Ages 5–7
Basketball activities for 5- to 7-year-olds
At 5–7, skip formal drills. Use a smaller ball and a low target (a laundry basket works), and play short games built around rolling, catching, dribbling and soft shots.
Five short games
- Roll and catch · 1:00 Sit facing each other and roll the ball back and forth; then try gentle two-hand bounce passes.
- Dribble freeze · 2:00 They dribble anywhere; when you say freeze, they catch the ball and hold it still.
- Statue balance · 1:00 Hold the ball overhead and balance on one foot, then the other.
- Basket shots · 2:00 Shoot into a basket or low hoop from very close. Step back only when they want to.
- Their choice + celebrate · 1:00 Let them pick the last game.
Equipment that helps
- A size 3 or 4 ball, or a soft playground ball.
- A hoop lowered as far as it goes, or a basket on the ground.
- Flat, dry surface.
Your one grown-up habit
Name the effort, not the result: “You kept your eyes up that time” lands better than “Nice shot.”
Sources and further reading
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): Is your child ready for sports? ↗
- Positive Coaching Alliance: resources for parents ↗
Written by the Rookie Grownups team. General guidance, not professional coaching or medical advice. Adapt to your child, stop for pain or distress, and follow qualified coaches for technical and safety guidance. Linked organizations do not endorse us.