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Toddler kicking a soft ball toward a laundry basket turned on its side like a goal on the living room floor
Gross motorKick To TargetIndoor

Laundry Basket Goal Kick.

Turn a laundry basket into a floor-level goal and let your child kick, retrieve, and repeat.

Play time
5-10+ min
Age
1-3 years
Energy
Medium
Mess
Low
Effort
Low
Where
Indoor
Start here

The recipe.

Low parent effort
3 things

What you need

  • 1 laundry basket
  • 1 soft ball or 1 rolled-up sock
  • 1 open floor space
5 min minimum

Setup

Then start the loop
Step 01
Turn the laundry basket on its side so the open end faces your child like a low goal.
Step 02
Put the soft ball or rolled sock on the floor about one toddler step in front of the basket.
Step 03
Leave enough space behind the ball for your child to walk up and swing one foot.
Step 04
Sit beside the basket so you can stop wild kicks and send the ball back quickly.
"Ready, kick."
The loop

How play unfolds.

Multi-panel sequence of a toddler lining up a soft ball, kicking it toward a laundry basket goal, then walking to retrieve it
  1. 01
    Put the ball or sock on the start spot and say, "Kick it in."
  2. 02
    Let your child kick toward the basket.
  3. 03
    Go get the ball together whether it lands inside or nearby.
  4. 04
    Bring it back to the start spot and kick again.

Safety Check

  • Use a soft ball or rolled sock so the kick stays low-risk indoors.
  • Keep the kicking lane clear so your child does not trip during the retrieve.
  • Stay close if your child starts throwing the object instead of kicking it near furniture or other people.
Supporting the play

What to say in the moment

Match what you say to what you see.

Prompt ladder
Level 1 (Start)
"Kick it in."
Level 2 (Keep going)
"Try again."
Level 3 (Stretch)
"Can you kick from here?"
Level 4 (Extend)
"Let's score one more."
If your child seems...
What you'd see
Focused
What to do
Say
"You found the basket."
Add
Name one action, like kick or in.
Extend
Take one small step back before the next turn.

Make it easier

Younger end
  • -Use a rolled sock if the ball bounces too far.
  • -Turn the basket opening straight toward your child instead of at an angle.
  • -Start with the ball almost touching the basket.

Make it harder

Older end
  • +Move the starting spot a little farther back.
  • +Let your child carry the ball back and set it down on the spot alone.
  • +Wait before helping so your child can line up the kick independently.

If it's not working

If you see
If child ignores it
Roll the ball slowly into the basket yourself and say, "Your turn to kick."
If you see
If child misuses it
Put out only one soft object, say, "Feet kick," and move the object back to the starting spot.
If you see
If child gets frustrated
Move the ball closer to the basket and count any gentle tap toward the opening as a win.
Skill spotlight
Kicking To Target

Kicking a ball or sock toward a clear target with growing control

This helps a child control balance, leg swing, and force while aiming at something they can see during active play.

  • •Repeating the same kick-and-retrieve loop gives your child practice aiming the body toward one visible target.
  • •Kicking one soft object at a time lets your child work on balance, leg swing, and force without a lot of extra noise in the setup.
  • •Walking back for the same object keeps the game predictable, which supports staying with the loop a little longer.
Real-world transfer
  • Active playground-style ball play
  • Moving the body toward a clear goal during simple games
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Keep playing

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