Bouncing ball
Follow a ball bouncing around the screen and off its edges – a playful tracking game kids love.
In this exercise a ball bounces around the screen, rebounding off the edges at different angles, like a ball in an old arcade game. You follow it with your eyes while keeping your head still. Unlike shapes such as the circle or square, the ball's route keeps changing, so you cannot predict exactly where it will go next. Each bounce requires a quick change of direction.
The bouncing ball is the most playful exercise in our collection and is especially popular with children. Turning an eye break into a game makes it easier to persuade young screen users to look up from their homework or tablet. For adults, the unpredictable path is a nice test of attention and smooth tracking, and higher speeds make it surprisingly challenging.
Remember that eye games are no substitute for good habits. For children, the most important protective step against short-sightedness is plenty of time outdoors, as described in outdoor time: a simple shield against childhood myopia. The bouncing ball can support comfort and attention, but it will not prevent or reverse myopia.
How to do it
- Sit comfortably at a normal distance from the screen.
- Choose a speed – slow for young children, faster for a challenge.
- Press start and follow the ball with your eyes only.
- Stay with the ball as it rebounds off each edge.
- Blink whenever the reminder appears.
- When the timer ends, look out of the window or across the room for a few seconds.
What it helps with
- Turns an eye break into a game, especially for children
- Practises following an unpredictable moving target
- Trains quick changes of direction at each bounce
- Keeps attention engaged throughout
Tips
- Make it a game for kids: ask them to say 'bounce' at every rebound.
- Keep children's sessions to about a minute.
- Use full-screen mode so the ball has more room to bounce.
Caution: Stop if anyone feels dizzy, sick or has eye pain or double vision. Children should be supervised. People with photosensitive epilepsy should be cautious with fast-moving screen content and seek medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can children play it?
School-age children can play it with an adult present. For younger children, short sessions at slow speed are best.
Does it prevent short-sightedness?
No. Outdoor time, regular breaks and eye exams are the evidence-based measures for children's eyes.
Why is it harder than the circle?
The path changes direction at each bounce and is not repetitive, so your eyes cannot anticipate it as easily.