Looking for inexpensive entertainment for kids? A bag of balloons from the dollar store can provide hours of easy fun!
Here are ten ideas for making the most out of that small piece of latex or rubber.
 |
| Source |
- Fill a balloon (or a dozen) with water and toss it around outside until it pops. (Or, if you’re like my daughters and can’t get it to pop, just squeeze it over your sister’s head and let it shower down on her. 🙂
- Play balloon volleyball. If you don’t have a net, just lay a jump rope along the ground or line up lawn chairs as a center barrier.
- Run balloon relay races. Each person can simply run while holding the balloon or, to make it more interesting, try to hop with it between their legs. Once everyone has had a turn, allow the last person racing to pop the balloon.
- Take turns with your child(ren) rubbing a balloon over your hair so that it stands on end. Research together what causes that reaction.
- Draw faces on several different balloons with a permanent marker and have a balloon puppet show.
- Use a balloon in place of a ball for a kickball or baseball game.
- For older children who can safely handle sharper objects, make a dart board by attaching inflated balloons to a piece of wood then throwing darts to see who can pop the most balloons.
- Find an online tutorial or a book at the library and learn to make balloon animals.
- Set up an obstacle course. Have each person go through the obstacle course while hitting a balloon with a broom. Use a stopwatch to see who can get through the course in the shortest amount of time.
- Put some beads in several different balloons. Either individually or in teams, have children pop the balloons and see who collects the most beads.
What other ideas do you have for playing with balloons?
Jackie@Lilolu says
June 30, 2010 at 10:50 amMy husband always says, "balloons cause tears." I want to disagree with him because our children love playing with them but our children do always end up in tears. Thanks for the ideas. I'll be sure to try some of them before they pop and the tears begin. Happy Day! 🙂
Greta says
June 30, 2010 at 1:09 pmAs kids, my siblings and I made up a game called "Serious Game" (who knows why we called it that!) where we would see how long we could keep the balloon off the floor by hitting it with our hands, feet, head etc. You could only hit it once, then the other person had to get it. Hitting it twice in a row meant elimination. 🙂
We also used to play balloon volleyball over the couch!
Tracey says
June 30, 2010 at 1:49 pmGreta,
Great idea for an inside game; would help burn off some energy on these hot summer days!
Brandi says
June 30, 2010 at 7:02 pmMy kids have enjoyed quite a few water balloon fights this summer. Hmmmm, they never seem to be able to find all the scraps they leave behind!
The Activity Mom says
June 30, 2010 at 9:45 pmGreat ideas!!!! =)
stopping by from wwfmw
Stacey says
July 1, 2010 at 2:24 amI have a love hate relationship with balloons at my house! My kids adore them, but they make them crazy and hence the hate part of the relationship! Thanks for making me think about letting them just be kids!
So glad you stopped by 29lincolnavenue today! I hope you have blessed day!
Stacey
momstheword says
July 1, 2010 at 3:05 amBalloon are so much fun but I really hate it when they pop. It always makes me jump, lol!
Sherry @ Lamp Unto My Feet says
July 3, 2010 at 10:12 amBalloons are so fun to play with! 😀 Love playing balloon volleyball! 😀