The child stands on one foot like a scarecrow and catches or tosses objects, combining single-leg balance with upper body coordination.
- The child stands on one foot with arms out to the sides (“You’re a scarecrow in a field!”).
- From 1–2 meters away, gently toss a soft ball, beanbag, or balloon to the child.
- The child catches it with both hands while maintaining single-leg balance.
- The child tosses it back, still on one leg.
- Count how many successful catches they can make before putting the foot down.
- Switch standing legs and repeat.
Variation: Use a balloon instead of a ball (slower, easier to track). Roll a ball on the ground and have the child stop it with the non-standing foot. Toss to different heights so the child must reach while balancing. Try clapping games (patty-cake) while standing on one foot.
Requirements
- Space: 2–3 meters between parent and child; a living room or garden
- Surface: Flat, non-slippery surface
- Materials: Soft ball, beanbag, balloon, or rolled-up socks; nothing hard that could hurt if dropped
- Participants: 1 adult + 1 child (adult tosses and catches)
- Supervision: Light — tosses should be gentle and predictable
Rationale & Objective
Dual-task balance challenges — maintaining equilibrium while performing an upper-body task — are among the most functional balance skills a child develops. In daily life children constantly balance while reaching, carrying, and manipulating objects. This exercise trains anticipatory postural adjustments — the trunk stabilizing before the arms move to catch — a key developmental milestone at age 5. It also integrates visual tracking and hand-eye coordination with balance, reflecting real-world complexity. The BOT-2 assesses balance under challenge conditions, and pediatric OTs frequently use catch-while-balancing activities.
Progress Indicators
- Early: puts foot down as soon as the ball approaches; cannot coordinate catching and balancing simultaneously; catches only with feet on the ground
- Developing: maintains one-foot stance for 1–2 catches before putting foot down; catches reliably but wobbles significantly; prefers one leg only
- Proficient: completes 5+ catches on one foot; catches with minimal wobbling; can toss ball back while balanced; manages both legs
- Advanced: sustains one-foot stance through 10+ catches; can catch at varied heights and sides; can do clapping games while on one foot; catches while standing on a cushion
Safety Notes
- Use only soft objects (foam balls, beanbags, balloons, rolled socks) — hard balls may cause the child to flinch and fall
- Toss gently and predictably; aim for the child’s chest/belly area (center of mass)
- Stand close (1–2 meters); longer distances require harder throws that destabilize the child
- Ensure clear space behind and beside the child in case they step or fall
- Avoid this activity near hard furniture or sharp corners
Hints
- Playfulness: “The scarecrow is protecting the field! Catch the crows (beanbags) before they eat the corn!” Award points for catches. Let the child toss to parent (role reversal builds confidence)
- Sustain interest: vary the thrown objects — balloon (slow), beanbag (medium), soft ball (fast). Add a points system. Play music and catch on the beat
- Common mistake: tossing too fast or too high. The throw should be slow, gentle, and right to the child’s hands. Success builds confidence; difficulty should increase gradually
- Limited space: works in any room. A balloon is ideal for small spaces as it moves slowly and doesn’t damage anything
- Cross-domain: call out “left hand!” or “right hand!” before each toss (laterality/body awareness); count catches (numeracy); alternate languages for counting
- Progression: two feet + catch → one foot + catch → one foot + toss back → varied heights → varied speeds → add unstable surface → add eye tracking challenges
Sources
- BOT-2 Balance subtest — balance under challenge conditions
- North Shore Pediatric Therapy — ball skills and balance relationship
- Head Start ELOF — "coordinates increasingly complex movements"
- Gallahue, D.L. & Ozmun, J.C. — Understanding Motor Development: anticipatory postural adjustments and dual-task development