Play with a purpose
Tactile Balloons – fill deflated balloon with salt or rice or beans, or marbles, or flour, you can use a funnel, put a bowl underneath to catch extra tactile items, tie off balloon without adding air. Drop or toss tactile balloons into bowls, use a variety of contents and bowls to toss/sort balloons by their contents, use colored balloons to add sorting option by color as well as content…
Punch Ball Balloons – use punch balls with or without the rubber band handle, thicker than typical balloons they are safer for individuals that may bite balloon, without handle use ideas listed above, with handle: stand in circle have 2-4 punch balls rotate around the circle, turn taking, passing, identify peers by name when passing balloon or receiving balloon, count aloud 10 punches & then pass to next person, identify colors of punch ball, choice making of colors, theme designed punch balls…
Water Bop Balloons – use clear balloons, 12” length elastic, confetti, warm water. Add ¼ cup warm water & confetti, blow up about 6” tie off & tie elastic to knot. Use similar to a punch ball, has additional sensory input…
Balloon Activities
Volley Balloons on table top - success by keeping balloon in play longer on top of table, a good set up for folks in wheelchairs or individuals that have short attention span, often keeps attention longer when sitting up to a table, balloons move slower than a ball, more response time for catching, pushing or tapping, the table & chairs set up seems to bring more focus to the group, opportunity for turn taking, color identification, calling out peer names, cut foam pool toy to make soft bat for hitting balloons increase participation & success…
Sensory Sound Balloons – create different sounds & weight, add small jingle bell, or a pinch of rice, or a few dry beans, or some salt, blow up balloon about ½ the size it is supposed to be and tie off before tossing. Toss to peer, toss into bucket, toss toward target, throw up in air and catch by yourself, sort similar sensory content balloons…