All children can benefit from (and will likely enjoy) rolling, catching, kicking, dribbling, and tossing a ball—an inexpensive, readily available, and versatile toy. Playing with balls improves kids' motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and timing, which are important parts of the developmental progression of toddlers. The skills children learn by playing with balls will also be important once they graduate to collaborative and competitive play.
What Your Child Learns
Balls help build balance skills and allow little ones to practice transferring an object from one hand to the other.
Rolling a ball back and forth is a way to build a social bond between two people (you and your baby, or your baby and a sibling or playmate). This turn-taking game is also an introduction to the concept of cause and effect.
Toddlers will enjoy discovering a ball's abilities and the different effects of bouncing, rolling, tossing, and kicking it.2 A ball will remain an entertaining toy as your child transitions from independent play and parallel play to collaborative play, which is vital in developing social skills, such as learning how to share, how to follow rules, and how to negotiate.
Choosing the Right Ball
Ball Safety
All balls for babies and toddlers should be large enough that they are not a choking hazard. Generally, this means the ball should have a diameter of at least 1.75 inches—you can use a toilet paper roll insert as a guide—so that your child can't accidentally swallow it.
The best balls for toddlers overall may be Wiffle balls because they are lightweight and have holes that make them easy for toddlers to handle. They are also less likely to cause injury or damage.
For indoor use, you may want to pick Wiffle balls or small, soft balls that are less likely to break anything. Beach balls can also be a fun alternative. Keep large and/or heavy balls outdoors, or use them inside only when you're able to supervise.
Rules for Play
Set ground rules about throwing balls, indoors or out, and enforce them.4
 You should also set rules about not throwing balls at other people except when they are prepared to catch them. Teach your child that balls should not be used as a weapon and that balls thrown in the house can cause damage.
Any games that you play with a ball will also have rules that are appropriate for the age of the child. A toddler may be too young to understand rules other than what is needed for safety, so keep their games simple (and breakable items far away).