Health and Wellbeing

Games

Underarm Throw

Following on from last weeks games activity of learning how to do a two-handed throw, we would like you to help your child to develop their underarm throw.   Ask your child to:

1. Stand facing in the direction of the throw.
2. Hold the object (small ball or beanbag for example) in their preferred hand.
3. Step forwards with the opposite foot to the throwing arm. 
4. Swing the throwing arm backwards and then forwards, keeping it extended and relaxed. 
5. Release the ball in front of the body at approximately hip height. 
6. Follow through in the direction of the throw, with the throwing hand pointing to the target. 

* The target can be you, a sibling, a wall, a hoop or chalk circle on the floor.

Stepping stones

It is easier to practise throwing with a static object such as a beanbag and throwing it into a target such as a hoop or large circle on the floor. 

If the object doesn't reach the target, the likely cause is that the object has been released too early and the child hasn't stepped forward when releasing the object so practise throwing over obstacles and stepping and swinging.   Place markers or draw a chalk circle for your child to step forwards into.

If the object 'pops up' vertically into the air then your child has released the object too late.  Remind your child to release the object when their hand is pointing at the target.

Need a challenge?

When your child has mastered the accuracy then they can move on to smaller targets such as aiming the beanbag into a bucket. 

Link it to Numeracy or Literacy activities:

Numeracy 

• Earn a point every time they hit a target or throw successfully to a partner.  Can they beat their score? If they drop the ball, can they take away a point?
• Draw a large target and section it into three rings.  Score 1 point if they get the object into the outside ring, 2 points for the inner ring and 3 points for the 'bullseye'.   How many points can they score with 3 throws?

Literacy

• Draw a grid on the floor outside in chalk ( 3x3 or 4x4 depending on how much room you have) If your child needs further practise with certain sounds then write those graphemes (one in each box). Your child throws the object onto the grid and says the sound of the grapheme it has landed on.
• Same as the above but write any keywords that they are finding tricky.