Baby Basketball
 

ITEMS NEEDED: laundry basket and some bean bags.  (Note: You could use mated socks as beanbags.  Or you could get rid of your pile of socks with no match and put dry beans in to make your own beanbags.  Just tie off with some yarn or sew shut. You could even just tie a knot in the sock.  If you are using old socks that don't have a mate and they are plain white socks...use markers and dress them up a little!)

VARIATION: You could bring a cardboard box instead of a laundry basket.  Cut little windows here and there with a blade cutter...being very careful!!  Set the box against the wall, open side down and let the children put the beanbags through the holes.

 LET THE FUN BEGIN!   Let children take turns throwing the socks/ beanbags into the basket.  We have a lot of younger children in our nursery, and they love to just walk over and put them in.  They are so proud of themselves!!  If you have an older nursery, you could make it a little harder like, "Find the striped beanbag" or "Get the green sock" or "Can you find the yellow polka dot beanbag?"  We have almost all boys in our nursery so this is a really fun one for them.  PLUS it is easy to take the basket away and not tempt them to play basketball when you're on to other activities.

Have everyone grab a beanbag afterwards and have them do group activities together...like:
     * Everyone toss it in the basket at the same time...count with me, 1...2...3... go!
     * Put the beanbag on your head...
     * Now walk forward three steps...
     * Etc.