Teaching a Toddler to Play Tee Ball

T-Ball or tee ball, a version of baseball for children, has a batting tee set instead of a pitcher so that children will not get hurt by a ball being thrown by a pitcher. All other fundamentals of tee ball are derived from baseball, with some basic differences adapted for tee ball to cater small children.

  1. Scoring

    • The biggest difference between tee ball and baseball is the scoring. Most of the time, tee ball doesn’t involve scoring to encourage participation among kids. Parents are allowed to help and coach their children if they are having difficulty with the game. This non-scoring process makes the game more applicable for children and encourages each one to participate, without the pressure of competition.

    Equipment

    • Take it slow when teaching a toddler how to play tee ball. Start with materials that will not hurt the child; a stuffed ball and foam bats are some of the items that you can use. When the child is 4 to 6 years old, she can start using the regular bat and ball used in tee ball. Parents can also buy a batting tee or make one of their own when they teach their kids.

    Environment

    • Learning the basics can be done inside the house, such as tossing, rolling and catching the ball. Parents can move to the backyard to practice tossing and batting, as well as running. Parents can set up makeshift bases in their own backyard by using different markers to pinpoint where the bases are. Afterwards, try taking the child to a baseball field to look at the diamond and watch a baseball game.

    Basic Procedure

    • Toddlers can start with tossing and catching the ball. Parents should gradually decrease the ball’s diameter as the child grows until it reaches the diameter used in tee ball. The same goes for the distance of the throw. As the child gets the hang of tossing and catching the ball, the distance should also increase. Alternate between tossing, rolling and bouncing the ball.

      After tossing and catching the ball, move on to batting. It is recommended that the child be at least 4 years of age when parents teach the child how to bat. Kids can use a foam bat or a plastic kiddie bat to practice.

      Set the ball on the tee and make sure that the tee is adjusted to the height of the toddler to make it easy for her to hit the ball. Parents should steer clear of the path of the ball so they don't get hurt. Instruct the child to hit the ball and tell her that it is alright to not hit hard.