🎈 Keep the Balloon Up

What you need

Equipment: One or two balloons (plus spares). Blow up one or two balloons and keep a spare. Move anything breakable out of the room. Everyone stands in a circle, close together.

How to play Keep the Balloon Up

1. The host tosses the balloon in the air and starts counting taps out loud.
2. Everyone works together to keep the balloon off the floor.
3. No catching or holding. Only tap it on.
4. No tapping twice in a row. Someone else must touch it next.
5. Balloon hits the floor? The round ends. Write down the number of taps.
6. Start a new round and try to beat the record.
7. Every two rounds, the host adds a rule: "One hand only!", "Heads only!", "No hands!"

Scoring and wrapping up

Scoring: The group plays against itself. The longest run of taps is the team record. First target: 20 taps. Capy target: 50 taps.

To finish: After five or six rounds, announce the best record. Write it on the board and try to break it next time.

By age

• Ages 4-5: Allow two taps in a row and skip the no-hands rule.
• Ages 7+: Use challenge rules from the start, and try two balloons at once.

Variations

• Big group: Split into circles of six to eight, each with its own balloon, and compare records.
• Capy twist: The host calls a body part with every tap: "Elbow! Knee! Head! Foot!"

Tips for the adult in charge

• Add a second and then a third balloon as the group gets better.
• Count out loud together. The rising number is what keeps everyone excited.

Safety

A popped balloon is a choking hazard for children under 8: pick up every piece straight away and supervise young children closely.