Balloon Keep-Up
Keep a balloon in the air without letting it touch the ground using hands, head, feet - solo or together.
- Age2 to 7 years
- Time5 to 15 minutes
- EnergyActive
- CostFree
- WhereIndoors or out
- Prep5 min
Tap, hit, and swat a balloon to keep it in the air for as long as possible. Play solo or together, set records, and change the rules to keep it fresh. Works in a small indoor space and burns surprising amounts of energy.
How to do it
- Blow up one balloon and tie it off.
- Explain the goal: keep the balloon off the ground using any body part: hands, head, elbows, feet.
- Start hitting it back and forth or help your child keep it up on their own.
- Count how many hits before it touches the ground. Try to beat that number.
- Vary the challenge: only use one hand, only use feet, pass it back and forth without letting it touch the ground between you.
What you need
- Balloon
- Play space
Signs it is working
Your child keeps moving to stay under the balloon. Your child uses different body parts without prompting. Your child wants to beat the previous count or try a new rule
If it is not quite clicking
The balloon drifts out of reach too often: Move to a smaller room or hallway so it stays in play more easily. Child gets frustrated when it touches the ground: Reframe counting as a "together score" rather than a personal score: you're both trying together. The balloon pops and upsets your child: Have a spare inflated, or acknowledge the loud pop and move on quickly.
Make it yours
Younger, 2-3 years: Don't count: just keep it in the air together. Parent does most of the work; child pats and chases. Older, 5-7 years: Add rules: can only use knees, must sit on the floor and still keep it up, or set a target of 20 hits in a row. Siblings: Count as a team, or each child has their own balloon.
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