Lately we have been a bit obsessed with balloons around here. Hey, I like them because they are super cheap, they keep both my kids busy and entertained, and I can join in the fun too! The big plus is that they are great for hand eye coordination, gross motor skills, and problem solving.
Most of the time, I just blow up a balloon and J hits it up in the air (over and over again) with little tennis rackets we got at the dollar store. Let me tell you it’s serious fun!
But, I’ve also done a couple of other fun balloon play activities too.
Pop the balloon – J really loves it when balloons pop…like really loves it. So, I challenged him to pop the balloons with is body. He tried kicking, smashing, squeezing, and sitting on the balloons. It was tough work, and eventually I broke down and gave him a bamboo skewer to pop them with. It was a fun gross motor play and also really great for critical thinking skills.
Shaving cream balloons – This activity came around one day when we were playing with shaving cream. I saw the balloons and decided that it would be fun to cover the balloons with shaving cream and pop them. Let me tell you, it was pretty fantastic to see the shaving cream fly all over the place!
Confetti balloons – Another fun way of playing with popping balloons. It’s really simple to do and oh so much fun! Use a funnel to add confetti to balloons before blowing them up. I gave J a bamboo skewer and had him pop them.
I know that popped balloons are a choking hazard, and that bamboo skewers can be dangerous. Remember to supervise your child and do whatever is comfortable with you.
Come by next week to see Baby E plays with balloons too!
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Looks like lots of fun!!! My boys LOVE balloons too, I need to think of ways of channelling all the energy away from ‘bashing’ each other with them and into one of these activities!
Oh yes, the bashing with balloons happens a lot around here too!
We love balloons too! I accidentally got a various size balloons pack at the dollar store and the kids loves seeing if they were big or small, or really long and skinny! We always have a fun time when it’s time to pop them!
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I bet the different sizes would be a lot of fun. I need to look for those next time I buy balloons!
Balloons are a favourite around here too! I hate balloons popping but Chook and Ooffa love it! I am sure they enjoy it even more when they see Mummy squirm!