The Naughty Balloon Goes Home on My Feet

In pairs, children move a naughty balloon along the floor to its home (a hoop), taking turns tapping it with their feet even when it veers off and does funny things. It builds steering an unpredictable object and coordinating with a partner.

How to play

1. The teacher sets the hoops (homes) on one side of the room and explains the balloon is naughty: “It rolls funny and runs away” (1 min).
2. Each pair tries moving their balloon along the floor with a foot, slowly, no hands (2 min).
3. My tap, your tap: taking turns, move the balloon to a hoop and leave it still inside (3 min).
4. Tap the balloon out of the house, take a walk around the room, and bring it to another home (3 min).
5. Windy balloon: the teacher fans with a piece of poster board and the balloon escapes; bring it back together (2 min).
6. Leave the balloon at home and cover it with both feet (1 min).

Rules

• The balloon moves with our feet, along the floor.
• One tap each, taking turns.
• If the balloon drifts toward another pair, we wait without stepping on it.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: move the balloon with a pool noodle or by hand from the wheelchair, taking turns with a partner.
• Visual impairment: a balloon with a bell, and the partner says “Your turn.”
• Autism: do it alone first, then with a familiar partner.

Learning goals

• Steer a light, unpredictable object with the foot.
• Adjust the strength of each tap.
• Wait for a turn and coordinate with a partner.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Balloons: 15
• Hoops: 15

Teacher tip

Outdoors, wind makes it too hard: use the classroom or gym. The typical mistake is stepping on the balloon; ask for taps with the side of the foot.

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