This way your child learns to throw and catch in a playful way (without frustration)

Wondering why your toddler can't catch the ball? Or why your preschooler keeps missing the ball when you throw it? It's all down to their hand-eye coordination and motor skills. And you can practice this through play!

What is hand-eye coordination anyway?

Hand-eye coordination is the ability to make your eyes and hands work together. Your eyes see where the ball is going, and your brain tells your hands precisely in time: "Get it now !" This skill is incredibly important and necessary for all sorts of everyday activities, such as:

• Bringing a spoon to the mouth;
• Building a tower with blocks;
• Turning a page of a cardboard book;
• Try pouring water or play rice yourself;
• To put a cap on a pen;

Your child is already training their hand-eye coordination from infancy. For example, by reaching for toys or trying to grasp a spoon. From the age of one, you can playfully stimulate hand-eye coordination and motor development with a balloon ball .

A balloon moves more slowly than a regular ball. This gives your child more time to react. Unfortunately, a balloon can break easily and feel uncomfortable. With a balloon cover, you can transform a simple balloon into a soft play ball.

Why is a balloon ball the perfect toy for hand-eye coordination in young children?

The soft cover prevents the balloon from bursting and deflates more slowly. If the balloon does burst, the pieces remain inside the cover, making it safer for your child. Because a balloon moves more slowly, your child has more time to see where the ball is going and to have their hands ready in the right place. This extra time creates successful experiences and stimulates motor development. And success boosts self-confidence, making your child want to practice throwing and catching even more. Suddenly, it becomes a game instead of a learning experience.

What age is a balloon ball suitable for?

Toddlers and preschoolers (1-3 years)

From age 1, a balloon ball is a super fun toy! Children this age love watching the balloon move, crawling or walking towards it, and trying to grab it. It's a perfect toy for toddlers' motor skills. A toddler can already try to grab a balloon ball with both hands. From age 2, your toddler will become increasingly adept at throwing and catching!

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

At this stage, hand-eye coordination has already further developed. They can catch the balloon better, throw it farther, and even aim it at something, like throwing it into a hoop or knocking over a stack of cups. A balloon ball remains fun because you can play all sorts of games with it.

Older children (6+ years)

Even older children can still enjoy a balloon ball thanks to the variety of play options. Throwing and catching remain skills that children continue to develop. The balloon ball also feels nicer and softer than a hard ball. That's why schools like to use it in gym class.

Games for your toddler to stimulate hand-eye coordination and motor skills

Your toddler is discovering they can move things. Throwing, rolling, and aiming aren't quite developed yet. Their eyes and hands are starting to work together, but timing is still tricky. You can practice this through play.

• Sit together on the floor and roll the balloon towards your child and let him try to catch it and roll it back.
• Place a laundry basket a short distance away, can you throw or place the balloon ball in it?
• Throw the soft play ball in the air and let the child run or crawl after it.

Games for your toddler to practice hand-eye coordination

Your toddler is gaining more control over their movements. They can sometimes even throw and catch, especially with both hands. Their hand-eye coordination is becoming more precise, which brings joy and confidence. And you can encourage this even more.

• Sit across from each other and throw the balloon to your child. Once your child has the ball, they can throw it back.
• Take turns tapping the balloon up and count together how many times you keep it in the air.
• Place the balloon ball on a cup and try to knock it off with a bean bag .

Games for your toddler to develop hand-eye coordination

Preschoolers are much better at estimating where the balloon is going and learning to time their movements. They can also remember game rules and collaborate in a playful way. You can practice their hand-eye coordination even more.

• Set up a stack of cans or paper cups and try to knock them over. Make the game more difficult by increasing the distance.
• Try to throw the balloon as high as possible and then catch it again.
• Grab a play cloth or square scarf. Each person grabs one side of the cloth. Place the balloon in the middle and try to launch it into the air together. This requires timing and teamwork.

Other fun games with the balloon ball

• Lie on the floor facing each other and try to blow the balloon towards each other. Who can get the balloon to the other first?
• Play balloon volleyball and stretch a string over which you have to tap the balloons towards each other.
• Make it a balancing game. Can you walk a line with the ball on your head?
• Balloon massage: roll the balloon over your arms, back, stomach, and legs. The different materials make it feel different every time.

The great thing about a balloon ball is that it's an open-ended toy. This makes it incredibly easy to combine with other toys you already have at home, creating even more play possibilities. This way, the toy grows with your child and remains fun for years to come. Because let's face it: toys that your child can only play with one way quickly become boring.

At our home we often combine the balloon ball with:
• With bean bags for throwing games or to combine the colors.
• Using stacked stones as a course over which they have to carry the balloon.
• With a play cloth or play silk for 'launching' or making gifts from.

This way, new games are constantly being created, without having to constantly buy new toys.

Looking for toys to encourage your child's hand-eye coordination? Then our soft balloon balls are a great idea!

Check out our soft balloon balls here and combine them with beanbags for even more fun!