Toddler activities with a soft ball
20 activities in the library use a soft ball, for toddlers aged 12 to 36 months: 11 starting 12–17 months, 6 starting 18–23 months and 3 starting from 24 months. A light, soft ball is the classic toy for rolling, throwing, kicking and chasing, and it is gentle enough for indoor play. Big balls are easiest to kick; smaller ones fit a throwing hand.
Updated
Soft ball: 20 activities to try
Safety: Choose balls too big to fit in the mouth, with no small parts.
20 activities
- Colander Cage Peekaboo 12–17 months · 3–6 min · Indoors · Calm A toy sits under an upturned colander where your child can still see it through the holes; lifting the colander to free it builds object search and simple problem-solving.
- In and Out Basket Climb 12–20 months · 5–10 min · Indoors · Active Your toddler climbs into and out of an empty laundry basket and drops a ball in and out, hearing 'in' and 'out' tied to their own body.
- Playground Copycat Watch 13–24 months · 10–20 min · Outdoors · Active At a playground with other toddlers, you sit nearby, narrate what another child is doing and offer the same kind of toy, so your child can watch and copy.
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk 13–20 months · 5–10 min · Indoors or out · Active The child walks to soft balls scattered around the room, squats to pick each one up and carries it to a bucket, linking walking, squatting and carrying.
- Two Lumps Under the Blanket 14–22 months · 3–8 min · Indoors · Calm Hide a ball under one of two lumps in a blanket while your child watches, then let them search; tracking which lump hides it builds memory for locations.
- Blanket Picnic Playdate 15–26 months · 10–20 min · Indoors or out · Calm Two toddlers share a picnic blanket, each with their own small bag of toys, then a seated snack, so playing near another child feels calm and safe.
- Does It Roll? Ramp Test 15–26 months · 5–10 min · Indoors · Calm Your toddler sends a ball, a block and a lid down a tilted baking sheet and discovers that round things roll while flat-sided things slide or stop.
- Turn-to-Fit Slot Box 16–30 months · 5–12 min · Indoors · Calm Your child posts big plastic tub lids through a long slot and soft balls through a round hole in a box, learning to turn a piece until it lines up.
- Box Lid Ramp Races 17–27 months · 5–15 min · Indoors · Active A flattened box propped on a cushion becomes a ramp; your child sends balls and toy cars down it and notices how height and push change what happens.
- Laundry-Basket Ball Toss 17–28 months · 5–12 min · Indoors or out · Active The child stands near an empty laundry basket and throws soft balls into it, practicing letting go at the right moment and taking turns with an adult.
- Tote Bag Fetch Mission 17–28 months · 5–10 min · Indoors · Active You hold out a tote bag and ask for one familiar object at a time, without pointing, so your child practices following a simple spoken direction.
- Kick into the Box Goal 18–30 months · 5–12 min · Indoors or out · Active The child walks up to a soft ball and kicks it into a cardboard box turned on its side, practicing a brief one-leg stance and an aimed kick.
- Throw into the Hoop 18–36 months · 5–12 min · Indoors or out · Active A hula hoop lies flat on the floor or grass and your child throws rolled socks and soft balls into it from a tape line, moving back as they succeed.
- Which Hole Fits? 18–28 months · 5–10 min · Indoors · Calm Your child posts socks through a tissue-box slot, finds that a big ball will not fit, then works out where the ball can go instead.
- Cardboard Box Circle and Square 20–30 months · 5–10 min · Indoors · Calm A cardboard box with one round and one square hole becomes a homemade sorter: the ball goes through the circle and the blocks through the square.
- Kick Over the Tube Pins 20–36 months · 5–12 min · Indoors or out · Active Your child kicks a soft ball at a row of cardboard tubes standing up like bowling pins, practising aimed kicks and counting how many fall.
- Kick It Back to Me 22–36 months · 5–10 min · Outdoors · Active You and your child stand a few steps apart and kick a big soft ball back and forth, taking turns and stopping a ball that comes toward them.
- Name-and-Roll Family Circle 24–34 months · 5–10 min · Indoors or out · Active Three or more people sit in a circle and roll a soft ball to whoever is named, so your child waits, listens for names and takes turns in a group.
- Spoon Rake Rescue 24–32 months · 4–10 min · Indoors or out · Calm A ball rolls just out of reach under a low chair, and your child learns to use a wooden spoon as a tool to sweep it back.
- Tape-Road Ball Dribble 26–36 months · 5–12 min · Indoors · Active The child kicks a soft ball gently along a road made from two lines of painter's tape, practicing small controlled kicks and following the ball.
Nothing matches these filters. Try another age band or "Anywhere".
Soft Ball at a glance
| Activities | 20, 4 on the low-prep menu |
|---|---|
| Ages covered (corrected) | 12–36 months |
| Focus time | 3–20 minutes |
| Main domains | 7 gross motor, 5 cognitive, 3 social-emotional, 2 early concepts, 2 fine motor and 1 language |
| Where they happen | 10 indoors, 8 indoors or outdoors and 2 outdoors |
| Quickest start | Colander Cage Peekaboo, 3–6 minutes |
Every activity with a soft ball
Sorted by the first month each one fits (corrected age for children born early). Quick picks: for a calm moment, Colander Cage Peekaboo; to burn energy, In and Out Basket Climb; with no prep at all, Two Lumps Under the Blanket.
| Activity | Ages | Minutes | Domain | Prep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colander Cage Peekaboo | 12–17 months | 3–6 | Cognitive | None |
| In and Out Basket Climb | 12–20 months | 5–10 | Early concepts | None |
| Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk | 13–20 months | 5–10 | Gross motor | 2 min |
| Playground Copycat Watch | 13–24 months | 10–20 | Social-emotional | 2 min |
| Two Lumps Under the Blanket | 14–22 months | 3–8 | Cognitive | None |
| Blanket Picnic Playdate | 15–26 months | 10–20 | Social-emotional | 5 min |
| Does It Roll? Ramp Test | 15–26 months | 5–10 | Early concepts | 2 min |
| Turn-to-Fit Slot Box | 16–30 months | 5–12 | Fine motor | 5 min |
| Box Lid Ramp Races | 17–27 months | 5–15 | Cognitive | 2 min |
| Laundry-Basket Ball Toss | 17–28 months | 5–12 | Gross motor | None |
| Tote Bag Fetch Mission | 17–28 months | 5–10 | Language | 2 min |
| Which Hole Fits? | 18–28 months | 5–10 | Cognitive | 2 min |
| Kick into the Box Goal | 18–30 months | 5–12 | Gross motor | 2 min |
| Throw into the Hoop | 18–36 months | 5–12 | Gross motor | 2 min |
| Cardboard Box Circle and Square | 20–30 months | 5–10 | Fine motor | 5 min |
| Kick Over the Tube Pins | 20–36 months | 5–12 | Gross motor | 2 min |
| Kick It Back to Me | 22–36 months | 5–10 | Gross motor | None |
| Spoon Rake Rescue | 24–32 months | 4–10 | Cognitive | 2 min |
| Name-and-Roll Family Circle | 24–34 months | 5–10 | Social-emotional | None |
| Tape-Road Ball Dribble | 26–36 months | 5–12 | Gross motor | 5 min |
How each activity uses a soft ball
- Colander Cage Peekaboo (finding hidden objects, 3–6 minutes): Let your child watch you set a soft ball on the floor and cover it with an upturned colander.
- In and Out Basket Climb (spatial words, 5–10 minutes): Set the empty basket on a rug, drop the ball in and say 'In!'.
- Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk (squatting to play, 5–10 minutes): Scatter the balls a few steps apart and set the bucket in the middle.
- Playground Copycat Watch (copying other children, 10–20 minutes): Point out one thing another child is doing: "Look, she's kicking the ball."
- Two Lumps Under the Blanket (finding hidden objects, 3–8 minutes): While your child watches, push the ball under one lump: 'Ball goes under here.'.
- Blanket Picnic Playdate (playing alongside others, 10–20 minutes): Spread the blanket in the shade and give each child their own bag with the same book and ball.
- Does It Roll? Ramp Test (colors and shapes, 5–10 minutes): Let the ball go at the top and say 'Round. It rolls!'.
- Turn-to-Fit Slot Box (shape sorting, 5–12 minutes): Cut a long slot a little wider than a lid and, at the other end, a round hole a little bigger than a ball.
- Box Lid Ramp Races (cause and effect, 5–15 minutes): Let your child watch one ball roll down, then say 'Ready... go!'.
- Laundry-Basket Ball Toss (throwing a ball, 5–12 minutes): Put the basket one big step in front of the child and hold up a ball.
- Tote Bag Fetch Mission (following one-step directions, 5–10 minutes): Hold the tote bag open and say "Put the ball in the bag," keeping your hands still.
- Which Hole Fits? (problem solving, 5–10 minutes): Hand over the socks, then the ball, and wait.
- Kick into the Box Goal (kicking a ball, 5–12 minutes): Lay the box on its side and put the ball two steps in front of it.
- Throw into the Hoop (throwing a ball, 5–12 minutes): Stand on the line and throw a sock ball into the hoop: "In!"
- Cardboard Box Circle and Square (shape sorting, 5–10 minutes): Cut one round and one square hole in the top of the box, each just bigger than the ball and the blocks.
- Kick Over the Tube Pins (kicking a ball, 5–12 minutes): Put the ball two steps in front of them and kick it gently: "Kick... crash!"
- Kick It Back to Me (kicking a ball, 5–10 minutes): Stand three steps away from your child on grass and hold the ball up: "My turn!"
- Spoon Rake Rescue (problem solving, 4–10 minutes): Check under a low chair or sofa and clear out anything small, then roll a soft ball just beyond arm's reach under it.
- Name-and-Roll Family Circle (taking turns, 5–10 minutes): Say a name, "Ball to Grandma," and roll the ball to that person.
- Tape-Road Ball Dribble (kicking a ball, 5–12 minutes): Tap the ball along the road with small kicks yourself: "Little kicks."
By age
12–17 months: 11 activities, 3–20 minutes. 18–23 months: 6 activities, 5–12 minutes. From 24 months: 3 activities, 4–12 minutes.
Starting 12–17 months
Starting 18–23 months
Starting from 24 months
Words that come up
Across these activities you will model “where's the ball?”, “under”, “up”, “there it is!”, “in”, “out”, “ball in”, “all gone”, “pick up”, “one more”, “all done” and “look”. Say one at the moment it happens, then pause for your child's turn.
Safety with a soft ball
- Choose balls too big to fit in the mouth, with no small parts.
- Retire foam balls that are being bitten, since pieces can break off.
Prep tips
- Keep one bigger ball for kicking and two smaller soft ones for throwing.
- Wipe balls that have been outside before they come back indoors.
No soft ball? Use instead
- Rolled-up socks.
- A beach ball.
- A crumpled paper ball.
Combine it with
A soft ball is most often paired with cardboard box (5 activities), bucket (3 activities) and blanket (2 activities). The skills practised most: kicking a ball (4), problem solving (4) and spatial words (4).
Often combined with
Skills practised
Frequently asked questions
What can a toddler do with a soft ball?
20 activities here use it, for example Colander Cage Peekaboo (12–17 months), In and Out Basket Climb (12–20 months) and Squat-and-Collect Bucket Walk (13–20 months). 4 are on the low-prep menu: no prep and 10 minutes or less.
Is a soft ball safe for toddlers?
Use it only with an adult close by. Choose balls too big to fit in the mouth, with no small parts. Retire foam balls that are being bitten, since pieces can break off.
What can I use instead of a soft ball?
Rolled-up socks, a beach ball or a crumpled paper ball can stand in for most of these activities.
What ages are activities with a soft ball for?
They cover 12–36 months of corrected age: 11 starting 12–17 months, 6 starting 18–23 months and 3 starting from 24 months.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.