are a great way to hone hand-eye coordination, which is important in kids’ learning and development. Watch a few hula hooping videos online so your child can see what kinds of tricks are possible, too. For instance, they can try to master the technique of working the hoop from the hips to the neck and back down. All it takes is music. You can also use games, such as Just Dance, or online videos, like Zumba classes. These can help kids build a repertoire of moves. Set up a ribbon to act as a net and blow up a balloon for a ball. Then challenge your child to play volleyball—on both sides of the net! They must hit the balloon up and over the ribbon, then scoot under to hit it from the other side, and so on until the balloon wafts to the ground.
