5 Rolling-Good Ball Playdate Ideas

Outside much these days? We sure are! Recently, we gathered a few friends on a warm day to work off that energy with a roll-icking good playdate focused around throwing, rolling, and spinning activities. Here’s a collection of ball playdate ideas!

Never is there a season when kids want to be rolling and tumbling around more than summertime! We gathered a few friends on a warm day to work off that energy with a roll-icking good playdate focused around throwing, rolling, and spinning activities. 

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Host a Let’s Have a Ball Themed Playdate!

Our small group was content to play each game together. If more kids had showed up, I had stations for each activity so multiple games could be played at once.

>>Looking for another playdate idea? Try this Ocean Adventure Themed Playdate!

Bouncy Kickball Games

A popular toy was the bouncy kickball (test the air out beforehand!). Kickballs are a number-one item to have on hand for a ball-themed playdate. A bit softer than other balls, a kickball is a great start for toddlers to enjoy a game of catch. Plus, any number of games from Foursquare to soccer, obstacle courses to relay races can be played with a bouncy ball!

Bowling Ball Playdate Ideas

The longest game the kids played turned out to be bowling with this adorable insect bowling set. Bowling was great for taking turns, counting, and eye-hand coordination. The rolling action is different than throwing games and easier for the smaller children to manage. We changed up the action by lining the pins up in various configurations (a circle!).  Next time, I’m going to tape down pool noodles to the sidewalk or driveway to create “bumpers” for the younger players.

Flying disc Games (AKA Frisbee!)

It’s a bird, a plane, it’s… a flying disc! Fun to throw, a good challenge to catch, and got our group of kids running in circles trying to nab it before it hit the ground. Idea: Set up buckets around the yard to play a “Frolf” (Frisbee+golf) game, trying to flick the disc into the buckets from a certain distance.

I love this soft easy catch flying disc because toddlers and preschoolers won’t get hurt if it hits them in the face.

Toss and Catch Games for Preschoolers

The preschoolers loved the “sticky” Froggy toss and grip game. While fun for any age, children still working on coordination and tracking a flying ball will appreciate the success they have catching the “sticky” balls with their adorable froggy mitts. 

Get Rolling Games!

Finally, for some ball-istic moves, the kids experienced a Day-in-the-Life-of-a-Ball by using their whole bodies in rolling action! We had rolling downhill and somersault races as they pretended to be a life-sized ball!  

Don’t limit yourself to these ball playdate ideas! Never underestimate the creative power of children to come up with amazing games all on their own. Simply hand them a few round props and ask what they’d like to do. We heard all sorts of clever ideas: obstacle courses, soccer tag, relays… 

Ah, they were exhausted after all that rolling, throwing, tossing, catching movement. So we ended the day with round snacks like crackers, pepperoni, carrot coins, and oranges and apples sliced into circles to complete the theme!

After trying out all these ball playdate ideas, children will have learned a few new games, and perhaps created some of their own!

How are you keeping busy this summer?