Balloon Ball Learning Activity Lesson Ideas
All about the Balloon Ball: From simple movements to creating your own Balloon Ball Olympics!
The balloon ball is extremely versatile when using it within your sessions and classes. What’s even better is that the balloon ball is super soft, lightweight, and protects the balloon from being popped.
It comes in many themes and variations: rainbow, pumpkin, flower, snow, Valentine, St. Patrick’s Day, or watermelon. You place a balloon through the slit on the bottom, blow it up, tie it off, tuck in the tail…and the FUN begins!
- Enhancing eye-hand coordination
- Following directions
- Improving peer-to-peer and social interaction
- Increasing gross motor movement and coordination
- Improving motor control and planning
- Crossing midline
- Increasing range of motion
- Enhancing visual stimulation
Twelve Simple Movements to do With the Balloon Ball
These can be done individually or in small groups…
- Tap
- Gently drum and create rhythms
- Toss and catch
- Kick
- Roll (here’s a perfect balloon ball rolling song from Rachel Rambach of Listen & Learn Music)
- Throw and catch with a partner
- Hide around the room
- Balance (on your hand, on your head)
- Keep It Up (off the ground)
- Toss, turn 360 degrees, and catch
- Bounce off a body part (head, knee, elbow, hand)
- Freeze dance
Looking for ways to use your balloon ball? Lots of activity ideas here! via @BearPawCreek Click To Tweet
You can create your own Olympic-style competition with the balloon ball. These “sports” can help with eye-hand coordination and motor control, as well as provide opportunities to cross midline. You need a balloon ball and a few extra props, and you’re set to play some sports!
Some additional props needed:
- Pool noodles (you can cut them in half, if needed)
- Boogie boards
- Laundry baskets
- Plastic fly swatter
- Hula hoop
Balloon Ball Olympics can consist of the following sports:
Balloon Hockey: Team members push the balloon ball with a pool noodle into a laundry basket goal
Balloon Baseball: Team members hit the balloon ball with a pool noodle or a boogie board for a bat (bonus points for a solid swinging motion that crosses midline!)
Balloon Tennis: Team members serve up an ace with the balloon ball and a fly swatter as a racket
Balloon Basketball: Team members shoot three-points with the balloon ball into the middle of a hula hoop
Additional Balloon Ball Ideas:
- Have a Penguin Waddle Race (to be used with individuals or small groups)
- Hang the balloon ball from the ceiling and bump, swat, swing, bounce, and tap off of certain body parts
- Throw your balloon ball in the middle of your parachute! Such colorful and visually stimulating fun!
