Games

Squeeze squish squash! Balloon sensory activity for toddlers

Squeeze it, squish it, squash it! …

Your child will love this fun balloon sensory activity (and you can use it as a stress ball at the end of a tough day!)

Babies brains are designed to take in information from day 1. And for children age 1 – 2, the senses are their most familiar, most basic way to explore, process, and come to understand new information.

Sensory activities help them practice using their senses and develop the neural pathways associated with each one. You can help by providing activities that allow them to experience and feel textures, see colours and hear sounds.

Balloon sensory activity for kids age 1 - 2

This sensory balloon activity from Activity Box is a quick and easy way to get started with your child today.

All the instructions and activities for your child are listed below. Have fun!

Advantages for mums:

  • Convenient – Only requires a few balloons and household pantry items
  • Fun – Your child will play with them for days!
  • Portable – Take them with you anywhere!
  • Creative – Feel, see and hear the items in the balloons
  • Age appropriate – Designed for age 1 – 2 (but everyone will love giving them a squeeze!)


Activity Box balloon sensory activity for kids age 1 – 6


Balloon Materials:

  • Balloons
  • Plastic water bottle
  • Funnel (plastic or home made from paper)


Materials for filling:

  • Dry rice or oats
  • Flour
  • Coffee beans, dry lentils or peas
  • Granulated sugar or salt
  • Water or gel (if you’re brave)


Step 1: Parent Prep (10 minutes)

  1. Rinse and dry out a plastic bottle the night before
  2. Decide what materials you want use to fill the balloons
  3. If you don’t have a funnel you can make one from paper

Step 2: Fill the balloons (5 – 10 minutes)

Let’s make squishy, crunchy and smooshy sensory balloons!

Balloon-sensory-activity-filling-the-balloon

  1. Take out your dry plastic bottle, balloons, funnel and fillings
  2. Insert the funnel into the bottle and fill with about 1/3 cup of your first filling material
  3. Let older children help you pour, scoop and fill the bottle with each material

  4. Balloon-sensory-activity-attach-balloon

    1. Then stretch a balloon over the top of the bottle. Squeeze the bottle to get some air in the balloon to make room for the filling
    2. Once you have air in the balloon turn the bottle over and shake or squeeze the bottle to empty the filling material into the balloon
    3. Pull the balloon off the bottle and tie the end. First one is done!
    4. Fill several balloons with different filling so each one feels completely different: squishy, crunchy, smooshy or smooth

    Step 3: Have fun with your balloon sensory activity! (play for as long as you like!)

    1. Put the balloons into a bag or box
    2. Let your baby put her hand in and feel them. Take each one out and play with them
    3. Talk about what it feels like and what sounds it makes (if any)
    4. Let the whole family have fun squishing, squeezing and smashing their sensory balloons!