MAY

This mont h we wil l :- Watch objects as they

move through the air- Pract ice hit t ing a ball

with our hand- Play with a partner

St rikingSt riking means hit t ing a ball or object with your hand or an object like a bat , paddle or st ick.

Game Time: Ball Bounce:

Dribbling a basketball is a st riking skill. Start by having your child hold a playground ball or basketball in both hands, drop it and then catch it when it bounces up. As they get comfortable encourage them to hit t he ball down when it bounces up instead of catching it . Pract ice hit t ing the ball with one hand and then switching to the other hand.

Beginner Golf :

Place a ball on the ground. While holding a st ick or golf club, have your child stand facing the ball. With thumbs pointed down as they hold the st ick or club, encourage them to st rike the ball.

For a challenge, lay plast ic cups on their sides to make golf "holes". For more fun, make a miniature golf course and play as a family.

Every day t asks t hat support st r iking:

St riking requires core (mid body) and shoulder st rength. Here are some every day chores that your child can do to help develop these skills:

- Taking sheets and blankets of f t he bed- Loading clothes into the washing machine or dryer- Hanging clothes out on a clothesline- Taking out the garbage

Visual t racking (watching an object move through space) is also necessary for st riking. Here are some everyday chores your child can do to develop visual t racking:

- Set t ing the table- Sort ing laundry into piles

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