Cat & Mouse

Don't let the mouse get caught by the cat! Or maybe the mouse is out for revenge... A fun and imaginative game, Cat and Mouse helps young children develop ball tracking and handling skills. Good for all group sizes, and minimal equipment. 

cat and mouse set up image
Set up

A small ball (e.g a tennis ball), and a larger ball (e.g a spiky ball) are used in this game. The children sit in a circle with nothing in their hands to start. Get creative with a story, for example, the cat is chasing the mouse, who is chasing a grasshopper.

How to play
Step 1
  • Educator begins by passing one ball around the circle, the mouse
Step 2
  • Educator adds a second ball to the circle, the cat, and builds a story:
    • The hungry cat is chasing the mouse, quick!
  • Children try to pass the balls around the circle quickly, to avoid the cat catching the mouse
Step 3
  • Change directions, introduce soft tossing, or pass across the circle to keep children on their toes
  • The activity ends when one ball catches the other 
Variations
Make it easier
  • Pass one ball around the circle
  • Roll the ball along the ground
Make it harder
  • Introduce a third ball - the grasshopper!
  • Use smaller balls, that are harder to pass
  • Have a ‘flying mouse' round, where children try to keep the balls up in the air
  • Separate children further to encourage small underarm throwing
Activity information
Age: 2-3 years, 3-5 years
Participants: 4 +
Equipment: Balls
Duration: 10 minutes
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Catching Grasping
Skill teaching

To establish ball tracking skills, encourage children to:

  1. Keep their eyes on the ball
  2. Move their hands to the ball
  3. Use wriggly worms: fingers pointing down for balls being caught in their lap
Physical literacy tips
  • Let a child call out the instructions, e.g change directions, the mouse is now chasing the cat
  • Let the children decide who is chasing who! Create new animals or things for the balls to become