What says fun more than a game of catch, with a fresh new twist?
Many of us look back with fond nostalgia on the party when we first tossed an egg. We remember the nervous tension following the announcement “find a partner!” Then the small time cheating that ensued as you and your partner bent as close to each other as possible, while taking the smallest measurable steps backward at each successful catch. Ahh, the nervousness as the egg zoomed through the air to your hands, and half uttered whispers of ‘please don’t let it break, at least not on me!’ Good times.
Let the good times roll right onto the next generation!
Key Points
- This game is great for children five and up. A child needs good hand-eye coordination to play this game well.
- Very young kids can play with foam balls, while older kids can use eggs or water balloons for an extra challenge.
- Introduce handicaps to make the game harder for older kids, like using a towel instead of your hands to toss and catch!
Toss It!
Items Needed
Beyond the timeless hours you spend on catching and throwing lessons with your child there is really very little preparation required. For the most basic game all you need is similar objects for each pairing to toss. This can range from soft Nerf-type balls for the youngest tossers, to the more sophisticated use of eggs or water balloons for older tossers.
A few of the variations require nets or towels. If you have them they are fun, but not necessary.
Ages This Game is Appropriate For
Since this involves a lot of hand-eye coordination this game is better for children 5 years of age or older. Teenagers will still find this game entertaining with a few added challenges.
How to Play
The object of play is very simple! Stand facing your partner and toss the ball, balloon, or egg to them. With each successful catch each partner takes a backwards step. As the egg or water balloons break the partnership is disqualified. The last team with in-tact throwing objects wins.
Variations
For the youngest children this might be a very short game if the first dropped ball or broken egg eliminated them. Try a three strikes rule. This allows for drops and lets the game last more than five seconds.
For older kids, ages 12 plus, add a handicap, or additional tools. Have each pair stretch a towel between them. Then forbid the use of hands. In other words, teams will use the towel to catch and then toss the balloon or egg to another pair. This really heightens the challenge and the fun. A special note if you add towels though is that you’ll also need more space. Any size towel works. Beach or bath towels are the easiest to use, but a hand towel still works and is a real challenge.
Still not challenging enough? Try adding a net. The net that you find in a backyard badminton set is perfect. The balloon must then be thrown over the net, caught in a towel, and then returned back over the net. All other rules still hold; the last team with unbroken tossing object wins!
Other Considerations
Remember to always promote good sportsmanship when kids are playing games together! Young kids are especially prone to feelings of frustration and disappointment, which can quickly spiral into a temper tantrum. If this happens, pull the kid aside and chat with them to help them calm down. Help them understand that everyone loses sometimes; that doesn't mean the fun they had isn't worth anything!
You'll also want to watch out for too much rowdiness. While this is an active game, you don't want players getting too crazy with their throws! Those playing with eggs or water balloons are likely going to be careful, but anyone using a regular ball might be tempted to whip it at their partner. If you see any sort of ball-whipping going on, make sure to end it before someone gets hurt.
If you're playing with eggs or water balloons, remember that they'll make a mess! This is definitely an outdoor game. Make sure you're playing in an area of your yard that you don't mind getting coated with broken eggs. The next rain shower will wash it all away, but in the meantime you'll have to deal with the mess. If you aren't expecting any rain soon, grab the hose and wash it away. The last thing you want is the smell of rotten eggs in your yard!
No matter how or what you decide to toss, a new generation is waiting! So go ahead, Toss It!