Balloon volleyball

What you need

• Open space, preferably indoor Balloons (round type)
• Piece of string or ribbon, ideally 3-5 metres Scotch tape or masking tape

Benefits

This activity develops hand-eye coordination, gross and fine motor control, and the ability to track moving objects in the air. These skills transfer to sports and activities that involve striking or catching an object in the air (e.g., balls, frisbees, ribbons, sticks, batons).

The experience

• Blow up a balloon of the “round” type.
• Inflate to medium or medium-low pressure, so the balloon “floats” only a bit but not too much.
• Hang the string or ribbon horizontally about one metre above the floor between two chairs, or between bookshelves or countertops. This is your “net”.
• Using your fingertips, hit the balloon back and forth across the net with your child or children.
• If someone allows the balloon to touch the floor on their side, the person on the other side of the net scores a point.
• The first person to win 5 points wins the game!