Keep Your Eye on the Ball, and on the Future

It’s hard to believe how fast kids grow. As they adjust to their rapidly lengthening arms and legs, children are not always very graceful. During childhood, fine motor skills are important to kids’ safety and well being, enabling them to avoid most unnecessary bumps and bruises. Like anything else, it takes a bit of work to master hand-eye coordination, but the effort is also an investment in the future - fine motor skills aren’t only important for kids; they’re the kind of skills that will help adults thrive in a competitive job market. From surgeons to auto mechanics, specialized trades demand a high level of cooperation between the mind and the fingers. Mending the delicate system of moving parts of an automobile engine takes as much patience and precision as operating on the the human body. Coordinated hands and fingers are the key to success in these and many other such fields. But how can we encourage kids - lanky and ungainly - to tune their fine motor skills at such a young age? The best way to improve hand-eye coordination is to start early. To overcome their growing pains, kids can improve coordination through physical activity and play, already a cornerstone of a fun-filled childhood. Most every kid has a favorite sport, and engaging with a child’s existing athletic interests can help to improve his eye-hand coordination. While some assert that certain video games can even facilitate an improvement in hand-eye coordination, an active and productive alternative is to get outside for a game of catch. Among the best youth sports for coordination are baseball and softball; their core concept of “keeping your eye on the ball” epitomizes the synchronization of mind and body. Mastering the throwing and catching a baseball and making solid bat-on-ball contact are huge feats in hand-eye coordination. The more your child practices hitting and catching, the more fine-tuned his reaction time will be. Exercise your child’s mind and body together with America’s favorite pastime! It can be tough to get the hang of those newly long limbs, but staying active can make the transition smoother. A home batting cage is a great way to support your child’s love of the game while also supporting the development of his motor skills. Call Wheelhouse Batting Cages today for a batting cage for your home!