Let's incorporate it into childcare! Introducing fun balloon play ideas
Round, fluffy, floating balloons are full of charm that sparks children’s curiosity.
Just seeing balloons in bright, colorful hues is enough to make some children’s eyes light up with excitement.
Unlike balls, balloons don’t hurt when they hit you, and they’re easy to prepare—benefits that make them a great, accessible activity in nurseries and kindergartens.
So this time, we’re introducing play ideas that use balloons.
From group games to DIY toys and even mats you can lie on, there are plenty of ideas that make the most of balloons’ unique qualities and can be enjoyed with friends or as a parent-child activity!
Find your favorite way to play and give it a try!
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Let’s incorporate it into childcare! Fun balloon play ideas (1–10)
Balloon badminton
A game you can play indoors: balloon badminton.
You can play with just two people, and it’s fun with larger groups as well.
Make rackets by attaching chopsticks to paper plates.
You can use them as is, but it’s even more fun if the kids draw pictures on the paper plate part to create their own original rackets.
After that, just blow up a balloon and you’re ready to play.
Balloons don’t hurt when they hit you, so they’re safe.
Their floaty movement also makes it easy for little children to play.
It’s a game you can enjoy right away using things you already have at home.
Balloon Carrying
Balloon Carry is a game where two people face each other and carry a balloon as fast as possible without using their hands, holding it between them.
It could be fun to do at a school sports day! If you’re playing with a friend, try to move in perfect sync.
The balloon tends to float and fall easily, but it’s a game that gets everyone excited when you compete.
All you need is a slightly larger balloon, so why not try it when the kids are getting bored?
Balloon Relay
The “Balloon Relay” is where you walk while balancing a balloon on a uchiwa fan, clear the course, and pass it to the next person! It may seem easier than balancing a ball, but balloons wobble around just from walking, so it’s surprisingly tricky.
The key is how well you can walk without letting the balloon move too much.
If it looks like the balloon is about to fall, try giving it a gentle bounce with the fan to nudge it in the direction you’re going.
Uchiwa fans and balloons are easy to find at 100-yen shops or supermarkets, and they’re lightweight, so even younger children in nursery or kindergarten can handle them easily.
It’s an easy game to set up, so give it a try!
Let’s incorporate it into childcare! Fun balloon play ideas (11–20)
balloon mat
A balloon mat where kids can play safely and have fun.
Prepare balloons in various colors, pack them into a large compression bag, and use a vacuum to compress it—your very own balloon mat is ready in no time.
It’s surprisingly durable and resists popping even when children jump on it.
And if a balloon does pop, you can easily fix it by replacing the balloons, putting them back in the bag, and compressing it again.
The bouncy, tactile feel when stepping or touching it is delightful, sparking kids’ curiosity and plenty of smiles!
Balloon Popping Game
The “Balloon Stomp Game” is a game where all participants tie an inflated balloon to their ankle and try to pop each other’s balloons.
Since it requires a fairly large space and a good number of players, it’s recommended for events like Christmas parties with many children.
You can’t just run away forever—go ahead and step on your friends’ balloons and pop them! As long as the children are old enough not to cry from the popping sounds, they should have a great time!
Three Balloon-Popping Games
Soft balloons let kids play safely indoors! Here are three recommended balloon-launch games perfect for indoor play—all using materials from the 100-yen shop.
1) Turn a 100-yen planter stand into a chimney by rolling an A3-size PP sheet and attaching it on top.
Stuff balloons into the chimney and use a handheld fan from below to blow them out—great fun! 2) A super-simple game: put balloons in a plastic basket and throw rubber balls at it to launch the balloons out.
3) Make a frame using a hula hoop and plastic bottles, place lots of balloons inside, and toss rubber balls to send the balloons flying—easy and exciting.
With just a bit of creativity, you can make games your kids will love.
Give these a try!
Water Balloon Splash Ball Toss
At a summer outdoor sports day, I highly recommend adding the “Water Balloon Splash Ball Toss”! Normally, ball toss games use fabric balls, but this version uses water balloons.
Of course, any that miss the basket will hit the ground and burst into a watery splash! But that’s exactly what makes it so fun.
In summer, getting wet isn’t too cold—if anything, it’s refreshing, right? Kids will surely love it.
Just wear swimsuits or water-friendly clothing so you’re fine even if you get soaked, and have a great time!