Balloon popping games
MAKE SURE that anyone who is really uncomfortable to be close to balloons
when they are popped is freely allowed to excuse themselves from any
balloon popping games without any fuss or ridicule.
BALLOON BREAK
Each person ties an inflated balloon to one ankle. When the signal to start
is given, the object is to burst other peoples balloons while keeping your
balloon intact. The winner is the one with the last intact
balloon.
POPPING FOR PRIZES
Slips of paper with numbers written on are put into balloons
before the balloons are blown up. Each
person is given a balloon and has to pop it to get their number - and
their number will correspond to a prize or whatever the host has planned.
You could put numbers into blue balloons and repeat the same numbers and
put them into pink balloons - the guys would get a blue balloon and the
ladies a pink one - when the balloons are popped they all look for the
person with the matching number who will be their partner for the
evening.
People can take turns to pop or everyone can pop at the same time - they can
sit on the balloons or stamp on them - balloons will need to be blown
up fully or sitting would be difficult to do - keep a pin handy in case
someone has an obstinate balloon or in case people are really too scared
to pop the balloon themselves.
You should make sure that the numbered bits of paper are going to survive
- blowing up the balloons by mouth there will be moisture inside the balloon
so you'd best check that the pen you use has waterproof ink - a permanent
marker will do the job. And if you use 'crystal' or see-through balloons
then people will be able to read the numbers before the balloon is popped
and that may not be part of the plan.
RACE AGAINST THE POP
Usually played where there are just two teams, but more teams can be accommodated
by slightly re-arranging the game. You will need lots and lots of questions and
someone to keep score in this hectic game.
It is a race - how many questions can the member of one team answer - while a
member of the other team blows up a balloon until it pops.
One member from each team comes to the front where the questionmaster and the
scorekeeper are. One person is given a balloon and prepares to blow it up. A
'start' signal is given ( this can be done by the scorekeeper ) and the person
with the balloon starts blowing it up and at the same time the questionmaster
begins asking questions of the other person. Questions can only be asked - and
answers given while the balloon is being blown up - as soon as the balloon pops
no more answers can be accepted. The team score is the number of questions
answered correctly.
Obviously each team should have the same type and size of balloon - and also
the same color balloon too. ( The dyes used in the manufacture of balloons
can also affect their elasticity and their strength and different colored
balloons of the same type can be very different to blow up and pop.)
There are many variations - there could be just one person from each team
taking part where the balloon used is a large one and therefore there is
plenty of time for questions and answers - or the whole team could be allowed
to answer the questions - or everyone could have a turn where smaller balloons
are used. As the balloon gets close to popping make sure you close your eyes
or wear goggles.
BALLOON BLOW OUT / POPPING RELAY
MAKE SURE that people shield their eyes with one hand when a balloon is
about to pop.
Balloons are blown up until they pop. Each person is given a large balloon
and at the starting signal everyone starts blowing - the winner is the person
who pops their balloon first - there's no need for everyone else to pop
their balloons once the first one has popped - if the rest of the balloons are
blown up to a good size and tied then they can be used for a different
game or used as decorations or general fun.
A variation involves splitting up into equal teams - in this case the game is a
relay race and small balloons should be used instead. If you can supply
protective goggles for this game then these can be easily included in the
game itself - you will need one pair of goggles for each team. At the
starting signal the first person in each team blows up their balloon
until it pops - then the goggles are passed to the second person and they
also blow up their balloon until it pops and so on - the winning team is the
one that blows up and pops all of their balloons first.
There may be many requests that this game is played again - so have plenty of
balloons available.
BALLOON BOTTOM POP
You will need enough balloons already blown up and some kind of cushions or
padding to ensure that no injuries occur.
The group is divided into teams and lined up at one end of the course with
whatever is to be used for padding in front of them - the
balloons are placed at the other end of the course in some kind of container
- netting or paddling pools will work fine. At the start signal the first
person from each team runs up the course and collects a balloon. They run
back to their teams and burst the balloon by sitting on it using the padded
area. When the balloon bursts then the next member of the team can run up the
course to collect their balloon and so on. The winning team can be the one
where all its members have popped one balloon each - or the game can be run for
two balloon pops for each person.
If it is not possible to split the party into equal teams then the game can
be played for a fixed amount of time - say one minute, and the number of
balloons popped by each team counted to find the winning team.
Variations can include almost any balloon game that is run over a course -
Balloon Waddle - Balloon Hop etc - see the
RACING GAMES section for ideas to include at the time
everyone is running back to their team with the balloon.
Use balloons that are at least nine inches in diameter and make sure that
they are all well inflated and reasonably easy to pop - modern balloons
can be surprisingly strong so there are almost bound to be some 'difficult'
ones that will cause both fun and frustration as people try to pop them. If
you use a form of padding that is too soft or bulky then that will make
it much harder for people to pop the balloons - a thin pad such as a camping
bed roll is much better. Use discretion in allowing younger children to
play the game - they may not have enough weight to pop the balloons so this
may lead to some unfairness towards the younger children in a mixed age
group which should be avoided.
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BALLOON RACES
OTHER BALLOON GAMES
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