Balloon Games for Kids: Safe Living Room Fun
It is pouring outside, the kids have been indoors since breakfast, and someone has just found a packet of party balloons in the kitchen drawer. Good news: you have just found your afternoon. Balloon games for kids are one of the most underrated ways to get children moving indoors. Balloons float slowly, so even toddlers can hit them. They are soft, so nothing breaks. And they turn a living room into a sports hall without any risk to the telly. Here are the games I suggest to parents in my Archway classes, with a few safety rules first.
Balloon safety first
Balloons are great fun, but they need a few sensible rules, especially with younger children:
- Adults blow them up. Children should not inflate balloons themselves.
- Bin the bits. Burst balloons and uninflated balloons are a choking hazard. Balloon packets in the UK carry a warning about this for children under 8. Pick up every scrap straight away.
- No balloons in mouths, and no sucking the air out.
- Supervise under 8s the whole time balloons are out.
- Latex allergy? Use foil balloons or a soft beach ball instead.
With those in place, balloon games are one of the safest active games you can play indoors.
Clear the space
Push the coffee table to the side, move anything breakable off low shelves, and put lamps out of the way. Hard floors can be slippery in socks, so go barefoot or wear trainers. You need a space of roughly 3 metres by 3 metres for most of these games. A hallway works for some.
Balloon games for kids: 9 living room favourites
1. Keepy-uppy
The classic. Keep the balloon off the floor for as long as possible. Count every touch. Then add rules: only hands, only heads, only feet, or “no hitting it twice in a row”. Kids aged 2 upwards can play this, and it is surprisingly good for coordination.
2. Balloon volleyball
Tie a piece of string or a scarf between two chairs at about shoulder height for the kids. That is your net. Two teams, one balloon, and the aim is to land it on the floor on the other side. Adults can play on their knees to keep it fair. This is the best game for families with mixed ages.
3. Balloon tennis
Make rackets by taping paper plates to wooden spoons or rulers. Rally the balloon back and forth over a “net” (a line of tape on the floor). Rallies of 10 in a row are a great first target. Excellent for hand-eye coordination.
4. Hot balloon
Like hot potato. Stand in a circle and tap the balloon to each other while music plays. Whoever touches it when the music stops does 5 star jumps or 5 squats, then rejoins. Nobody is ever out.
5. Balloon race
Each child taps their balloon from one end of the room to the other, without holding it. On the way back, use only knees, or only elbows. Or blow it along the floor (on hands and knees) with a straw.
6. Balloon stomp (supervised, older kids)
Tie a balloon to each child’s ankle with a bit of string. Everyone tries to stomp on everyone else’s balloons while protecting their own. Last balloon standing wins. Very energetic, very loud. Best for over 8s only, because of the burst balloon pieces, and clear up every scrap after.
7. Balloon boxing
Give everyone a balloon and teach them a simple jab and cross. Punch the balloon up to keep it in the air using only punches. Count how many in a row. Kids love feeling like boxers, and it is great for shoulders and arms. Fun fact: this is a drill I use with adults learning to punch too.
8. Balloon sandwich relay
In pairs, hold a balloon between your foreheads (or tummies, or backs) and walk to the far end and back without dropping it or using hands. Perfect for parties, and it makes everyone laugh.
9. Don’t let it touch the lava
The floor is lava, and the balloon must not land on it. Everyone has to keep it up while also moving between “safe islands” (cushions on the floor). This one gets heart rates up fast.
A 20-minute rainy day balloon session
- Warm-up (3 minutes): everyone does keepy-uppy with their own balloon, hands only.
- Skill (5 minutes): balloon tennis rallies. Try to beat your best score.
- Game (8 minutes): balloon volleyball, best of three.
- Fun finisher (2 minutes): don’t let it touch the lava.
- Cool-down (2 minutes): lie on the floor and blow a balloon gently in the air from below. Slow breaths.
For more indoor ideas, read my guide to indoor games to keep kids active. If you have a toddler, my post on indoor activities for toddlers has gentler options.
Why balloon games work so well
Because balloons fall slowly, children have more time to react. That means more successful touches, more confidence and more movement. A child who struggles to catch a ball can hit a balloon fifty times in a row. That success makes them want to keep going.
It counts towards their daily activity too. The NHS physical activity guidelines for children and young people recommend an average of at least 60 minutes a day, and a lively balloon volleyball match on a wet afternoon is a good chunk of it.
Something for you
If balloon boxing turned out to be your favourite, you are not alone. Plenty of parents discover they love punching once they try it. My SYP Box Fit beginner boxing class teaches proper technique on pads, with no sparring and no one hitting you back. It is a brilliant stress-buster after a week of rainy days indoors. For a home version, see my boxing workout at home for beginners.
FAQs
Are balloons safe for toddlers?
Inflated balloons can be used with toddlers under close supervision, but burst and uninflated balloons are a choking risk for under 8s. Adults should blow them up and clear away any pieces immediately.
What can I use instead of balloons?
A soft beach ball, a light foam ball or a scrunched-up paper ball all work. They fall faster than balloons, so games are a bit harder.
What is the best balloon game for a party?
Balloon volleyball for mixed ages, and the balloon sandwich relay for laughs. Both work with large groups in a small space.
How do I stop balloon games getting too wild?
Set clear rules before you start, use a whistle to stop play, and end with a calm game such as the lying-down blow so children wind down.
Book your first class
The kids have had their fun, so book something for you. SYP Bootcamp runs 45-minute small-group classes in an indoor church hall in Archway N19, maximum 10 people, at £15 a class, and every exercise has an easier and harder option, so you can start wherever you are. Book my £15 class, or call or WhatsApp me on 07301 512215. When you are ready for more personal attention, see how my 1-1 personal training works.
About the author
Artem Olekhnovych is a personal trainer in Archway and the founder of SYP Fitness and SYP Bootcamp. He has coached clients in Archway, Highgate and across North London for over 10 years, and runs small-group bootcamp classes for busy mums and dads. Read reviews from his 1-1 clients.
