Balloon volleyball

Indoor sports can be great – especially on wet and cold days. Keep your child active, with this fun activity. Balloon volleyball gets your children moving, developing their gross motor skills as they follow and tap the balloon. They also learn to persist and problem-solve in this game.

What do I need?

• Balloon (and some spares)
• String or streamer
• Two chairs
• At least two players

How do I do it?

1. Tie the string between the chairs and you have your volleyball ‘net’.
2. Blow up a balloon and you are ready to play!
3. Divide players into two teams, one on either side of the net. 
4. On the word “GO” the players tap the balloon back and forth over the net. The aim is to get the balloon to touch the floor, wall or furniture on their opponents’ side – while preventing it from touching on their side. 
5. When the teams get better at this, you can add another balloon for twice the action!
6. If the teams agree, they can score points each time the balloon touches something on the other side of the net. Let them choose how many points they need to win the game.

Ideas for playing alone

• Time trials: how many times can they tap the balloon before it hits the ground?
• Goal shooting: set up a target or basket (e.g. washing basket or storage tub) for your child to throw their balloon into. This will hep them  to build their skills and accuracy.
• Bat and balloon: use a rolled-up newspaper/magazine or a wooden spoon to keep the balloon in the air.
• Counting: count up in twos, fives or tens as they tap the balloon – how high can they get?

No-one knows your child better than you.  So, choose and/or adapt ideas here to best suit you and your child. Remember it’s the talking and time spent together that matters most.