Okay, so I’ve been trying to get my little ones more active, and volleyball seemed like a fun option. But, you know, regular volleyball is way too intense for them. So I started looking into some “kids volleyball games,” and let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey!
Finding the Right Games
First, I scoured the internet. I typed in everything from “volleyball for kids” to “easy volleyball games.” I found a bunch of stuff, but a lot of it was either too complicated or just…boring.
Then, I remembered my own gym class days. We used to play some modified games that were pretty fun. I tried to recall what we did and jotted down some ideas. I realized i have to start with basic skills.
The “Keep It Up” Challenge
This one is super simple. I basically just blew up a balloon (a regular party balloon, nothing fancy) and challenged the kids to keep it in the air using only their hands. No catching!
- We started with just one balloon, and they took turns hitting it.
- It was hilarious! They were running around, diving (onto the soft carpet, of course!), and generally having a blast.
- Once they got the hang of it, I added a second balloon to make it more challenging.
- I can see them improved the hand-eye coordination.
The “Target Practice” Game
For this one, I set up a laundry basket as a target. I had some soft, lightweight balls (think beach ball size, but not as firm).
- I showed them the basic “bump” motion – you know, forearms together, hitting the ball upwards.
- Then, they practiced bumping the ball into the basket from a short distance.
- We moved the basket further away as they got better.
- We even made it a competition, keeping track of how many “baskets” they each made.
The “Over the Net” (Sort Of) Game
Okay, we don’t have an actual volleyball net, but I got creative! I used a clothesline and draped a sheet over it. It was low enough for them to easily hit the ball over.
- We used the same soft balls from the “Target Practice” game.
- I divided the kids into two teams (even just two kids works!).
- They practiced bumping the ball back and forth over the “net.”
- We didn’t really keep score, it was more about just getting the ball over and having fun.
Final Thoughts and my sharing
Honestly, the best part was just seeing them laughing and moving. It didn’t matter if they weren’t doing things “perfectly.” We were all having fun, and that’s what counts. These simple games are a great way to introduce them to the basic concepts of volleyball, and It seems like help them a lot. I plan to keep doing these games and maybe add some more challenging ones as they get older. It’s all about making it fun and age-appropriate!
