Balloon games for kids are entertaining and can keep them engaged for a long time. Did you know, Michael Faraday created the first rubber balloon in 1824?. Since then, balloons have amused and entertained both adults and children. Balloons are bouncing objects that most children enjoy playing with. A balloon is a source of excitement and joy for kids. Balloons are all you need to engage and excite children, whether it’s a birthday party, a prom, a school dance for kids, Halloween, or Christmas. Here is a fun collection of balloon games for kids that you may want to try with your little one.
25 Fun Balloon Games And Activities For Kids
Want to engage children at a party or event? Here are some ways in which balloons can engage them and take the fun factor up by a notch!
1. Balloon Burst
Kids love doing naughty things like bursting balloons. So, here is a game that needs them to do just that! Type: Indoor or outdoor game What you’ll need: Ten-12 Balloons String Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Each person gets a balloon. The balloon should be tied to the kid’s left leg. The objective of the game is to burst the other players’ balloons, using the right leg. The kid who lasts until the end, with his balloon intact, is the winner.
You can also tie the balloon to the right leg so that the kids can use the left to burst balloons.
2. Balloon Monsters
Balloon Monsters is an awesome Halloween balloon game for kids. Type: Indoor balloon activity What you’ll need:
Balloons – one for each child Sketches
Number of participants: Two to ten How to:
Each child gets one balloon and a few sketches. You could also keep a common repository of sketch pens from which the kids can use what they want. Ask the kids to draw the faces of their favorite Halloween monsters on the balloons, using the sketches. Balloon drawing can be tricky, so you may want to have a few spare balloons for each participant. After they finish drawing, you can display their art amongst the other Halloween decorations.
3. Balloon Dart Board
Remember the carnival game, where you had to burst as many balloons on the board as you could? It is called Balloon Dart, one of the best kids’ balloon games for those above eight years at least. Type: Indoor or outdoor What you’ll need:
25-50 small balloons (depending on the number of kids) of different colors A cardboard or a sticky board Tape or school glue Kid-friendly balloon darts
Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Blow all the balloons such that they are of the same size. Stick the balloons on the cardboard. You could also stick the balloons to a solid chart paper and stick that to the wall. Pick a specific colored balloon to be in the center. Each kid gets three tries to burst the middle balloon. The one who hits it gets a prize.
4. Volley Balloon
Volley Balloon is similar to volleyball, except that it is more fun when compared to the actual sport. It is a fun picnic game that both kids and adults can enjoy. Type: Outdoor balloon game What you’ll need:
15 big balloons A volleyball net
Number of players: Ten – 20 (even number) How to play:
Divide the group into two teams of equal players. Set the net in place and define the boundaries. Give the teams a balloon and let them play volleyball.
While it is a fun activity, it is important that you make sure that the kids know the rules of the sport and adhere to it.
5. Catch that Balloon
One of the best things about balloons is that they are not easy to catch. And that is precisely what makes them so much more desirable. This is one of the cutest fun balloon games for kids, aged five or less. Type: Outdoor game What you’ll need: One big balloon, you can have a few more handy Number of players: Five to ten How to play:
Stand in the center and have the kids stand around you. Pick one balloon, toss it into the air and call out a kid’s name. The child should try to catch the balloon before it hits the ground. Other players should not touch the balloon unless their name is called.
6. Match the Balloon
Match the Balloon is like a treasure hunt, only it is simpler. The game is for toddlers and young kids. Type: Indoor game What you’ll need:
Buttons of different colors Balloons of different colors (must match the color of buttons)
Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Blow balloons and hide them at different places. Give the children a button each – the buttons should be of a unique color. The objective of the game is to find a balloon that matches the color of the button.
7. Sunny Balloon Burst
Sunny Balloon Burst is more like a fun science experiment that the kids can play at a summer camp. You can also have them play the game at day parties. Type: Outdoor balloon activity What you’ll need:
Big balloons Kid’s magnifying glass String or thumbtacks Clothesline, or an outdoor fence
Number of participants: Two to five How to play: The balloon activity for kids has to be conducted outdoors, under the sun.
Attach the inflated balloons to the clothesline, or to the fence. Ask the kids to stand or sit in front of the balloons. Give them each a magnifying glass. On ‘Go’, the kids should hold the magnifying glass about three inches from the balloon. The objective is to focus sunlight onto the balloon. Ask the kids to hold the magnifying glasses steady to let the sun shine through the glass. They will soon see a small bright dot on the balloon and ‘pop’, the balloon will burst.
8. Balloon Pop Surprise
This is another kids’ balloon game you can try in the birthday party. Type: Indoor game What you’ll need:
Medium-sized balloons Small pieces of paper to make chits Prizes or gifts to give away
Number of players: Five to 15 How to play:
Write the name of one gift on each piece of paper. Inflate the balloons and drop one piece of paper in each balloon. Leave some balloons empty, without any paper. Mix the balloons and put them all in a room. Ask the children to go into the room and pop the balloons one by one. Let each kid burst one balloon at a time. If they get a paper with the name of the prize written on it, they get that prize.
9. Balloon Stuffing Race
Balloon stuffing race is a cool balloon game for older kids. It requires the use of a little tactic to win. Type: Indoor balloon game What you’ll need:
Small balloons – should be slightly long, but not too round Two pairs of large t-shirts and large pants
Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Divide the participants into two teams. Each team gets a t-shirt and a pant. The teams can choose one person to wear the oversized clothes. Make sure that the person is wearing clothes that cover most skin beneath the oversized clothes. On ‘Go’, the remaining team members have to inflate the balloons, and stuff them inside the t-shirt and pant. They have to put as many balloons as they can in the given time to ‘dress’ the volunteer. In the end, the team with the most number of balloons stuffed inside the t-shirt and pant wins.
10. Muscle Builders Race
Muscle Builders Race is similar to the balloon stuffing game, except that it is suitable for the younger kids. Type: Indoor balloon game What you’ll need:
Small balloons, should be slightly long, but not too round Two pairs of one-piece long johns or jumpsuits
Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Divide the participants into two groups. One kid would be the volunteer who wears the long johns or the jumpsuit. The jumpsuit must be worn above whatever clothing they are wearing. The volunteer is the weak one, while the others are his or her personal trainers. The aim is to bulk-up the weakling using the balloons. The team with the most muscles (balloons) wins.
11. Balloon Hunt
This exciting balloon game encourages teamwork and is also a lot of fun. Type: Indoor and outdoor What you’ll need:
Balloons Soft rope Pom-poms, beads, buttons, peanuts or Styrofoam balls
Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Put a bead each in each of the balloons and inflate them. Hide the balloons in and around the house. You can hide them in the yard as well. Divide the kids into pairs and tie a set of their hands and legs. On ‘Go’, the players will have to search for the hidden balloons and find as many beads as they can. The pair with the highest number of beads wins.
12. Bubble Butt
Bubble but is a simple, yet fun balloon race game for younger kids. The game is often a hit at parties. Type: Indoor or outdoor game What you’ll need:
Chairs, one for each participant Balloons, one for each participant Tape
Number of players: Five to ten How to play:
At one end of the room, line up the chairs in a row, with at least two feet gap in between. Stick a balloon on the seat of the chair using the tape. Let the kids stand at one end of the room. On ‘Go’, the children have to run to the chair and sit on the chair with all their weight, to burst the balloon. Once they burst the balloon, they have to run back to their original positions. The player who comes back first is the winner.
13. Balloon Seize
Balloon Seize is similar to the “grab all you can” game for adults. Type: Indoor game What you’ll need:
20 – 30 balloons
Number of players: Five to ten How to play:
Inflate all the balloons and fill a room with them. Make sure that there are no obstacles in the room – use an empty room, without any furniture, if possible. On ‘Go’, each kid has to try and take as many balloons as he or she can at once, using only the hands. The others cannot help, and they should not place the balloons down. The kid who can gather the most balloons in a minute or two wins.
14. Screaming Balloons
Have you ever heard a balloon scream? You will when you try this little experiment. The fun activity is a boon to an otherwise boring party. Type: Indoor or outdoor balloon activity, experiment What you’ll need:
Balloons, one for each kid Hex nuts, one for each balloon
Number of participants: Two to ten How to:
Put a hex nut each in a balloon and inflate it. Tie it up with a string. Give each kid a balloon and ask them to hold it with their hand. Now, ask the children to swirl the balloon round, and round. When the hex nut moves around the balloon and hits the walls, it creates a noise that sounds like screaming.
15. Googly Balloons
Googly is one such silly balloon party games for kids that will get them into giggles. Type: Indoor game What you’ll need:
Medium-sized balloons Small marbles, one for each balloon
Number of players: Two to ten How to play:
The weight of the marble will make the balloon move in unexpected ways. Divide the kids into teams of three or four. On ‘Go’, throw four balloons (if there are three in a group) in the air ask the kids to keep them in the air. The team that can keep the balloons in the air longest, wins.
16. Balloon Round Up
This is a fun game for toddlers and younger kids. Type: Indoor game What you’ll need:
Balloons A room with a lot of space 2 brooms String to mark boundaries
Number of players: Four to ten How to play:
Use the string to mark the area where the balloons have to be. You can create a square or a circle-shaped perimeter with the string. Divide the kids into two teams. Create an obstacle course through which the balloon must pass and into the perimeter. Give the teams a broom each and one balloon at the starting point. The kids should maneuver their balloons through the obstacle course and get it into the enclosure (area within the string) without bursting the balloon.
17. Balloon & Bubble Gum Relay
This is a classic relay game with balloons and bubble gum. Type: Outdoor game What you’ll need:
Balloons Wrapped bubblegum, one each for the players Open space with no obstacles
Number of players: Six to 12 How to play:
Divide the kids into teams of three or four. Put a wrapped bubblegum in a balloon, inflate it, and tie a knot. Create a track – use chalk, white powder, or ropes to determine how far the kids have to run. Draw as many lines as there are teams. Place one balloon at the far end of each line. Each line is for a team, and the kids will have to complete the task one by one. On ‘Go’, one member of the team crawls to the balloon end and burst it. Unwrap the bubblegum, chew it, and blow a balloon with it. Once done, he comes back to the starting point and tags the next member, who will repeat the steps. All the members of the team have to finish the race. The team that finishes first wins.
18. Catch A Balloon In A Funnel
Catching a balloon is fun, but catching it with a funnel can be tricky. Type: Indoor balloon game What you’ll need:
Small balloons Funnels, one funnel for one player
Number of players: Three to six How to play:
Inflate the balloons. You will need as many balloons as the number of kids. Ask the kids to stand in the open area. Give them each a funnel. On ‘Go’, throw the funnel in the air and ask the kids to catch a balloon with the funnel and keep it from falling on the ground. The kid who can keep the balloon off the ground the longest wins.
19. Balloon Rockets
Did you know you can create a cool rocket using a balloon? What’s more, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to do that! This balloon activity is ideal for kids aged six or up. Type: Indoor balloon activity, experiment What you’ll need:
A piece of yarn, 6 feet in length Balloon Drinking straw Two chairs Scissors Tape
Number of participants: Two or more How to:
Put the chairs opposite to one another, with a gap of six feet in between them. Tie one end of the string to one chair and slip in the drinking straw from the other. Now tie the other end to the other chair. Attach two small pieces of sticking tape to the straw. Keep a distance of an inch between the two pieces of tape. Inflate the balloon, but do not knot it. Instead, hold the open end with your hand to prevent the release of air. Ask one kid to bring the balloon to the straw that has the tape, and let another attach it to the tape as shown in the picture. Pull the straw, with the balloon, to one end of the string, such that the opening of the balloon touches the chair. Let go of the balloon and “whoosh!”, the balloon rocket goes to the other end of the chair!
20. Bouncy Balloon Painting
This is a fun art experiment or activity you can try with kids of all ages. Type: Indoor activity What you’ll need:
Small balloons Easy wash paints Large sheets of paper, or a chart paper Bowls to mix paints
Number of participants: Two to five How to:
Inflate the balloons, no bigger than the size of your hand. They should be bouncy and not wrinkly. Mix the paints in the containers. Give each kid a sheet of paper and a balloon. Ask the children to dip the balloon in the paint and bounce it off the paper to create impressions. You can use different colors to make unique, beautiful patterns on the sheet.
21. Glow In The Dark Balloons
Have you never seen a balloon glow in the dark? Well, you will now! Type: Indoor activity What you’ll need:
A bag of big balloons Glow sticks, short ones are preferable
Number of participants: Any How to:
Give each kid a glow stick and a balloon. Ask the children to break the glow sticks and shake them enough for a bright light. If you are using short sticks, put the glowing stick in the balloon and blow it. You can also inflate the balloon first and then slowly insert the glow stick into it. Once you do, tie a knot. Use different colored glow sticks to make the balloons colorful.
22. Balloon Hovercraft
Rocket is not the only cool thing you can make using a balloon. You can make a hovercraft too! Try it now. Type: Indoor activity What you’ll need:
Medium-sized balloons Old, unwanted CDs Soda bottle cap, one that is deep Thumbtack Glue gun
Number of participants: Two to six How to:
Use the thumbtack to poke holes in the bottle cap. Let an adult handle the hot glue gun, to prevent kids from hurting themselves. Use the hot glue gun to stick the edge of the soda bottle cap top the center of the CD, covering the hole. Inflate the balloon, twist its neck to prevent the release of air and pull the opening of the balloon over the bottle cap. Make sure that the entire cap is covered by the opening end of the balloon. Place the CD on the table and let go of the twisted neck of the balloon. As the air slowly gets out through the holes in the cap, the balloon hovercraft will slide on the table.
23. Bending Water With Balloon
This is one of the coolest balloon activities for kids. Also, it a fun science experiment that teaches about static electricity. Type: Indoor activity What you’ll need:
Balloons, one for each kid
Number of participants: Any How to:
Inflate the balloons and tie them up. Give each kid a balloon and ask them to rub it against their hair or head. They can also rub it against their shirt. Rub it hard enough to create some friction, but not so hard that the balloon bursts. Ask them to hold the balloon over their head, and see how the hair stands up to touch the balloon. While there is still static, take the balloon to the water tap. Turn the tap on and hold the balloon close to the stream of water. The balloon will pull the water towards it, making the stream bend slightly.
Cool, isn’t it? [ Read: Water Games For Kids ]
24. Balloon Water Fight
This is another funny water balloon games for kids they would surely love. Type: Outdoor What you’ll need:
Small balloons Water
Number of players: Five to 15 How to play:
Fill up one-thirds or more of the balloons with water. The balloon should not be too small or too big. Make as many water balloons as you can for the party. Ask the children to gather in the garden, and divide the balloons in the bucket. Divide the kids into two teams, and give each team a bucket of water balloons. On ‘Go’, the kids can start throwing water balloons at each other.
Explain it to the kids clearly that they shouldn’t throw the balloons so hard that it hurts the other children.
25. Ice Balloons
Did you know you could make art with water and balloons? Well, you can when the weather is freezing outside! Type: Indoor and outdoor balloon activities What you’ll need:
Big balloons Watercolors Water Scissors
Number of participants: Any How to:
Fill one-thirds of the balloon with water. You can mix a few drops of watercolor inside the balloon. Alternatively, you can prepare colored water and fill the balloons with that. Tie the balloons with a knot and leave them out in the snow and cold, in a tray. Wait till they are completely frozen and use scissors to cut off and remove the plastic completely. You have colorful ice balloons for snow sculptures in the garden!
