Hand-eye coordination is incredibly important for the development of the body’s motor or movement skills. Defined as the ability to use the eyes to track — and thus help coordinate — the movement of the hands, hand-eye coordination is essential for a wide variety of physical movements and exercises. Poor hand-eye coordination can lead to difficulties in everyday tasks such as writing, drawing, and even simply moving.
Developing good hand-eye coordination, especially for children, is a must to be healthy. Fortunately, there are many fun ways of doing so.
Various games and pastimes exist that can develop hand-eye coordination in everyone. Here are some games you could play in order to get some exercise, have fun with your loved ones, and practice your hand-eye coordination, all at the same time.
Cornhole
Cornhole is one of the most popular pastimes in the American Midwest due to its origin in the region’s agricultural roots. Originally, bags filled with corn kernels (hence the name) would be thrown into a small hole from a distance. Its long-lasting appeal is due to its inclusivity, allowing people of all ages to join in the fun, and to even work together in teams, contributing to the fun.
If you don’t know where to buy cornhole bags and boards, vibrant industry has sprung up centering on this fun game, with numerous stores popping up everywhere. Now, anyone can get started with this fun pastime that is perfect for everyone who enjoyed playing “catch” or secretly dreamed of being a basketball star.
Ladder toss
Another popular game among outdoor lovers, ladder toss — or ladder ball — is the perfect lawn game for parties and get-togethers. The objective of the game is simple: throw bolas (two small balls connected together by a string) onto a ladder from a distance, without having a bola fall off the ladder.
The beauty of ladder toss as a game is that it is very flexible and easy to understand with regards to rules and participation. Normally, points would be won depending on which rung of the ladder the bola lands on. You could choose to play one-on-one or in teams, where each person gets a fixed number of chances to throw the bola. You can even create a relay version, where each person must have the bola land on a specific rung for before the next person gets to throw. The possibilities — and the fun — are endless.
Sport stacking
Sport stacking (also called speed stacking) involves stacking a set of cups into certain shapes and then collapsing them again back into their starting positions. While this may seem like a simple task, doing so very quickly while stacking the cups precisely enough that the structure does not topple – that requires very good hand-eye coordination.
While those who pursue sport stacking competitively have their own set of special cups and mats to optimize speed, you can easily play this game with plastic or paper cups. This makes it incredibly inclusive, as you don’t need to be outdoors or standing for long periods of time to participate.
There are many ways to develop your physical skills while still having lots of fun. Try these activities, and you might actually find yourself feeling healthier and happier right away.