Balloon Keep Up

Set up

Blow up a few balloons. Move anything breakable off low tables and shelves. That is all.

How to play

As one team:

1. Everyone stands in a loose group. Toss one balloon into the air.
2. Players tap the balloon to keep it up. Nobody may hit it twice in a row, and nobody may hold or catch it.
3. Time how long the group lasts before the balloon touches the floor.
4. Play again and try to beat the time. When it gets easy, add a second balloon, then a third.

As a contest:

1. Give every player their own balloon.
2. On “go”, everyone keeps their own balloon up using one hand only.
3. A player whose balloon touches the floor is out.
4. The last balloon in the air wins.

Balloon safety

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission advises keeping deflated balloons away from children younger than eight. For this game that means an adult inflates the balloons, uninflated spares stay out of reach, and burst pieces are picked up straight away.

Ways to change it

• No hands: heads, knees, elbows and feet only.
• Call a body part: the leader shouts “elbow” or “nose” and the next touch must use it.
• Sitting volleyball: two teams sit on the floor either side of a string. Bottoms stay on the floor.
• Pairs: partners hold hands and keep one balloon up with their free hands.
• Name it: each tap must come with a word from a category, such as an animal or a color.

Who it suits, and who it doesn’t

Balloon Keep Up works for almost anyone who can stand, and it fills five minutes with no explanation needed. It is ideal for burning off energy indoors on a wet day. Skip it if anyone at the party has a latex allergy, or use foil balloons or a beach ball. Loud pops upset some children; warn them it may happen.