Movement Activities With Balloons

Water Balloon Games

• Fill small water balloons with water and tie the ends closed. Play target toss by drawing a target on the sidewalk or patio with chalk. Mark areas with points. Toss the water balloons to aim for the highest points.

  Line up small waterproof plastic figurines or aluminum drinking cans on rocks or wood at different heights and distances, like a shooting range. Try to knock down all the cans and figurines.

  If you have a group, form two lines across from each other and play water balloon toss. Throw the balloons to each other and try not to break them when you throw or catch them.

  Brave people wanting to get splattered with water can play a balloon version of dodge ball using water balloons instead of a rubber ball.

Balloon Ball and Birdie Games

• Substitute a balloon for a regular ball in a gentler version of regular ball games. Use other body parts than the standard ones to play these games. Try using your head, knees, hips, toes and stomach to add humor and action to the games. All such games will work with large or small groups of adults or kids.

  Play balloon volleyball with or without a net. See how long you can keep the balloon ball in the air without touching the ground.

  Try balloon soccer with bare feet in the park or in the backyard and make a standing hula hoop the goal.

  Use badminton rackets and substitute balloons for birdies for another version of badminton.

  Try air ball with ping-pong paddles and bat the balloon from one person to another, never allowing it to touch the ground.

Balloon Stretches and Exercises

• Use different-sized balloons as pieces of equipment to enhance regular stretching exercises and movement exercises. When you do standing stretching exercises--side bends and arm reaches, for example--hold onto the balloon with one or both hands. Movements will look and feel more like dances or rhythmic gymnastics than exercises, and using a balloon will make the activities more fun. Add to the interest of the movements and stretches by having a partner or a group use the balloons and pass them around between you as you do your reaches, bends and lifts. For therapy exercises, the balloon is a distraction from the exercise and gives the user something to hold onto and focus on.