FAMILY FUN FRIDAY-Balloon Pong!

This is a great game for your whole family. Set up a little tournament, or have everyone play at the same time. This is great for even the littlest of family members. Just watch the balloon in their mouths. 

You most likely already have everything that you need. 

Supplies

Balloons

(Blown up. Although you only need one to play, it is good to have a few on hand, just in case one pops.)

Paper Plates

(One per person)

Craft Sticks

(One per person. You could also use paint stirring sticks. They are a little longer and can add some stability to your paper plate)

Tape

(I like masking or duct tape the best)

FIRST: Take your paper plates and using the tape, tape one of your craft sticks to the back of the paper plate. TO CREATE YOUR PADDLE. It is fun if each person gets to make have their own paddle. Once they are put together, use crayons and markers to personalize your paddles. You can name your paddle, color it, anything that makes it stand out as yours. This is great for little kids.

NEXT: Blow up your balloon. This will be used as the ball.

NOW: You're ready to play.  You need a net of some sort. This can be as simple as putting a piece of tape across a table to make a dividing line OR you could tape a string across the room. If you have a volleyball net in the backyard, you could use that also.

TO PLAY: Pretend it is ping pong. One person will hit the balloon over the line to the other person. That person has to hit the balloon back over the line without letting the balloon touch the table, or the ground, depending on where you are playing. Keep score. Remember, in ping pong you have to win by 2. And you switch servers after every 5 points scored. (I hope I remembered that correctly)

VARIATIONS: We like to play without a "net" also. We have everyone play at the same time, and we have to keep the balloon from touching the ground. We also play in teams of two, hitting the balloon back and forth, again, not letting it touch the ground. The team to keep the balloon in the air the longest, wins. 

RELAY VARIATION: Set up household objects to create an obstacle course around your house, or in the yard. Each person has to hit their balloon, with their paddle, through the obstacle course. The fastest time wins. Or have two people race through the course against each other at the same time. 

You could also have two people hitting the balloon back and forth to each other while going around different obstacles. 

BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR PADDLES. THEY CAN BE USED ALL THE TIME. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO HAVE A QUICK GAME OF BALLOON PONG. 

THINK, AFTER DINNER DISHES HAVE BEEN CLEARED. 

You could even have a silly trophy that you make, or get from DI. The winner gets to keep the trophy in their room until the next time the family plays. The new winner then gets to house the trophy in their room.

I hope you and your family have a great weekend.

HAS EVERYONE ADJUSTED TO THE BACK TO SCHOOL ROUTINE?