Celebrate your child's love of learning

© Wondertime

Throwing a ball is tricky; catching a ball is even trickier. (Just ask Bill Buckner, scapegoat of the 1986 World Series.) Although experts say that ball catching is physically possible beginning around age 2, every child manages this skill at a different rate.

Here's how to get the ball rolling:

Getting Started
Sit on the floor facing your child. Roll a soft, lightweight ball to her, and have her push or roll it back. This teaches the concept of back-and-forth and gets kids tracking the ball visually. It also helps them get the idea of stopping the ball when it comes to them.

As your child improves, raise the center of gravity a bit by moving from sitting to kneeling. Finally, stand up a couple of feet apart and gently bounce the ball back and forth. A bounce puts kids' hands in a better catching position — from facing down to facing sideways or up as they snag the bouncing ball.

Then, standing close (have your child keep her feet apart for balance), toss the ball. Gradually add distance, and when she gets something right, praise her like crazy.

Be Patient
Catching requires complex coordination of fingers, hands, arms, and eyes, so expect short bursts of progress and incremental success. If she's uninterested, save it for another time.