Kick Over the Tube Pins
Kick Over the Tube Pins is an active gross motor activity for toddlers aged 20–36 months (corrected age). 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. It takes 5–12 minutes, needs 2 minutes of prep and works indoors or outdoors.
Updated
Kick Over the Tube Pins
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.
- Ages (corrected)
- 20–36 months
- Time
- 5–12 min
- Prep
- 2 min prep
- Where
- Indoors or out · Active
You need
- four or five cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper
- a soft, light ball
Steps
- Stand the tubes in a row on a hard floor or flat path.
- Put the ball two steps in front of them and kick it gently: "Kick... crash!"
- Set the ball by your child's feet and wait for their kick.
- Count the fallen tubes together, then let your child stand them back up.
Safety first
- Use a soft, light ball and clear other toys out of the kicking area.
- Play in shoes or barefoot on a non-slip floor, never in socks on smooth floors.
No level picked yet. The 0–4 scale is a learning log, not a test.
Not yet: show it once, then let them explore
Watch for the first sign: swings one leg with a short balance on the other.
Not yet is information, not a verdict. Do it once yourself while they watch, pause, and offer it again in a few days.
Simplify one step
Next time: put the ball right next to the tubes so any touch knocks one over.
Give the least help that works: wait first, then point or show, and guide hands only briefly.
Repeat the same version and fade your help
As you step back, watch for: aims the ball toward the tubes.
Pause a few seconds longer before you model, and swap showing it for a point or a gesture.
Offer it once more, then add one change
When it is easy again: move the ball one step farther back.
Change only that one thing and keep everything else the same.
Ready for one step up
Move the ball one step farther back. Or carry it somewhere new: kick at plastic cups or empty plastic bottles set up on grass at the park.
Starting it on their own or using it in a new place is the strongest sign. Still change one thing at a time.
Stop and rest this one
In 2-3 days, come back with the simpler version: put the ball right next to the tubes so any touch knocks one over.
End with something calming together. One hard moment never means a delay.
Stop on a good note
Keep this version and keep it short next time: 5 minutes is plenty.
They can do it, but it was not fun today. Add difficulty only once it feels easy and enjoyable again.
How to play Kick Over the Tube Pins
4 steps, about 5–12 minutes of focus time, 2 minutes of prep.
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Stand the tubes in a row on a hard floor or flat path.
-
Put the ball two steps in front of them and kick it gently: "Kick... crash!"
-
Set the ball by your child's feet and wait for their kick.
-
Count the fallen tubes together, then let your child stand them back up.
What you need for Kick Over the Tube Pins
| What you need | Four or five cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper and a soft, light ball |
|---|---|
| Prep | 2 minutes of prep |
| Focus time | 5–12 minutes |
| Where | Indoors or outdoors |
| Energy | Active: counts toward the day’s movement time |
| Ages (corrected) | 20–36 months |
| Domains | Gross motor, Early concepts |
| Fits the day | On a rainy day indoors or outside |
Easier and harder versions
Change one thing at a time. Drop to the easier version when Kick Over the Tube Pins stalls; move one rung up only once it looks easy on a few different days.
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Easier
Put the ball right next to the tubes so any touch knocks one over.
-
As written
The 4 steps above, for 5–12 minutes.
-
Harder 1
Move the ball one step farther back.
-
Harder 2
Use fewer tubes spread wider apart, so the kick needs aiming.
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Hardest
Roll the ball gently to your child to kick while it moves.
What to watch for
The signs of progress in Kick Over the Tube Pins, mapped to the 0–4 learning scale the family plan uses (a tracking aid, not an assessment).
| Level | What it looks like here |
|---|---|
| 2 · After a model | Does it right after you show it or point. Watch for: swings one leg with a short balance on the other. |
| 3 · Independent | Does it when offered, with no demonstration. Watch for: aims the ball toward the tubes and stands the tubes back up for another round. |
| 4 · Spontaneous | Starts it unprompted or in a new place. Watch for: joins in with counting the fallen tubes. |
Try it somewhere new
Level 4 means the skill travels. Once Kick Over the Tube Pins is easy, change the place, the person or the material:
- Kick at plastic cups or empty plastic bottles set up on grass at the park.
Words to model
During Kick Over the Tube Pins, say “kick”, “fall down”, “one, two” and “stand up” at the moment they happen, one at a time, then pause so your child can answer with a look, a gesture, a sign or a word.
Safety for Kick Over the Tube Pins
- Use a soft, light ball and clear other toys out of the kicking area.
- Play in shoes or barefoot on a non-slip floor, never in socks on smooth floors.
Why it works
Kicking a ball is on CDC's 24-month checklist, so earlier tries are exposure, not an expectation. AAP's toy report lists balls among simple traditional toys that support active play.
Evidence rating: Good: published guidance supports the approach. Cited: CDC milestone checklists by age and AAP clinical report: Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era (Pediatrics, 2019).
Skills and ages
Kick Over the Tube Pins practises kicking a ball, cause and effect and counting and fits ages 20 to 36 months. Each month below opens more activities for that age.
Skills practised
Activities by month (20–36 months)
Milestone checklists nearby
Activities like Kick Over the Tube Pins
Kick It Back to Me is the closest match: it also practises kicking a ball and it uses the same soft ball. It suits 22–36 months, takes 5–10 minutes (a little shorter than Kick Over the Tube Pins) and needs no prep. For a younger child, Count-the-Stairs Walk Up starts at 16 months.
Ranked by shared skills, materials and ages
Frequently asked questions
What age is Kick Over the Tube Pins for?
Kick Over the Tube Pins suits 20–36 months, using corrected age for a child born early. For a younger or hesitant child, start with the easier version: put the ball right next to the tubes so any touch knocks one over.
How long does Kick Over the Tube Pins take?
About 5–12 minutes of focused play over 4 steps, with 2 minutes of prep. Stop while it is still fun and repeat it on another day.
How do I make Kick Over the Tube Pins harder?
Change one thing at a time. First: move the ball one step farther back. Then: use fewer tubes spread wider apart, so the kick needs aiming. Hardest: roll the ball gently to your child to kick while it moves.
How do I keep Kick Over the Tube Pins safe?
Play it only with an adult within arm’s reach. Use a soft, light ball and clear other toys out of the kicking area. Play in shoes or barefoot on a non-slip floor, never in socks on smooth floors.
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Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.