No-Net Volleyball
Episode # 146. Paddle and Ball
In a small, flat, square box, the children give the Storypeople a paddle and ball. Mr. Man hits the ball with the paddle and tries to keep it in the air, but it keeps falling. He gets tired running to where the ball comes down. So the children send Grandmamma and Auntie to help. But they get bored waiting for their turn to hit the ball. So the children give them each a ball and the trio happily hit the balls back and forth.

Directions
Many young children will not be developmentally able to consistently hit a ball with a paddle, so instead, play no-net volleyball with your child using a small beach ball or balloon. The idea is to keep the ball in the air as long as you can. Whoever is closest to the ball should try to hit or kick it. Count how many successful touches every player takes before the ball hits the ground.

Talk About It
While viewing the Paddle and Ball episode, you might start a conversation by asking your child: “If you were Mr. Man, how would you keep the ball from falling to the ground?” or “What other kinds of games do you know that are played with a ball?”

As you talk about the things on screen, you can help expand your child’s vocabulary by alternating the words you use with their synonyms. In the Paddle and Ball episode you might describe what Mr. Man is doing as hitting, striking, or whacking the ball.