Covered Balloon Pass 

Children love balloons.  They are a soft sort of ball and the color and shape are enticing to a child.

Please read a few of the reasons below on why you should cover the balloon for use in a Primary setting.

Beforehand Preparation:

Blow up three to seven balloons inside their balloon covers. The number of balloons depends on the size of your Primary. Practice the pattern of tap, tap, tap, clap for a 4/4 song, or tap, tap, clap for a 3/4

You can find patterns to sew your own covers, or already sewn covers, by googling ‘covered balloon pattern’ etc.

Activity:

Ask the children to follow your hands and demonstrate the pattern. Sing the song as you do the pattern. 

Show the children one of the balloons.  Tell them that every time you clap it will be the signal to pass the balloon to the person next to them.  Bring up two teachers a child and demonstrate how to do the pattern and pass the balloon in front of everyone.

Hand out the balloons to each row of children.  Sing the song, do the pattern, and the children will be passing the balloons as you clap during the singing.

Benefits:

This is a cooperative game that requires listening for the clap, and yet the brain is hearing the beat, rhythm, and melody of the song at the same time.  It is good for visual and kinesthetic learning.  The children love it.

Reasons to cover a balloon:

Balloons can pop. Covered balloons are much less likely to pop. A balloon popping is very disturbing to those with OCD tendencies, Turret’s Syndrome, some with Autism, and other neurodivergent leanings.

Children also love to put things in their mouths.  If a balloon pops while they have it up to their mouth, they might breathe in a part of the balloon, blocking their airway and suffocating them.