Kicking a ball: how the skill grows from 16 to 36 months
Kicking a ball means swinging one leg to send a ball forward while standing on the other. Kicking trains a brief one-leg balance, timing and aiming with the whole body.
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Kicking a ball: the ladder, step by step
Pick the step that looks most like your child today. The next step and activities that practise it appear below.
No step picked yet. There is no wrong answer: pick the closest one.
Next step: Kicks holding on. Holds your hand or a wall and swings a foot at a still ball.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick into the Box Goal · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Kick Over the Tube Pins · 20–36 months · 5–12 min
- Kick It Back to Me · 22–36 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Kicks a still ball. Stands alone, swings one leg and sends the ball forward.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick into the Box Goal · 18–30 months · 5–12 min
- Kick Over the Tube Pins · 20–36 months · 5–12 min
- Kick It Back to Me · 22–36 months · 5–10 min
Next step: Aims the kick. Kicks toward a box goal, a gap between shoes or a person.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick Over the Tube Pins · 20–36 months · 5–12 min
- Kick It Back to Me · 22–36 months · 5–10 min
- Tape-Road Ball Dribble · 26–36 months · 5–12 min
Next step: Kicks a moving ball. Kicks a ball rolled gently toward them, or one they are chasing.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick Over the Tube Pins · 20–36 months · 5–12 min
- Kick It Back to Me · 22–36 months · 5–10 min
- Tape-Road Ball Dribble · 26–36 months · 5–12 min
Top of the ladder (kicks a moving ball). Keep it flexible: offer it in a new place, with a different person or with new materials.
Activities that fit this step
- Kick Over the Tube Pins · 20–36 months · 5–12 min
- Kick It Back to Me · 22–36 months · 5–10 min
- Tape-Road Ball Dribble · 26–36 months · 5–12 min
The kicking a ball ladder
5 steps from the first sign to a flexible skill, covered here from 16 to 36 months. Children move at their own pace: use the steps to see what comes next, not as deadlines.
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Walks into it
Bumps the ball forward with a foot while walking toward it.
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Kicks holding on
Holds your hand or a wall and swings a foot at a still ball.
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Kicks a still ball
Stands alone, swings one leg and sends the ball forward.
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Aims the kick
Kicks toward a box goal, a gap between shoes or a person.
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Kicks a moving ball
Kicks a ball rolled gently toward them, or one they are chasing.
When kicking a ball usually shows up
Kicking a ball is a CDC 24-month milestone. Early kicks are often a walk into the ball; a real leg swing with a short balance on one foot follows, and kicking a ball that is rolling toward them comes later.
This page follows kicking a ball from 16 to 36 months, a window that spans the 18-month, 24-month, 30-month and 36-month CDC checklists.
In the library, 4 activities practise kicking a ball (4 as their main skill), for ages 18 to 36 months. One of them needs no prep and takes 10 minutes or less. By age, they sit closest to steps 2, 3 and 4 of the 5-step ladder.
Related items appear on the CDC checklists for 24 months.
Related milestones
CDC checklist items (paraphrased) that involve kicking a ball. Checklists are for monitoring, not a test.
| Checklist | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 24 months | Gives a ball a kick. |
Activities that practise kicking a ball
Placed on the closest ladder step by age. By primary domain: 4 gross motor. Quickest to start: Kick It Back to Me (5–10 minutes).
Step 2: Kicks holding on
Step 3: Kicks a still ball
Step 4: Aims the kick
Skills practised alongside
The activities for kicking a ball most often also work on balancing (2), cause and effect (1), counting (1) and taking turns (1). Pairing them keeps practice playful: one activity, several skills.
Practise it inside everyday routines
- Use a big, light ball; it is easier to connect with than a small one.
- Kick back and forth on grass, keeping each turn short and quick.
- Make a goal from a box on its side or two shoes on the ground.
What to avoid
- Hard or heavy balls, which hurt when a kick sends them up into a face.
When to mention it to the pediatrician
If by 24 months your child does not kick a ball, especially if walking and running also look unsteady, bring it up at the 2-year checkup.
Worried about kicking a ball between visits? Call the pediatrician; CDC's free resources also explain how to contact your local Early Intervention program directly. Milestones are for monitoring, not diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
When do toddlers start kicking a ball?
Kicking a ball is a CDC 24-month milestone. Early kicks are often a walk into the ball; a real leg swing with a short balance on one foot follows, and kicking a ball that is rolling toward them comes later. The first step to look for: bumps the ball forward with a foot while walking toward it.
How can I help my toddler with kicking a ball?
Use a big, light ball; it is easier to connect with than a small one. Kick back and forth on grass, keeping each turn short and quick. A good first activity is Kick into the Box Goal (18–30 months).
What should I avoid when practising kicking a ball?
Hard or heavy balls, which hurt when a kick sends them up into a face.
When should I mention kicking a ball to the pediatrician?
If by 24 months your child does not kick a ball, especially if walking and running also look unsteady, bring it up at the 2-year checkup. You can also contact Early Intervention yourself.
Related
Monitoring, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician about any concern. Our sources and method.