Most babies start throwing a ball between 12 and 18 months old, though it looks more like an awkward release than an actual throw. By age 2, toddlers can typically attempt an overhand throw, and their aim and distance improve steadily from there.
How Throwing Develops by Age
Throwing a ball isn’t a single skill that appears overnight. It builds in stages over the first few years of life, each one looking noticeably different from the last.
Around 12 months, babies begin experimenting with releasing objects from their hands. You’ll see them drop toys, fling food off a highchair tray, or push a ball off a surface. This isn’t purposeful throwing yet, but it’s the foundation: they’re learning to let go of something on command, which requires coordination between the hand muscles and the brain’s sense of timing.
Between 12 and 18 months, most toddlers can roll a ball back and forth with an adult. The CDC’s 18-month milestone checklist doesn’t list throwing as an expected skill at that age, but it does recommend rolling balls back and forth as a play activity, which suggests it’s a natural precursor. At this stage, if your child does “throw,” the ball probably travels a few inches and goes in a random direction.
By 24 months, the picture changes significantly. The University of Pittsburgh identifies the ability to attempt an overhand throw as a typical motor skill around age 2. “Attempt” is the key word here. A 2-year-old’s overhand throw still lacks power and accuracy, but the motion itself, bringing the arm up and forward, is emerging. The American Academy of Pediatrics also flags kicking a ball as an expected gross motor skill at the 2-year checkup, which reflects the same kind of whole-body coordination that throwing requires.
Between ages 3 and 4, throwing becomes more intentional. Children start aiming at targets, throwing farther, and using their bodies more effectively. They shift their weight forward and rotate their torso instead of just flinging from the arm. By age 5 or 6, most kids can throw overhand with a recognizable windup and follow-through.
What Counts as “Throwing” at Each Stage
Parents sometimes worry because their toddler’s throw looks nothing like what older kids do. That’s completely normal. Here’s what to expect:
- 12 to 18 months: Releasing or pushing a ball forward while sitting or standing. The ball may barely leave their hands. Rolling counts as progress.
- 18 to 24 months: An underhand toss or stiff-armed forward push. The ball might travel a few feet. There’s no real aim.
- 2 to 3 years: Overhand attempts appear. The throw still looks awkward, with both feet planted and most of the motion coming from the elbow. Distance and direction are unpredictable.
- 3 to 5 years: The throw starts involving the whole body. Children step forward with the opposite foot, rotate their hips, and release with better timing. Accuracy improves gradually.
How to Encourage Throwing Skills
You don’t need drills or special equipment. Simple, playful repetition is the most effective way to build throwing skills at any age. Start with rolling a ball back and forth on the floor, which works well from about 12 months onward. This teaches your child to track a moving object, reach for it, and send it back with some intention.
Once your toddler is standing and walking confidently, try standing a few feet apart and tossing a soft ball gently for them to catch or retrieve. Let them throw it back however they want. Pathways.org recommends varying the size of balls you use and giving simple instructions like “throw as slow as you can” or “throw as fast as you can” to help children experiment with force and control. Lightweight, soft balls (foam balls, fabric balls, even balled-up socks) are ideal because they’re easy to grip and won’t hurt anything on impact.
Avoid correcting their technique at this age. A 2-year-old doesn’t need coaching on arm position. They need lots of opportunities to throw things in a context where it’s encouraged rather than scolded. Playing outside, tossing balls into a laundry basket, or throwing beanbags at a target on the ground all work well.
Signs of a Gross Motor Delay
Throwing a ball isn’t one of the core milestones that pediatricians screen for directly, so a late throw on its own isn’t a red flag. What matters more is the broader pattern of physical development. The AAP identifies several signs that may point to a gross motor delay: struggling to roll over, sit, or walk at the expected ages; difficulty holding the head and neck steady; muscles that seem unusually stiff or unusually floppy; and trouble staying balanced or an unusual walking pattern.
A more specific concern is skill regression. If your child used to do something (like standing or walking) and can no longer do it, that’s worth bringing up with your pediatrician promptly. For children with identified gross motor delays, early intervention services such as physical therapy can make a meaningful difference, and they’re available in every state for children under age 3.
If your toddler is walking, climbing on and off furniture, and generally moving with confidence but just hasn’t shown interest in throwing yet, that’s almost certainly within the range of normal. Kids develop ball skills on their own timeline, and interest in throwing varies a lot based on temperament, exposure, and what kinds of play they prefer.