Balloon Juggling

Requirements

• Open space indoor or outdoor
• Balloons (round type)

Instructions

1. Blow up a few balloons of the “round” type.
2. Inflate to medium pressure, so the balloon “floats” a bit but not too much.
3. Toss one balloon into the air above your head.
4. Show your child how to keep up the balloon using fingertips and palms.
5. Challenge your child to take a turn keeping the balloon in the air.
6. If the balloon touches the ground, switch turns.

Variations

• After a while practicing, try a competition where you count your touches out loud before the balloon hits the ground
• Try with two balloons at the same time, one balloon each – see who keeps up their balloon longest
• See if you can keep up two or three balloons at the same time
• Keep up the balloon with different body parts (knees only, feet only, elbows only, head only)

Benefits

This activity develops hand-eye coordination, gross motor control, and the ability to track moving objects in the air. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve striking or catching an object in the air (e.g., balls, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons).