Laundry Basket Skee-Ball

Ages:: Preschoolers (3 to 5), School age (6+)
Play time:: 10 to 15 minutes
Setup:: 10 minutes
Where:: Floor

Why it helps

Rolling a ball up a ramp so it lands in a near or far basket asks your child to plan how hard to push before letting go. Changing the push after each roll builds aim, body control, and the ability to adjust a movement based on what just happened. Keeping score adds counting and taking turns.

Steps

Lean a flat piece of firm cardboard, about two feet long, against a laundry basket so the top edge rests on the rim. Tape the bottom edge to the floor so the ramp stays put.
Line up one or two more baskets or boxes right behind the first one, close together, so a ball that flies past the first basket lands in the next.
Write points on paper with a marker, like 10 for the ramp basket, 25 for the next, and 50 for the farthest, and tape one to each basket.
Mark a start line with masking tape four or five feet in front of the ramp. A smooth floor works best, since the ball rolls farther there.
Give your child three to five light plastic balls, like ball-pit balls. Ask them to stand behind the line and roll one ball at a time up the ramp.
A roll that just makes it up the ramp drops into the ramp basket, and a harder roll sends the ball flying into the baskets behind. Let your child try both.
Add up the points together after each round, then gather the balls and play again.

Safety tip: Keep the area around the ramp clear, and pick up stray balls between rounds so no one slips or trips on them.

Make it easier

Skip the ramp for a round and toss rolled-up socks underhand into the closest basket.
Move the start line close, about one big step from the ramp.
Give one point for any basket so there is no adding to do.

Make it harder

Call out a basket before each roll, and only count it if the ball lands in that one.
Roll with the non-dominant hand for a whole round, then compare it with the other hand.
Roll from a kneeling position so the arm does the work without a big step forward.

What to watch for

Notice whether your child rolls harder for the far baskets and softer for the close one, or uses the same push every time.
Watch whether your child steps forward with the opposite foot as they roll. That step adds power and helps the aim.
If missing makes your child upset, drop the scoring and cheer for any roll that makes it up the ramp.

Where this helps in daily life

Judging how hard to push or toss is the same body sense kids use to toss dirty clothes into the hamper, roll a ball to a friend, and close a door without slamming it.

These activities are for home practice and don't replace the guidance of a licensed therapist.