September 24, 2026 • From Tyler and the Ready Set Rackets coaches
Pickleball is everywhere right now, and a lot of parents who play are asking the same thing: can my kid do this too? Yes. Pickleball might be the friendliest racket sport there is for young kids. The paddle is short and solid, the ball is light and slow, and the court is small enough that a little kid can actually cover it. But there is a right order, and it starts well before the court.
Kids can start playing pickleball games at 18 months. First come the fun games underneath it: tracking a slow object, tapping it with something in their hand, and moving their feet to get there. That is all pickleball is, and a toddler can do a version of every piece.
Here is roughly how it goes by age. From 18 months to about 3, it is balloons and a mini paddle, played together with a grown-up. From 3 to 5, kids can tap a foam or light plastic ball, carry it on the paddle, and send it over a low net or a line of tape. Around age 5, many kids are ready for real rallies on a short court. If your child is older and starting fresh, they will pick it up fast. There is no deadline.
Three reasons. First, the paddle has no strings and a short handle, so small hands can control it. Second, the ball is slow. A pickleball with holes floats through the air, which gives little eyes time to find it. Third, the whole game is underhand at the start, and underhand is how young kids naturally toss and swing.
The one thing to swap out is a regulation paddle, since it is heavy for a three year old. Use a mini or junior paddle, or at home, a ping pong paddle or even a paper plate.
Almost nothing. A pack of balloons, a light paddle sized for small hands, and a few soft foam balls. Skip the regulation outdoor balls for now. They are hard and bounce fast, which is a lot for a preschooler. Sneakers matter more than any equipment. They keep little feet quick and steady.
Balloon Bop. Blow up a balloon and see how many times your child can tap it up with the paddle before it hits the floor. Count out loud together. Five is a great first goal.
Pancake Walk. Lay a foam ball on the paddle like a pancake on a spatula and walk it across the room without dropping it. This quietly teaches the flat paddle face that every good pickleball shot needs.
Over the Mountain. Put a couch cushion or a rolled towel on the floor as the net. Your child taps a balloon or foam ball over it to you, you send it back. That is their first rally.
Keep it to five or ten minutes and stop while they still want more. Five great minutes leave them excited for tomorrow.
When your child starts asking to play, or when you notice they would rather do it with other kids than with you. That is normal, and it is a good sign. A great class for this age keeps every kid moving and hides the skills inside games. At Ready Set Rackets, our Ready Tots (18 months to almost 3) and Ready Athletes (3 to 5) classes are both parent-and-child at township classes, led by a coach, with pickleball, tennis and padel games mixed into every class.
Want a class? Find a Ready Set Rackets class near you.
Want the games in your pocket? Grab the free Ready, Set, Play! parent guide (five racket games you can play in the living room tonight), or start Racky’s free 10-day First Swing Challenge, one 5-minute game a day by email.
Short, high-energy classes packed with fun games for toddlers and preschoolers.
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