Better Parenting
中文Download

Where Will the Ball Go?

Use a rolling and falling ball to catch your baby’s eye. Describe where it goes as they watch, turn, and reach for it.

  • 4 months
  • Quick prep
  • At home
  • About 5 minutes
Focus
Download printable activity (PDF)Opens in a new tab

Developmental benefits

  • Cognitive：Following a ball as it rolls side to side and falls from above gives your baby experience noticing an object’s changing position in space.
  • Language：Describing where the ball is and how it moves helps your baby connect spoken words with what they see.

Preparation

What You’ll Need

  1. 1

    A small ball

Step 1

Roll Side to Side

Place the ball in front of your baby and roll it slowly from one side to the other. As it moves, describe where it is going so your baby can watch along with you.

What to notice

  • Turns their head from side to side to watch the ball roll back and forth Emergent Mathematical Thinking
  • Looks toward the ball when they hear you name it Attending and Understanding

Tips

  • Keep the movement slow and within a short distance so your baby can follow the ball more easily with their eyes.
  • Use simple action words such as “rolling,” “stopped,” and “falling” to describe what the ball is doing.

Step 2

Watch It Move Up and Down

Lift the ball above your baby’s head and let it fall. The movement is fast, so repeat it several times and give your baby another chance to follow it.

What to notice

  • Tries to lift their upper body to look at the ball above Gross Motor
  • Reaches for the ball when it rolls in front of them Reasoning and Problem-Solving

Tips

  • Pause briefly with the ball raised before letting go. The repeated pause gives your baby a cue that the fall is about to begin.
  • Let the ball roll within reach instead of placing it directly in your baby’s hand.

Step 3

Touch and Explore the Ball

When the ball lands in front of your baby, let them hold and explore it. Describe what they do and notice—for example, name the small bumps while they touch the surface.

What to notice

  • Explores the ball by bringing it to their mouth Exploration and Discovery
  • Grasps the ball and feels its uneven surface Perception

Tips

  • If your baby mouths the ball, respond to the action in a light voice: “Not tasty!” The words keep the interaction going while following what they are exploring.

Better Parenting Content Team · Updated September 11, 2026