Blow Me Up Like a Balloon
Each child is a flat balloon the teacher pumps up with an imaginary pump; then they float around the gym and slowly deflate. Kids work on breathing, tensing and relaxing the body, and moving at different levels.
How to play
- Blow up a real balloon in front of the group and let it fly. “Now you are balloons!” Children crouch, spread out, curled into a little ball (1 min).
- Pretend to pump: “Fff, fff.” With each pump, balloons breathe in through the nose and grow a bit until they stand tall with arms wide and puffed cheeks (1 min).
- “Balloons, fly!” They move lightly around the gym on tiptoes, turning gently as if the air carried them (1 min).
- “Psssss…”: the balloon loses air. Each child breathes out through the mouth and sinks slowly to the floor (30 s). Repeat twice.
- Last time say “Pop!” and everyone flops softly to the floor, slowly, and stays still for three seconds (1 min).
Rules
- To go down, knees first, then the rest, no flopping hard.
- Balloons fly without bumping other balloons.
- Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.
- Only the teacher uses the real balloon.
Variations
Easier
The teacher shows the pumping and deflating, with no “pop.”
Standard
Pump, fly, and deflate twice in a row.
Harder
Pump small, medium, and giant balloons, and fly with turns.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: inflate by opening arms and chest from the wheelchair and fly by moving arms.
- Autism or noise sensitivity: warn before the pop and do it with a gesture, no shout.
- More skilled kids fly on one foot at times; less skilled kids inflate up to kneeling without standing.
Learning goals
- Notice breathing in and out.
- Contrast tension and relaxation with the whole body.
- Move from a low level to a high level with control.
Equipment for a class of 25
- balloons: 1
Teacher tip
The real balloon at the start beats any explanation. If the group speeds up, stretch out the deflating “psssss” to slow everyone down.
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