15 best balloon games for kids: Indoor & Outdoor

June 5, 2023

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With summer approaching, it’s time to make the most of your garden or local park and bring out the fun with balloons! Balloon games are a cheap, easy way to entertain kids of all ages while keeping them active outdoors.

From classic water balloon tosses to exciting relay races, these activities will help create unforgettable summer memories

balloon games for kids

Indoor balloon games

Here are some fun indoor balloon games your kids will love. 

  1. Balloon Volleyball

Bring volleyball indoors with a balloon! First, clear space in your living room or play area and create a makeshift net using a piece of string. 

Then divide the players into two teams and use a balloon as the volleyball. The goal is to keep the balloon off the ground and try to score points by hitting it over the string.

2. Balloon Dance

Turn up the music and let the balloons lead the way! Inflate several balloons and scatter them.

Encourage the kids to dance and move around, but there’s a catch – they must keep the balloons in the air while dancing. This activity promotes physical activity, coordination, and creativity, as they need to create dance moves that keep the balloons from touching the ground.

balloon games for kids

3. Balloon Stomp

Get those legs moving with a thrilling balloon stomp game! Attach inflated balloons to the players’ ankles using elastic bands or strings. 

The objective is to stomp on other players’ balloons while protecting your own. The last person with an intact balloon wins. This game improves agility and balance and adds an element of excitement to any indoor playtime.

Now just a word of caution kids can be a little rough when playing this particular game. 

Set some rules like no pushing when playing the balloon stomp game. 

Balloon Games for kids outdoor parties

Here are some fun outdoor balloon games for kids.

  1. Fun Balloon Race

Organize a balloon race in your backyard or a nearby park. Create a start and finish line, and give each participant a balloon and a straw.

The challenge is to blow into the straw and propel the balloon toward the finish line with the power of their breath. 

The first one to reach the finish line wins. It’s a thrilling outdoor activity that enhances lung capacity and promotes friendly competition.

2. Water Balloon Toss

Nothing beats a cool and refreshing water balloon toss when the weather is hot. 

First, fill several balloons with water and form pairs of players. 

Then, stand a short distance apart and gently toss the water balloon back and forth. The goal is to catch and successfully throw the balloon without it bursting. 

Increase the distance as the game progresses to add more challenge and excitement. It’s a fantastic way to beat the summer heat and improve hand-eye coordination.

3. Balloon Piñata

Put a fun twist on the traditional piñata game with balloons! Using strings, inflate several balloons and hang them from a tree branch or sturdy beam. 

Next, blindfold each participant and hand them a stick. The objective is to burst the balloons by swinging the stick, just like a piñata.

 Kids will have a blast trying to hit the balloons and enjoy the surprise treats inside. This game enhances hand-eye coordination, focus, and anticipation.

Balloon games for preschoolers

  1. Balloon Science Experiments

Combine fun and learning with exciting balloon science experiments. Inflate a balloon and rub it against a woolen fabric to generate static electricity. 

Then, hold the balloon close to small pieces of paper or lightweight objects and observe them being attracted to the balloon. Try it on your child’s head and see how their hair goes up to the balloon

 Explain the concept of static electricity and have the kids explore different materials to see how they react to the balloon. It’s a captivating way to introduce basic science principles.

2. Balloon Math

Make math more enjoyable with balloon math activities. Using a permanent marker, write numbers, mathematical symbols, or equations on inflated balloons. 

Then, scatter the balloons on the floor and ask the kids to solve the math problems by stepping on the correct balloons in the correct order. 

You can adapt the difficulty level based on their age and math skills. This activity enhances numerical recognition, mental math, and physical movement.

3. Balloon Geography

Turn geography lessons into interactive balloon activities. 

Inflate balloons and write the names of countries, capitals, or geographical features on them. 

Then, scatter the balloons around the room or outdoors and ask the kids to find and match the balloons with the correct information. 

For older kids, you can include more challenging questions about landmarks, flags, or famous locations. This activity promotes geographical knowledge and enhances memory retention.

Creative Balloon games for teens

  1. Balloon Animal Making

Unleash your creativity with balloon animal making. Learn simple balloon-twisting techniques and create various animal shapes like dogs, cats, and rabbits. 

Plenty of tutorials and resources are available online to guide you through the process. Kids will enjoy twisting and shaping the balloons into adorable animals. 

It’s a beautiful way to improve fine motor skills and unleash their imagination.

2. Balloon Sculpting

Take balloon art to the next level with balloon sculpting. Learn advanced techniques to create intricate sculptures such as flowers, swords, and hats. 

Balloon sculpting requires patience and practice, but the results are incredibly rewarding. 

Encourage the kids to explore their artistic abilities and experiment with different balloon shapes and sizes. This activity fosters creativity, patience, and attention to detail.

3. Balloon Painting

Combine balloons and painting to create unique artwork. Dip inflated balloons into paint and use them as stamps on a canvas or paper. Kids can experiment with colors, patterns, and techniques to create abstract or structured paintings. 

They can also try blowing up a balloon partially and using it as a paintbrush to create exciting textures. Balloon painting encourages artistic expression, fine motor skills, and sensory exploration.

balloon painting games

Balloon Games for kids parties

  1. Balloon Relay

Add excitement to special occasions with a balloon relay race. Divide the participants into teams and create a relay race course. Each team member must carry a balloon while running or performing tasks. The first team to complete the relay race wins. This game promotes teamwork.

2. Balloon Pop Countdown

Make a special occasion even more thrilling with a balloon pop countdown.

Fill multiple balloons with small surprises or treats and hang them from a designated area. Then, assign each balloon a number representing a countdown. 

Start the countdown and have the kids take turns popping the balloons when the countdown reaches their set number. It’s a suspenseful and fun activity that adds an element of surprise to any celebration.

3. Balloon Treasure Hunt

Create an exciting adventure with a balloon treasure hunt. Hide clues or small treasures inside inflated balloons and scatter them around the play area.

Then, give the kids a map or a series of riddles to solve, leading them to each balloon.

They collect the clues or treasures inside as they find and pop the balloons. The final clue leads them to the ultimate treasure. It’s a fantastic activity that promotes problem-solving skills and imagination.

Balloons offer endless possibilities for entertainment, learning, and creativity for kids. From indoor games to outdoor adventures, educational activities, and artistic projects, there are numerous ways to engage children with the joy of balloons.

These 15 activities provide a range of options for different occasions and interests, ensuring hours of fun and memorable experiences. So gather your balloons and prepare for a world of excitement and laughter! We hope you enjoyed the balloon games for kids in this article.

Share with us which is your favourite balloon game in the comment below.

Before you go don’t forget to check out the growth mindset kit for children

Growth mindset for kids