Help me give my students balls and hula hoops. Engaging in active play helps children develop coordination, balance, and motor skills, while also providing a healthy outlet for energy and stress.
Kindergarten students will use balls and hula hoops on the playground in a variety of age-appropriate and developmentally beneficial ways that support both their physical and social-emotional growth. With balls, students can engage in simple throwing, catching, rolling, and kicking activities that build hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills. These activities often happen in pairs or small groups, encouraging cooperation, turn-taking, and communication. Balls can also be used for structured games like relay races or rolling games that help children follow directions and develop spatial awareness.
Hula hoops provide another layer of movement and creativity.
Younger students may use them not only for traditional waist-spinning, but also as targets for bean bag tosses, to practice jumping in and out of, or as pretend play tools transforming into car steering wheels, animal cages, or fairy rings in imaginative games. These types of play are especially valuable in Kindergarten, where learning through movement and exploration is key. Overall, these tools help children build the physical stamina, self-regulation, and cooperative skills that prepare them to focus, participate, and succeed in the classroom environment.
What makes my Kindergarten students special is their boundless curiosity, joyful energy, and eagerness to connect with others. Many of them are learning how to navigate a structured school setting for the first time. They are incredibly resilient, compassionate, and quick to cheer each other on whether they’re trying something new or working through a challenge. Providing them with balls and hula hoops on the playground honors their need for movement and play while nurturing the social and physical development that makes them such vibrant, capable learners. These tools help amplify the joyful spirit they already bring to school each day, allowing them to thrive both on the playground and in the classroom.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Jade Dearman and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
