4 Types of Throwing and Catching Games to Play With Kids

The simple game of throwing a ball back and forth and catching it must be the most basic game in the world. But in reality, it works with mobility, reflex, and attentiveness of body and mind, especially for young kids. If you want to take this parent-kid fun-time staple to a new level, there are different variations to try out. Here are a few to spend some quality time outdoors with your kids.

500

This game is a classic spin on the traditional throw and catch. It requires three or more players, one is the thrower and the rest are catchers. The thrower stands away from the catchers at an agreed-upon distance. While tossing the ball high in the air, the thrower shouts out a number between 25 and 500. Whoever catches the ball gets that amount of points. If the ball gets dropped or bounced, the responsible catcher loses the exact same points. The game lasts until one catcher achieves 500 points or more.

Horse

Horse is the reimagined version of the classic basketball game, making it suitable for playing throw and catch. The rules are the same here. A group of players stand at a distance from each other and throw a ball around. The player who misses a catch gets a letter among E, H, O, R, and S. If the ball is thrown badly and uncatchable, the thrower gets a letter among the set. The player who gets all the letters spelling Horse is out. The last player standing wins the game.

Two Ball Catch

This game requires two players and two balls. Each player has to throw their ball to the opposite player simultaneously, and then try to catch the coming ball from the opposite side. Rhythm and timing are everything in this game. Amidst dropped balls and shared giggles, this game is great to work on reflexes and coordination. The motto here is to keep the game going as long as possible without any drops. And that’s definitely not easy!

Backward Catch

Another spin on the classic throw-and-catch game, this one needs two players. One player stands backward at 3-4 feet apart from the other one. The one who’s not standing backward gives a heads-up and throws the ball to the other player. The backward-standing player tries to catch the ball without facing toward it or seeing it and must try to catch it on at least one bounce. Maintaining the backward position, the player then must throw the ball back.

Tips to Stay Warm at Home Without Splurging on Home-Heating

As winter is setting in, chances are that your home is gradually getting chillier. But heating your entire home and having it all day long isn’t exactly an affordable option! Here are a few easy tips to solve the problem and keep yourself warm and cozy while working from home in winter.

Proper Clothing

The best way to be warm in colder months is to maintain our core body temperature or raise it whenever necessary. To do so, you can heat the whole house, or you can heat yourself! You know which one is cheaper, right? So, while staying at home, wrap yourself up in proper clothing. Woolen leggings and jumpers trap millions of tiny air pockets providing insulation. Thermals are great, of course, but layering your ordinary clothing will get the job done too. While sitting, a duvet or blanket covering the legs and waist will help. If needed, add a warm water bottle underneath. You can also snuggle in a wearable electric blanket.

Focusing on Key Areas

Your palms and feet are the key areas of your body, as the temperature of these areas dominates the entire perception of thermal comfort or discomfort. Think of fingerless gloves, insulation socks, and slippers to cover up your feet and palms. When not typing, place your palms in your armpits from time to time to keep them warm. If you got enough to splurge, take the luxury route and pick a pair of heated slippers and gloves each.

Capturing the Losing Heat

Expert mountaineers always suggest keeping the head warm to get warmer hands. The blood vessels on the scalp don’t constrict in the cold as much as other body parts. That means the heat can get easily lost through the head. So, keeping a woolen hat ready on the desk comes in handy. Your body can also lose heat when it rises from underneath the clothing but escapes at the open neck area. So, a scarf or stole, and a buff or polo neck make a great difference here.

Exercising

This one practice can be a real lifestyle hack for so many problems! While exercising, almost three-quarters of the used energy gets transferred into heat. So, just stepping up and down the staircase with a bit of speed can generate about 100 watts of heating in your body, raising the overall body temperature just within a few minutes. A short span of exercising now and then will literally warm up your body, making a big difference to your general thermal comfort. There’s no denying that it’s great for your overall health too!