Mini Minds Hub · Free printable

DIY Target Practice

    • StageEarly Years
    • CostFree
    • FormatPrintable PDF
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    DIY Target Practice is a free printable guide that helps children practise their aim at home. It is a step by step activity, so children follow the guide and build up their skill as they go. It needs no special equipment beyond what you can gather around the house.

    It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Read the guide through with your child before you start, so you both know what to expect.

    What is on the sheet

    Children use the guide to practise their aim at home. It is a hands on activity rather than a written task, so they are up and moving, not sitting at a desk. They follow the steps in order, try again when they miss and notice themselves improving. It suits a rainy afternoon, a quiet half hour or a short active break.

    Ideas to make practice more fun

    Start close, then step back

    Begin near the target so your child can succeed straight away. Move back one step at a time as they improve. Small wins keep them keen to try again.

    Keep a simple score

    Use a tally chart on paper. Count hits after each round and compare with the last round. Children enjoy beating their own score more than beating someone else.

    Change the target

    Try a larger target, then a smaller one. Draw circles on paper, or use a laundry basket or a bucket. Each change asks for a slightly different kind of control.

    Try a different throw

    Practise throwing underarm, then overarm. Talk about which feels easier and why. Ask your child to notice what their feet and arms are doing.

    Why practising aim is worthwhile

    Aiming brings together several skills at once. A child has to look at a target, judge how far away it is, and decide how hard to throw. Then they have to move their arm and hand to match that plan. Doing this again and again helps these skills work together more smoothly.

    Target games are also good for patience and resilience. Almost everyone misses at first. Trying again, adjusting and noticing what changed is a useful habit that carries into other subjects. It is also an easy activity to share, because everyone can take turns and cheer each other on.

    Adults should set up the space and choose the items. Use soft things to throw, such as rolled up socks, bean bags or soft balls. Never use anything sharp, hard or heavy. Clear the area of breakables and people, and make sure nobody stands near the target while others throw. Take turns, and agree one thrower at a time.

    Skills and curriculum link

    • Aiming
    • Hand and eye coordination
    • Throwing
    • Following step by step instructions
    • Counting and scoring
    • Taking turns

    Ways to help your child get more from it

    • Talk about distanceAsk whether the target feels near or far. Ask what they might change if the throw fell short, or went too far. This links movement with thinking.
    • Praise the effortNotice when your child adjusts their throw, not just when they hit the target. This encourages them to keep experimenting.
    • Let them leadOnce they understand the steps, let your child set up the target and keep score. Taking charge builds confidence and responsibility.
    • Keep it short and activeStop while your child is still enjoying it. You can come back to the activity another day and pick up where you left off.

    Key words

    • AimTo point or direct something towards the place you want it to go.
    • TargetThe thing you are trying to hit or reach.
    • AccuracyHow close you get to where you were aiming.
    • DistanceHow far away something is.
    • ScoreThe number of points you win. You can keep it with a tally.
    • TechniqueThe way you do something. A good technique helps you improve.

    How to use it

    1. Read the guide through together before you begin, so your child knows what is coming.
    2. Gather what the guide asks for, and choose soft items for throwing. An adult sets up the space and checks it is clear.
    3. Follow the steps in order. Let your child try each one at their own pace.
    4. Keep a simple score and talk about what worked. Ask, "What will you change next time?"
    5. Come back another day and try again. Repeating a familiar activity helps children see how much they have improved.

    Help, stretch and game ideas

    If it feels too hard

    Start with a big target and stand close. Throw slowly and say what you are aiming at before each turn. Take a short rest between goes. Celebrate every hit, and move back only when your child is ready.

    To stretch confident children

    Make the target smaller or stand further back. Set a goal, such as getting a certain number of hits in a row. Or invent a points system where different parts of the target score different amounts, then add up the totals.

    Make it a game

    Take turns to throw ten times each, with an adult watching. Keep a tally of hits for each player. Add up the scores at the end. Then try to beat your own score in a second round, rather than your opponent's.

    Talk about it

    • What do you look at when you aim?
    • What happened when you stepped further back?
    • How did you decide how hard to throw?
    • What would you change to make the target harder?
    • Which throw felt easiest, and why?
    • What could we do next time to get a better score?

    Take it off the page

    Paper plate targets

    Draw rings on paper plates and give each ring a different score. Stick them on a wall at child height. Throw soft items from a marked line and add up the points.

    Bucket toss

    Place a bucket or basket on the floor. Throw rolled up socks into it from different distances. Count how many go in out of each round.

    Beanbag hopscotch

    Draw squares with chalk outside, or use paper on the floor indoors. Toss a bean bag onto a square, then hop to it. This mixes aiming with balance.

    Who it is for

    Parents

    Join in for the first few goes, then let your child take over. Keep the mood light. Missing is part of learning, so focus on effort and small improvements rather than the final score.

    Teachers

    Use it as an active break, a PE warm up, an indoor playtime option or a reward activity. It works for small groups taking turns. Set clear rules about soft items and one thrower at a time.

    Home educators

    It is a simple activity to fit between other lessons, as a movement break or a family game. Children of different ages can join in by standing at different distances, so everyone has a fair challenge.

    Where this skill leads next

    Aiming builds on early throwing and catching. Children first learn to release an object in a chosen direction. Then they learn to control how hard they throw. Target practice gives them a reason to keep refining both.

    Later, the same skills help with many games and sports, such as netball, basketball, rounders and cricket. They also help with measuring distance by eye. In the National Curriculum for England, this fits within the physical education strand on developing throwing, catching and coordination.

    Questions parents and teachers ask

    What is DIY Target Practice?

    It is a free printable step by step guide from Jaques of London. Children use it to practise their aim at home, following the steps in order and trying again to improve their accuracy.

    What do we need to do it?

    Read the guide through first to see what to gather. For throwing, soft items such as rolled up socks or bean bags are a sensible choice. An adult should set up the space.

    Can we do it indoors?

    Yes, if you have a clear area with nothing breakable nearby. Use soft items only, and keep other people out of the way of the throwing. A garden or park also works well on a dry day.

    How long does it take?

    It depends on how long your child wants to play. You can stop whenever they lose interest and return to it another day. Short, enjoyable sessions usually work better than one long one.

    Is it safe for young children?

    It can be, with an adult in charge. Choose soft items to throw, clear the space, and let one child throw at a time. Never use anything sharp, hard or heavy.

    Can teachers use it in class?

    Yes. It suits a PE warm up, an indoor active break or a small group activity. Set clear rules about taking turns and using soft items, and keep the space clear of other pupils.

    How can I make it easier or harder?

    For an easier game, use a bigger target and stand closer. For a harder one, use a smaller target, move further back, or set a goal such as a number of hits in a row.

    Preview the full PDF

    Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.

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