GM.D.109 RUNS UP TO A BALL, STOPS TO AIM BEFORE KICKING

Once your child can take a swinging kick at a ball, she can start to learn to run up to a ball and kick it. This skill takes some time to perfect; at first she will break her run to aim before she kicks.

How to Assess

Materials: A rubber ball, soccer ball size.

Method: Place the ball about 3 metres away from your child. Ask her to run to the ball and kick it to you or to another person involved in the game. Score plus if your child runs up to the ball and kicks it. She may pause to aim before kicking.

How to Teach

To give your child the idea, you may need to run beside her at first, holding her hand. It will help if a third person is involved, so that there is someone to kick towards and to take turns in the game.

Allow your child to pause and aim if she needs to do this in order to take a swinging kick. Otherwise she may just ‘run into’ the ball and bump it along.

Withdraw your help when your child has the idea.

Use every opportunity to let your child practise this skill with other children.