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How to Practise Kicking a Ball With Your Child at Home
Kicking a ball blends balance, timing and coordination. Practise at home with a large, soft, lightly inflated ball: start with foot-to-ball taps, then stationary kicks while holding your hand, then add a target and finally a rolling ball. Keep sessions short, playful and praise-rich.
In this answer 5 sections
Every wobbly first kick is a small celebration of balance, planning and joy rolled into one — and your living room is the perfect practice ground.
In short
Kicking a ball is a big-step motor skill that blends balance on one leg, timing and coordination. You can build it at home with a large, lightweight ball, lots of praise, and short playful sessions — most children begin kicking from a stationary stand around 18–24 months and grow steadier through the third year. Keep it fun, follow your child's lead, and there is no rush.
How to practise at home
Start with the right ball. A large (size 4–5), soft, lightly inflated ball is easiest to make contact with. A slightly under-inflated ball rolls slower and is more forgiving.
Build it in steps:
- Step on it first — let your child simply stand and tap the ball with a foot while holding your hand. This teaches the feeling of foot-to-ball contact.
- Stationary kick — place the ball still, just ahead of one foot. Model the kick yourself, then cheer the first contact even if it's a tiny nudge.
- Hold for balance — let them hold your hand or a chair at first; kicking needs them to balance on one leg for a moment.
- Add a target — kick towards a parent, a cardboard-box "goal", or to knock down a light skittle. Targets make it purposeful and joyful.
- Roll and kick — once stationary kicks are easy, slowly roll the ball towards them to introduce timing.
Keep sessions short and warm — 5–10 minutes of laughter beats a long, frustrating drill. Demonstrate, then let them try; describe what they do ("big kick!") to build the link between action and word.
Gentle pointers
Kicking draws on whole-body strength, single-leg balance and motor planning, so progress is gradual and uneven — that is normal. If your child cannot stand briefly on one foot, tires very quickly, strongly avoids using one leg, or shows no interest in any large-motor play well into the third year, it's worth a relaxed developmental check rather than waiting.
The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care — home practice is for play and connection, never self-diagnosis. If you'd like guided support, our occupational therapy team can help build kicking and other gross-motor skills through structured, playful sessions. Across 70+ centres and 25 million+ therapy sessions, we partner with families to make every milestone feel reachable.
Trusted sources
Guided by CDC developmental milestone resources, the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren guidance on active play, and WHO nurturing-care principles for early movement and learning.
Next step — if you'd like a clear picture of your child's motor strengths, book a developmental assessment with our team on WhatsApp: +91 91001 81181.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
CONNECT THE ANSWER TO YOUR CHILD’S DAY
Something to notice. Something to discuss.
What to notice
Watch whether your child can briefly balance on one leg, shows interest in big-movement play, and uses both legs. If single-leg balance, energy for play, or interest in any gross-motor activity is consistently absent into the third year, arrange a relaxed developmental check.
In everyday life
Set up a soft 'goal' from a cardboard box and cheer every contact — a slightly under-inflated ball rolls slower and is far easier for little feet to hit.
Bring your observations and questions to your child’s professional. Choose activities that suit your child’s comfort, abilities and agreed plan.
Bring your questions to a first visitQuestions families ask
At what age do children usually start kicking a ball?
Many children begin kicking a stationary ball from a standing position around 18–24 months and grow steadier through the third year. Every child's pace differs, so focus on playful progress rather than a fixed date.
What kind of ball is best for learning to kick?
A large, soft, lightly inflated ball (around size 4–5) is easiest. A slightly under-inflated ball rolls slower and is more forgiving, making early contact more rewarding.
My child kicks with only one leg — is that a problem?
Having a preferred leg is normal, just as we have a preferred hand. If your child strongly avoids using one leg altogether or seems unable to bear weight on it, mention this at a developmental check.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
References behind this answer.
- Source referenceCDC developmental milestones
- Organisation website · further readingAAP HealthyChildren on active play
- Organisation website · further readingWHO Nurturing Care Framework
References are supplied with this answer. An organisation homepage offers further reading; it does not establish an independent review of this page.
Content attribution: SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network.
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