Kicking and Balancing
Working on Kicking and Balancing at Home
Build kicking and balancing at home with short, daily, playful bursts — beanbag balances, line walks and one-foot games for balance, plus a big soft ball for kicking. Keep it joyful, follow your child's lead, and check in with a clinician if you notice stiffness, floppiness, one-sided avoidance or lost skills.
Every wobble your child catches and every ball they boot is a tiny win for their growing brain and body — and your living room is the perfect practice ground.
In short
You can build kicking and balancing at home with short, playful daily bursts — five to ten minutes is plenty. Start with steady games like standing on one foot or walking a taped line, then add gentle kicking with a soft, large ball. Keep it joyful, follow your child's lead, and celebrate effort, not perfection.Easy home activities
For balancing- Beanbag balance — pop a soft toy or beanbag on their head and see how many steps they can take.
- The line walk — stick a strip of tape on the floor and walk heel-to-toe along it, arms out like an aeroplane.
- Flamingo game — hold hands and stand on one foot, counting together; swap feet and beat the count.
- Stepping stones — lay out cushions or paper plates to hop or step between.
For kicking
- Big soft ball first — a large, lightweight ball is easier to connect with than a small one.
- Goal time — set up two cushions as a goal and cheer every attempt.
- Roll and kick — gently roll the ball towards your child so they learn to time their kick.
- Standing kick — once steady, encourage one foot planted while the other swings — this blends both skills beautifully.
Make it stick — practise barefoot for better grip and feedback, keep sessions short and fun, and stop while they're still enjoying it. Repetition across the week matters far more than one long session.
When to check in
Children develop at their own pace, so a little wobbliness is completely normal. If your child seems unusually stiff, very floppy, consistently avoids using one side, loses skills they once had, or you simply have a niggling worry, a friendly developmental check is the right next step — earlier support is always easier support.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under the care of a qualified clinician — these home activities support play and practice, never replace assessment. Our physiotherapy team can show you tailored balance and gross-motor play for your child's stage, and the AbilityScore® gives an objective baseline so you can see progress over time. Explore more on Kicking and Balancing.Trusted sources
Guided by milestone resources from the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early." programme and the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren guidance on gross-motor play.Next step — message our team on WhatsApp at +91 91001 81181 to book a developmental check and get a home play plan made for your child.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
Watch for unusual stiffness or floppiness, consistently avoiding one side of the body, frequent falling beyond what's typical for the age, or loss of a skill your child once had — these warrant a prompt developmental check.
Try this at home
Turn waiting moments into balance practice: while the kettle boils, play 'flamingo' — stand on one foot together and count, then swap feet and beat the score.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-11 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
At what age should my child be able to kick a ball?
Many children begin kicking a large ball forward somewhere around two years, becoming more accurate and stronger over the following year. Every child develops at their own pace, so use this as a gentle guide rather than a deadline — practice and play help most.
How long should home practice sessions be?
Short and frequent wins. Five to ten minutes of playful practice most days does far more than one long session. Stop while your child is still enjoying it, so they come back eager next time.
What if my child keeps falling during balancing games?
Some wobbling and falling is a normal part of learning. Hold hands at first and lower the challenge. If you notice your child falling much more than other children their age, seems very stiff or floppy, or avoids one side, a friendly developmental check is worthwhile.
Do I need special equipment?
Not at all. A strip of tape for a line, cushions for stepping stones, a soft toy for head-balancing, and a large lightweight ball are all you need — most of it is already at home.