Sensory Balloons Game

Engage kids in a fun and educational Sensory Balloons game!

In this activity, children explore their sense of touch by feeling balloons filled with various materials and matching them to corresponding cards.

This interactive game enhances sensory awareness, fine motor skills and critical thinking while providing hands-on learning fun.

30 Days of Fine Motor Activities gives you lots of easy sensory ideas!

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How to Use Sensory Balloons

The game revolves around balloons filled with a variety of materials — such as rice, flour or beans. Each balloon offers a unique texture for children to explore.

Alongside the balloons, you’ll have cards displaying the materials inside.

The goal is for kids to feel the balloons, identify what’s inside and place them on the matching cards.

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This activity blends sensory play with critical thinking, making it ideal for preschoolers and elementary-aged children.

It can be used in classrooms, during playdates or even as a family game.

Benefits of the Sensory Balloon Game

Sensory Development: By exploring different textures, kids develop their tactile senses and learn to differentiate between materials.

Fine Motor Skills: Handling and squeezing the balloons helps strengthen small hand muscles, which are crucial for tasks like writing and buttoning clothes.

Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Matching balloons to cards requires children to think critically and make connections between their sensory experiences and visual cues.

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Inclusive and Adaptable: This game is suitable for all skill levels and can be tailored to meet the needs of kids with sensory processing challenges by varying the textures or materials.

Supplies to Make Balloons

Supplies:

• 6 Latex balloons
• 1 piece of colorful paper
• Black marker
• Scissors
• Funnel

Filler Ideas:

• Any dry bean
• Flour
• Hair gel
• Corn kernels
• Uncooked Rice
• Uncooked Chickpeas
• Pom Poms
• Glitter
• Ground coffee
• Play sand
• Playdough
• Small rocks
• Aquarium rocks
• Lotion
• Shampoo
• Baby oil
• Seeds

How to Make Balloons

Take the colorful paper of your choice and cut out 6 squares. Use the marker to write the names of the sensory objects. (flour, hair gel, corn, rice, pom poms, beans)

Prepare the Balloons: Use a funnel to fill each balloon with a different material, ensuring a variety of textures.

Use a variety of fillers to create a wide range of textures. Tie the balloons securely.

Create Matching Cards: Print or draw cards with pictures or names of the materials used.

Substitutions: Use pictures instead of words (or both pictures and words) on cards.

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Set Up the Game: Arrange the cards on a table or floor, and place the balloons in a basket or container nearby.

Directions to Play

Lay out the cards in front of the kids.

Invite the kids to feel the balloons, guess the contents, and place each one on the corresponding card.

Turn the game into a discussion by asking kids to describe how each balloon feels (e.g., soft, squishy, bumpy).

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For added fun, turn it into a timed challenge or a group competition!

So grab some balloons, get creative with your fillers and watch as children explore, learn and have a blast!

More Balloon Fun

Discover more balloon fun like these sensory balloons with creative activities that inspire play, learning and laughter for kids of all ages!

• Balloon and Bottle Experiment
• Make a Balloon Zip Line
• Balloon Tennis Indoor Gross Motor Play
• Free Printable Balloon Templates