Learning and Development: Outdoor game - Target practice
Helen Bilton
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Learning how to throw and aim at a target is an important skill for the very young, says Helen Bilton.
Aim: To practise and improve the basic fine motor skill of hand-eye co-ordination
Learning intentions: To enable children to practise and improve the skills of throwing and aiming
Practice: Once the children have mastered the rules of the game, leave the equipment freely available so they can set the game up without adult support
Resources: A1 size pieces of paper or card or wallpaper; large felt-tip pens; basket and beanbags; tape or clips
Step by step
- Draw different images on three different pieces of paper. Ask the children to draw pictures or download images and stick them on to the paper. Choose things that are obvious and bold - for example, pictures of animals and cartoon characters or a selection of bold shapes. Draw a target shape within the image. Hang the pictures on a fence or wall.
- Place beanbags of different colours into a box or basket.
- Explain that the idea of the game is to throw the beanbag at the target. The younger children will need the adult to demonstrate what to do and they may watch the adult play the game initially before deciding to participate.
- Treat the game as a means of introducing very young children to the idea of a ball game, with its simple rules, and of helping them understand that the act of throwing is about throwing at something. For the older child, the game will offer a chance to practise this important skill.
- Alternatives could include laying the images on the ground, as long as the paper is secure at the edges, and let the child crawl to the target and place the beanbags on it. Older children might want to keep a tally of how many times they hit the target.
- There is no winner or loser and children stop playing when they want to.
Adult role
The adult needs to be involved in the game to help children understand what is expected, to be a role model and to be a playmate.
- Helen Bilton is the author of several books on outdoor play for the early years and is PGCE programme director at the University of Reading.
