Last Updated on July 19, 2025 | 6 : 26 pm by Fiestasline
Looking for exciting and affordable balloon games for kids that’ll keep them smiling for hours? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you need indoor balloon games for a rainy day or balloon party games for a birthday, this list has over a dozen fun ideas that use just one thing: balloons!
These fun party games with balloons are perfect for birthday parties, school events, or even just an energetic afternoon at home. Let’s dive in!
🎈 Why Balloon Games Are Perfect for Parties
- Cheap and easy to set up
- Great for all ages — toddlers, youth, pre-teens, and teens
- Work indoors and outdoors
- Endless variations: from funny games with balloons to skill-based relay races
All you need are balloons (and maybe a balloon pump) to turn any space into a party zone!
🏠 Best Indoor Balloon Games
These indoor games with balloons are ideal for younger kids or rainy days when you can’t go outside.
1. Keep It Up (a.k.a. Keepy Uppy)
Players must keep a balloon in the air for as long as possible — no letting it touch the ground!
Variations:
- Use multiple balloons at once
- Add challenges like “only using your elbows” or “no talking”
Great for: Bluey-themed parties (just like in the show!)
2. Balloon Tennis
Set up a net or divide the room with tape or chairs. Use ping pong paddles to hit a balloon back and forth. Perfect balloon game for youth or team play!
3. Balloon Pop
Each player must pop a balloon without using hands or feet — sit, bounce, or squish to win. You can also use water balloons outside.
4. Under Over Relay
Line kids up and have them pass a balloon “under the legs” then “over the head” to the end of the line. A fast-paced group balloon game perfect for classrooms!
5. Balloon Volleyball
Same idea as balloon tennis, but with hands only. Add difficulty by making players keep hands behind their backs.
Essential Supplies for Balloon Games
🎉 Hilarious Balloon Games for Parties
These party balloon games work indoors or outdoors and bring lots of laughs!
6. Hot Potato Balloon
Kids pass the balloon around in a circle while music plays. When it stops — whoever has it is out!
7. Surprise Pop
Hide candy, small toys, or notes inside balloons. Kids must pop them to find surprises!
8. Balloon Treasure Hunt
Hide clues inside balloons around the house or yard. Each clue leads to the next balloon, ending in a final “treasure.”
🌞 Outdoor Balloon Games (for Backyards or Parks)
Need outdoor balloon games that get kids moving? These are awesome for birthday parties and summer events.
9. Water Balloon Piñata
Hang water balloons like a piñata. Kids try to pop them to find hidden prizes inside!
10. Balloon Stomp
Tie a balloon to each child’s ankle. Everyone tries to pop each other’s balloon while protecting their own. Great for teens and older kids!
11. Balloon Relay Race
Players must carry a balloon between their knees and race without dropping or popping it.
Variation: Use a spoon to balance the balloon for a twist on the “egg and spoon” game.
12. Pool Noodle Keep It Up
Same game as Keepy Uppy, but kids use pool noodles to keep the balloons from hitting the ground.
Balloon Games for a Bluey Birthday Party
Bonus Activities with Balloons
13. Balloon Painting (for Younger Kids)
Dip balloons in paint and use them like brushes on paper — great sensory play!
14. Balloon Dart Target Practice (for Older Kids)
Tape balloons to a wall and assign point values. Kids throw darts to pop them and earn points. Note: adult supervision required.
Balloon Game Ideas by Type
To help you plan your next event, here are balloon game ideas based on party style:
| Game Type | Great For |
|---|---|
| Indoor balloon games | Small parties, classrooms |
| Outdoor balloon games | Backyard fun, summer days |
| Group/team games | School events, birthdays |
| Water balloon games | Summer birthdays, parks |
| Balloon games for toddlers | Painting, Keepy Uppy |
| Balloon games for youth | Tennis, volleyball, stomp |
| Funny games with balloons | Hot Potato, Balloon Pop |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are some fun balloon games for birthday parties?
Try Hot Potato, Balloon Stomp, or a Water Balloon Piñata — they’re crowd-pleasers!
Are there any indoor balloon games for small spaces?
Yes! Try Keepy Uppy, Under Over, or Balloon Tennis — they work great even in living rooms.
What age are balloon games best for?
There’s a balloon game for every age — from toddlers (painting) to teens (dart games, relays).
How can I make balloon games more challenging for older kids?
Use time limits, obstacle courses, or add silly rules (no hands, only elbows, hop on one foot, etc.).
If you’re planning a Bluey-themed birthday party, this game couldn’t be more perfect! The Keepy Uppy balloon game appears in one of the early episodes of the popular Australian children’s TV show.
All you need is an inflated balloon (or a few balloons if you want to make it more challenging).
How to Play:
Players must not let the balloons touch the ground, working together to keep them in the air for as long as possible.
Balloon Volleyball
Another great group game similar to balloon tennis, but without the paddles. All you need is a net, a line, or even a row of chairs to use as a ‘net’ and, of course, your balloons.
How to Play:
Set up your ‘net’ in the room or play area and divide players into teams. Players must hit the balloon over the net, and the other team must return it by hitting it back over. Each time a team allows the balloon to touch the ground on their side, the other team scores a point. The first team to 5 or 10 points wins!
Tip: Make the game even more challenging by having players keep their hands behind their backs so they must use other parts of their bodies to hit the balloon over the net. This is a great way to make the game more difficult for older kids!
Under Over
If you have a large group of kids, under over is a fun indoor balloon game for parties or classrooms to see how fast they can move.
How to Play:
Divide players into equal groups of at least 5 per team and have them stand half a meter apart. Give the first child a balloon and, once you call start, have the children pass the balloon under their legs, then over the next person’s head, and then under the legs again, repeating the pattern until it reaches the end. The last person runs to the start of the line and repeats the process until all team members have had their turn as line leaders. The fastest team wins!
Surprise Pop
This is a super simple balloon-popping game that can be played with any number of players.
How to Play:
Inflate a bunch of balloons and fill some of them with treats like small candies, erasers, balls, etc. The kids will work hard to pop the balloons to see if they can find a surprise.
Hot Potato Balloon
Hot Potato is a classic party game that’s made even more challenging with a balloon, as it might float out of someone’s grasp, making them chase it before passing it to the next child.
How to Play:
Sit the children in a circle and play music while they pass the balloon around. When the music stops, whoever is holding the balloon is out. The last player remaining is the winner.
Balloon Treasure Hunt
A balloon treasure hunt is a fun twist on the classic treasure hunt activity. You’ll need to come up with clues (or find some online) to place inside your balloons.
How to Play:
Fold a single clue inside each balloon and hide them around the house (or yard) so the kids have to solve the clues to find the next balloon, eventually leading them to the final treasure.
Tip: Place the clues inside the balloons before inflating them to reduce the chance of them breaking.
Outdoor Balloon Games for Parties
These outdoor balloon games for kids of all ages are sure to keep them entertained for hours with fun popping games, skill-based challenges, and many creative ways to play with balloons.
Pool Noodle Keep It Up
For this fun twist on the Keep It Up balloon game, you’ll need enough pool noodles for each player.
How to Play: The kids use their pool noodles as bats to keep the balloons in the air and prevent them from falling onto the grass.
Water Balloon Piñata
A water balloon piñata is always a hit with kids! All you need is a large container (like a bucket or trash bin), some string, water balloons, and small prizes.
How to Play: Fill the container with water balloons, making sure to leave enough room at the top for the lid. Once the game begins, have the kids try to pop the balloons to find the hidden prizes.
Balloon Stomp
Balloon Stomp is a fun game that older kids love. You can play it indoors, but be sure it’s somewhere without trip hazards or fragile items, as stomping balloons can get pretty wild! All you need are some pieces of string and balloons.
How to Play: Tie a balloon to each player’s leg with a piece of string. The goal is to protect your own balloon while stomping on everyone else’s until only one player remains with their balloon intact.
Balloon Relay Race
A relay race is always a party favorite, and this balloon duck race is a fun twist that will get everyone excited! You can play it in teams or individually, adding an extra challenge to the traditional relay game.
How to Play: Divide the kids into pairs, with half of each team on the starting line and the other half at the end of the relay track. Each child must place a balloon between their knees and run the relay as quickly as possible without popping or dropping the balloon. If anything happens, they must return to the start and restart their lap. The first team to have all players cross the finish line with their balloons intact wins!
Balloon and Spoon Race
A twist on the classic egg and spoon race, this one involves the challenge of balancing a lightweight balloon on your wooden spoon. You can also play it with water-filled balloons.
How to Play: Place a balloon on a spoon and race against other players to the finish line without dropping or popping your balloon. If you drop the balloon, you must stop and pick it up before continuing. The first player to cross the finish line with their balloon intact wins!
Balloon Painting
This sensory game is perfect for younger kids and is more of an activity than a game, but it’s definitely worth mentioning. You’ll need sheets of paper, paints, and balloons for this fun activity.
How to Play: Pour paint into paper plates or disposable trays, and have the kids dip their balloons into the paint and use them as paintbrushes to create some fun balloon art masterpieces.
A messier variation of balloon painting that’s perfect for older kids, pre-teens, and teenagers is balloon splatter painting. You may want to lay down an old sheet or tarp under this area, as it will get quite messy!
Old clothes or painting smocks are also a good idea!
How to Play:
Fill balloons or water balloons with different colors of paint. Don’t fill them too much. Set up a large canvas or sheets of paper and have the kids throw the paint-filled balloons to create a colorful abstract rainbow masterpiece.
Target Practice
This is a balloon-popping game for older kids or teens, as it requires the use of darts and plenty of supervision! A dart game kit is perfect for this, as it includes everything you’ll need.
How to Play:
Tape a bunch of different colored balloons to a fence, bulletin board, or another surface suitable for dart throwing, creating a balloon dart target. Assign each color balloon a point value—for example, red balloons are worth 50 points, blue balloons are worth 20 points, and green balloons are worth 5 points. Have the kids take turns throwing darts to earn points. The highest score wins.
Tip: Use a cheap or old dart set that you no longer need instead of your good quality set in case they hit other things more often than the balloons.
Final Thoughts
From funny games with balloons to creative painting activities and action-packed balloon team games, you now have tons of ideas to make your next kids’ party unforgettable.