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This page contains Beanbags exercises 1–4, which help to develop eye-hand coordination, fine motor skills, and visual-motor integration.
The tutor must buy or make two beanbags to do the beanbag exercises.
Cut two pieces of cloth, about 9 by 4 inches (24 × 10 centimeters). Fold each piece in half, then sew two sides together to form two little bags of 4½ by 4 inches (12 × 10 centimeters). Fill the bags with dried beans, maize, corn, or rice before sewing up the open side. Note that the bags should not be filled too tightly.
One can also use Koosh balls for these exercises.
Beanbags exercise 1
The tutor and the learner stand facing each other, about 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) apart. The tutor has one of the beanbags in her hands. She throws the beanbag to the learner, who must catch it with both hands. The learner then throws the bag back to the tutor. The learner must take turns throwing with the left and right hands; one throw must be performed with the left hand and the next with the right hand.
See the demonstration video below.
As soon as the learner can catch the beanbag properly — i.e., 9 out of 10 times — proceed to Beanbags exercise 2.
Beanbags exercise 2
The tutor and the learner stand facing each other, about 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) apart. The tutor has both beanbags in her hands, one in each hand. She first nominates the hand with which the learner must catch, e.g., “Right!” and then throws one of the beanbags to the learner, who must catch it with the nominated hand. The learner then throws the bag back to the tutor with the same hand. The tutor throws the bag to the learner again, this time nominating the other hand. The learner must again catch it with the nominated hand.
See the demonstration video below.
As soon as the learner can catch the beanbag properly — i.e., 9 out of 10 times — proceed to Beanbags exercise 3.
Beanbags exercise 3
The tutor and the learner stand facing each other, about 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) apart. The tutor has both beanbags in her hands, one in each hand. She throws one of the beanbags to the learner, who must catch it with the hand on the same side as the hand with which the tutor threw it. The tutor then throws the other bag to the learner while the learner simultaneously throws the bag in their hand back to the tutor. The tutor and learner continue to throw the two beanbags simultaneously to each other.
See the demonstration video below.
As soon as the learner can catch the beanbags properly — i.e., 9 out of 10 times — proceed to Beanbags exercise 4.
Beanbags exercise 4
The tutor and the learner stand facing each other, about 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) apart. The tutor has both beanbags in her hands, one in each hand. She throws both beanbags simultaneously to the learner, who must catch both, one in each hand. The learner then throws both bags back to the tutor, who must also catch them both, one in each hand. The tutor and learner continue to throw the two beanbags simultaneously to each other.
See the demonstration video below.
