Football Bean Bag Toss

[45 Minutes]

Make this soft football together and use it for an indoor game that you can play again and again while you watch a real game on TV.

You'll need:

• large piece of felt or fabric • scissors • needle and thread (or sewing machine) • beanbag fillings: sand, gravel, or birdseed • large piece of cardboard • ruler • markers

What to do:

1. Invite your child to help you cut a football shape out of cardboard.
2. Double the piece of fabric on the table and ask her to trace around the shape onto the felt.
3. Help her cut 2 football shapes out of the fabric.
4. Sew the shapes together by hand or machine, leaving a small opening.
5. Invite your child to fill the bean bag with the dry filling.
6. Sew closed.
7. Use the large sheet of cardboard to make half of a football field.
8. Encourage your child to help you draw lines across the field using a ruler.
9. Help her write the numbers 10,20,30,40,50 on the field.

How to play:

1. Take turns standing back and tossing the bean bag football onto the field. The object of the game is to toss the "football" onto the goal line.
2. Try standing at different distances when you play.
3. Make up other rules as you and your child play the game together.

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• How many times can we toss the football back and forth without dropping it? Let's try it and count each time.
• Do you watch football on TV? Which is your favorite team?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop eye/hand coordination and large muscle skills.