Pigs in the Pen Balloon Activity for Kids

The challenge of this fun and engaging balloon activity is to get the pigs in the pen AND get them to stay put!

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Uh oh…the pigs got out!  How will we ever round them back up?  How about a  game of paddle ball?  The challenge of this game is to get the pigs in the pen AND get them to stay put!  Add this game to your list of farm activities for kids!

What you’ll need:

-Balloons with pig and other animal faces draw on them

-A “pen” (laundry basket, box, a group of chairs put together into a square, designated corner of a room), paddles

What to do:

Dig up some paddles from the garage (ping pong, beach paddle ball, even a pool noodle!) or make your own from paper plates and popsicle sticks like this!  Blow up a bunch of balloons — pink for the pigs, yellow for ducks, you get the idea — and let them go all over the place.  Have your child try to get them into a laundry basket or box using only their paddle.  NO HANDS!

How to change it up:

-How quickly can the pigs be rounded up?  How slowly?  Grading movement can be tough when you’re chasing a runaway balloon!
-Count how many taps it takes to get a pig into his house.
-If you have two or more kiddos, ask them to work together.  They have to take turns tapping the balloon until they reach the pen.
-If all else fails, your child’s hand will make an excellent paddle!
-Make a maze to get to the “pen”.  If you are inside, start with the balloons in one room and have the children paddle them through the house to another room.

Skill areas addressed:

Coordination, motor control, gross motor activities, visual motor integration