At what age can you teach children to play catch? / myLot

Walnut Creek, California

July 26, 2021 9:26pm CST

I have spent much of my life "playing catch." Basically it involves throwing a round object (or oblong object in the case of an American football) toward other person and having them catch it, and then throw it back to you or another person. I know I have asked this question before, but I think it was years ago. Today, I had six 3- and 4-year olds sitting in a circle paying what I call "rolly catch." We rolled the ball to each other over and over. Everyone had great fun. I'll save the "spoilers" for "comments." At what age do you think you can introduce children to the universal game of "catch"? I'll save my pedantic developmental psychologist ramblings about what it teaches (fine motor skills, gross motor skills, empathy, team-work, etc.) for later.

9 people like this

10 responses

Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (106425)

• Marion, Ohio

27 Jul 21

As soon as they can get the idea. I would say it is different for each child. But I have rolled things to them when they start sitting up good.

5 people like this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218931)

• Walnut Creek, California

27 Jul 21

Yep.

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218931)

• Walnut Creek, California

27 Jul 21

Actually, I start at just over a year.

2 people like this

@rainbowsalt (129)

• India

28 Jul 21

I think its kinda different for each child. some learn quick, some take time. Every child has its own talent.

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218931)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 21

Very true. Psychologists call it "range of reaction," or something like that. Genetics set "boundaries" for what a given kid can learn in a given area (sports, music, math, reading, etc.). Because I like sports, I like kids to be near the top of their "range of reaction" for sports at any given age.

The Horse

@TheHorse (218931)

• Walnut Creek, California

30 Jul 21

@rainbowsalt Way cool. It applies in any area of learning. I try to help kids get near the top of their range of reaction in those areas I'm comfortable with.

1 person likes this

@rainbowsalt (129)

• India

28 Jul 21

@TheHorse wow! "range of reaction",I learnt something new today

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@DaddyEvil (137259)

• United States

27 Jul 21

You start rolling the ball to your child as soon as they can sit up. You start tossing it gently to them when they're around a year or a little bit older. (Expect to knock them down a few times when you first start tossing the ball to them and make sure you are right there to giggle and show them that it was fun to fall while trying to catch the ball.)

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218931)

• Walnut Creek, California

27 Jul 21

I start playing rolly catch at just over a year. With a squishy ball, of course.

1 person likes this

RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (79929)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

28 Jul 21

As soon as the kids can understand what ball throwing and catch mean and they can catch and throw the ball. Your kids there are at just the right age, From what I know their motor skills start to develop the first two years of their lives,

1 person likes this

The Horse

@TheHorse (218931)

• Walnut Creek, California

28 Jul 21

Yes they do!

1 person likes this