These easy balloon games for kids are the perfect way to get kids active and moving while practicing important developmental skills!
We are always looking for fun ways to enhance developmental skills using minimal supplies that are easily available for anyone – Click here for our easy activities for kids (no fancy supplies needed)!
Paper bags, bed sheets, bubbles and play dough are just a few of the simple items that you can find in pretty much any therapy space, school or home that can boost fine, gross and even sensory motor skills through play.
Today, we thought of another one! Balloons!! Who doesn’t have at least one balloon lying around and what kid doesn’t love batting around at something so colorful and floaty? We’ve even turned balloons into some of our favorite DIY fidget toys for kids!
Whether you are providing in-person or virtual therapy, a balloon is all you need to get some major work done!
Grab a balloon and follow along as we practice some serious gross motor skills with this one simple supply.
Easy Balloon Games for Kids
Single Leg Stance (Easy)
At first, have a child practice standing on one foot with the balloon under the opposite foot and that foot resting gently on top. Talk to the child about not “squishing” the balloon. This gives them the sense of standing on one foot while providing just a little grounding security through the balloon!
Single Leg Stance (Hard)
While standing on one foot, see if your kiddo can tap the balloon in the air with their opposite foot. How many times in a row can he get it? Can he tap with his foot and then his knee without needing to put that foot down? Don’t forget to switch legs and try on both sides!
Kicking
Kicking is a developmental milestone for our preschool age group! Try working on this skill with a balloon. It takes a little more concentration and hand-eye coordination to kick; however, it also gives a little more time for the child to react as it moves slowly through the air!
Bridging
Have your child lay on the floor on her back. Place the balloon between her knees and have her gently squeeze it as she lifts her bottom off of the floor to create a bridge. Be sure she squeezes that balloon the entire time, even at the top of her bridge! The added activation of her legs and bottom muscles will increase the power punch of this exercise. If she loved this bridge exercise, there are several other ways to create bridges with her body!
Balloon Volleyball
There is nothing better for practicing the hand-eye coordination that is needed for progression to catching than a balloon! Tap that balloon back and forth between a few people and make it a fun challenge by seeing how many repetitions you can get before it hits the floor! This is a game that never gets old no matter how old or young a child is!
Animal Walks
Kids love the challenge of moving like their favorite animal. A balloon can add an extra layer of intensity and, sometimes, an added component of alignment for strengthening, balance and coordination. Have kids try a penguin walk with the balloon between their knees for some extra waddle, a crab walk while trying to keep the balloon in the air (have them kick it with a foot or tap with a hand while they stabilize with their core to stay in that crab position), or a frog jump while squeezing that balloon between both hands to activate their core.
Jumping
Blow up a few balloons and grab some string. Tie the string to the balloons and hang them at varying heights from the ceiling using a little tape. Encourage kids to jump up to hit them! Make this into the ultimate listening and self-regulation game by calling out what balloons to hit in what order (first red, then yellow, red, then blue).
Body Soccer
Try this fun and simple balloon game to get kids moving and practicing balance, coordination, and more! Play with one child, or make it a group game by getting other kids involved. There are so many ways to play!
Wacky Relay
For kids who are working on social skills, body awareness, and proprioceptive processing, try this twist on a relay race where kids have to work together to carry an object (in this case, a balloon) from one place to another using designated body parts. Grading the force of their movements so they don’t pop their balloon is a great challenge!
Pigs in the Pen
This fun movement activity is always a crowd pleaser – kids love pretending that their balloons are pigs who have escaped their pen! They’ll need to use their bodies in different ways to round them up and put them back!
Baby Bumblebee
This awesome movement activity quickly became one of our most popular posts because kids are fascinated by the squishable little bumble bees!
Which of these balloon games for kids will you try with your kids this week? Leave us a comment below to let us know!