“Playing with balls is good for not only muscle development and hand-eye coordination, [but also] social skills, as most ball-playing activities will involve others,” Heather Shafi, MD, FAAP tells Verywell Family. They’ll be working on fine motor skills, spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and balance, too. Whether your kiddo wants to play according to the rules or make up their own game, balls are good to have in your toy arsenal. You’ll want them to be durable, age-appropriate, and above all, fun—and that’s the criteria we used when making up this list. Use this guide to find the right ball for your child, budget, and needs. Young babies will have so much fun exploring this 6-inch ball. Made with eight distinct sections, the ball is easy to grab and super soft. Infants will enjoy engaging with each section since they feature contrasting textures, different sounds, and colors. “When babies are able to sit up without support they can start rolling balls back and forth with caregivers," Dr. Heather Shafi says. “They usually start being able to throw [at] around 1.” Since this ball is super soft, it’s safe to roll, toss, and use as a tummy time or crawling motivator. Price at time of publication: $5
Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $38 “Kicking happens shortly after around 15 months old,” Dr. Shafi says of a typical developmental timeline. “[Their] decreased hand-eye coordination makes catching and throwing or kicking proper distances more difficult until 3 to 4 years old.” An important note: The ball is shipped deflated and requires a needle pump that’s not included. Price at time of publication: $15 The ball will say the alphabet or count when tossed in the air. In addition to providing auditory learning, it has reversible fabric panels with both letters and numbers, so you can swap out the look and lesson of the ball. Price at time of publication: $25 Thanks to the string design, the ball isn’t overly bouncy and lands softly, so you don’t have to worry about breaking things. It’s also a great stress reliever and works as a fidget toy. Parents may be fighting their kids for a chance to play with this classic twist on a ball. Price at time of publication: $23 Price at time of publication: $20 Pint-sized football fans will have a blast with the playbook feature on the ball. There are long and short plays diagrammed right on the side of the football. Price at time of publication: $12, does not include pump We like how these junior balls are red and yellow, making it easy to distinguish them from standard balls. The three-pack is a perfect starter set, but if your kiddo is serious about tennis, you’ll probably need to invest in more. If you’re not playing tennis, these balls are also fun for a game of catch. Price at time of publication: $13 Price at time of publication: $36
What to Look for When Buying Balls for Kids
Use these tips to find the right ball for your needs, budget, and child.
Material
Choose a material that works for the child’s age and stage. Younger kids need balls that are soft and safe to put in their mouths. Older kids should still play with relatively soft balls. “Soft, stuffed balls and larger, light rubber balls are good for infants and young toddlers,” Dr. Shafi says “Typical multi-purpose and specific sports-related balls are better as kids get bigger.”
Accessories
When buying balls, especially related to sports, some need accessories like a soccer goal, baseball mitt, or tennis racket. Keep your budget and needs in mind. Tennis balls on their own won’t result in a tennis game unless you have two rackets to get playing. Many balls made for kids come in bundles that include all that you’ll need to get started, so if you are budget-conscious, that could be an ideal option.
Age Level
Many balls come in a variety of age-appropriate levels. Soccer balls are made in sizes 1 through 5, tennis balls come in two strength levels, and other balls are made in varying sizes and weights. The right-sized ball will be safer, more accessible, and therefore more fun for kids.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 12-year-old son, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year-old daughter. Maya’s kids are all super, super active, and her house, yard, garage, and even minivan trunk have a huge variety of balls. Since her kids are older, she makes all ball playing take place outdoors to keep her windows and TV safe. She loves keeping a ball in the car trunk. If she ends up at a park or open area, she can always give her kids a ball and know they will create some kind of fun game.
