Balloon - OTPlan

Balloon Bead Balance Mission

Steps:

Blow up a balloon and tie it securely.
Place a bowl of beads and an empty basket on a stable table.
Ask your child to stand in front of the materials.
Have them rest the balloon on the flat palm of their non-dominant helper hand.
Use the tweezers in their other hand to pick up a single bead.
Carefully carry the bead and drop it into the basket while keeping the balloon balanced.
If the balloon falls, return the bead and try again from the start.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Small beads are a significant choking hazard. Ensure the balloon is handled carefully to avoid popping near the face.

Sensory Balloon Squeeze Pairs

Steps:

Fill two balloons with dry beans, two with rice, and two with oats.
Squeeze some water into two final balloons and tie all of them securely.
Place all the textured balloons inside a large bowl.
Have your child close their eyes and pick up one balloon.
Ask them to squeeze it gently with their hands to feel the texture.
Challenge them to find the matching balloon in the bowl using only their sense of touch!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise children during balloon play. Uninflated or broken balloons can be a choking hazard. Keep materials away from mouths.

The Balloon Tongs Catch

Steps:

Blow up a bright balloon and tie it securely.
Place an empty basket on the floor across the room.
Give your child a pair of sturdy tongs to hold.
Toss the balloon gently into the air for them.
Challenge your child to squeeze and catch the balloon using only the tongs.
Have them carry the balloon carefully and drop it into the basket.
If the balloon drops, they must start over from the beginning.

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child during play. Discard any popped balloon pieces immediately to prevent a choking hazard.

Balloon Blast Ping Pong Path

Steps:

Cut several long strips of cardboard and bend them into U-shaped arches.
Use masking tape to stick these arches onto a flat table to make a tunnel path.
Place a ping pong ball at the very beginning of the path.
Blow up a bright balloon but do not tie the end shut.
Pinch the balloon neck tightly with your fingers to keep the air inside.
Hold the balloon behind the ball and point the opening at it.
Slowly let go of the pinch to release a blast of air.
Try to blow the ball through every single cardboard arch to the finish!

Safety Tip:
Always supervise your child when they are playing with balloons. If a balloon pops, pick up and throw away the broken pieces immediately. These can be a choking hazard.

The Ribbon Tail Balloon Catch

Steps:

Blow up a bright balloon and tie it tightly.
Cut four long strips of ribbon using your scissors.
Tape the ribbons to the bottom of the balloon.
Toss the balloon high into the air.
Ask your child to catch the balloon by the ribbons.
See how many times they can catch it before it lands!

Safety Tip:
Always watch your child when playing with balloons. Broken pieces are a choking hazard. Throw away any popped balloons right away.