- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- The net line across the middle of the strip
- A service line on each side, 2 m from the net
- A circle about 1 m wide in each far corner (chalk or tape)
An empty space 3 m by 3 m with nothing breakable in it. A balloon blown up to about the size of a head. Later a racket or bat. No racket? Roll up a newspaper and tape it.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Tap the balloon up with a flat, open hand, so it rises just above your head.
- Move your feet to stay under it.
- Do five taps in a row. Let your child see that your eyes stay on the balloon the whole time.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Hold the balloon in front of you at chest height and let go.
- Tap it up from underneath with a flat, open hand, just hard enough to rise a little above your head.
- Watch it come down and move your feet so you are under it again.
- Tap again and count each tap. When it touches the floor, start again from 1.
- After 5 rounds with the hand, do 5 rounds with the racket, strings facing up like a tray.
- Last round: tap it while walking slowly across the room and back.
How much: 5 rounds with the hand, 5 with the racket and 1 walking
Soft touch, keep it low
Keep it up together
The rules
You and your child keep one balloon in the air, taking turns, and try to beat your family record.
- The child starts with the balloon
- Take turns: one tap each, the child, then you, then the child
- Count every tap aloud together
- When the balloon touches the floor, the round ends. Write the count down
- Play 3 rounds. Your score is your best round
Fair play: The grown-up taps with the hand they do not write with.
- Points
- 1 point for every tap in a round.
- Fouls
- The round ends at once, and you keep the points so far: the balloon touches the floor; the same player taps it twice in a row; a player catches it or holds it
- Win
- Beat your family record. Write the best score on a piece of paper on the wall and try to beat it next time.
- 5
- 10
- 20
10 taps in a row without the balloon touching the floor.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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