10 Fun Balloon Games

You've got a package of balloons left over from a birthday party, and you've got a group of restless co-op kids in your living room. It's go time. With these 10 balloon activities, you'll be Queen of the Co-op until the parents come back. They're also great for birthday parties, school parties, and even Halloween parties.

1. Balloon Noses. Divide the kids into two teams, and give each team a balloon. The goal is to keep the balloon from touching the floor, but they can only touch the balloons with their noses. Each team starts with 10 points. Every time the balloon touches the floor they lose a point. The last team to still have points wins the game.

2. Balloon Stomp. Each child gets a balloon and a string cut about a yard long. Tie one end of the string to the balloon and the other end of the string to the kids' ankles. When you say "go," the kids try to pop each other's balloon by stomping on them while protecting their own balloon. The last child to still have a blown-up balloon wins.

3. Pass the Balloon. This game works best with sausage-shaped balloons. Divide the kids into teams and line each team up in a straight line. The goal is to pass the balloon all the way down the line only using knees. To do this, the kids squeeze the balloon between their knees and hold it steady while the next kid gets it between his knees. If they drop it, they have to pick it up only using their knees. The first team to pass the balloon all the way down the line wins.

4. Balloon Relay. Each team gets 10 balloons that haven't yet been inflated. One at a time, each member of the team must blow up a balloon, run to a marked line, and then pop the balloon by sitting on it or stomping on it. Then they run back and tag the next person.

5. Water Balloon Toss. Have the kids pair up and stand across from their partners. Give one water balloon to each pair of kids. After they successfully toss and catch their balloon, they each take a step back. The winner is the pair that lasts the longest.

6. Balloon Number Game. Direct the kids to stand in a circle, and give each kid a number. The kid with the highest number goes to the middle of the circle. He holds a balloon, shouts a random number, and then tosses the balloon in the air. The child assigned that number must catch the balloon before it touches the ground. If she does, she stands in the middle to shout the next number. When only 2 kids are left, an adult should toss the balloon.

7. Balloon Volleyball. Tie a jump rope between two kitchen chairs to make your volleyball net. Divide the children into two teams, and have the teams stand on opposite sides of the net. Follow basic volleyball rules and play until one team reaches 15 points.

8. Balloon Treasure Hunt. Before blowing up an assortment of balloons, insert a colorful slip of paper in a few of them. After they're all blown up, scatter them across a wide area. When you say "go," let the kids pop the balloons, trying to find the slips of paper. They can exchange the papers for prizes.

9. Balloon Stuff. Divide the kids into two teams and let them decide who will get "stuffed." When you say "go," each team will try to stuff as many balloons as possible into one of the kids' shirts in 30 seconds. The team with the most balloons in someone's shirt wins.

10. Balloon Sculptures. Divide the kids into teams and supply them with a package of balloons and some double-sided tape. It's best to let them take as much time as they want to build their sculptures out of balloons and tape. Take pictures of their creations because they won't last long!