Topic

Playing with balloon


What Stimulates: Awe and wonder, curiosity, imagination and questioning

Preparation and materials: 

- an empty balloon for each

- music (optional)

Recommended ages:

3 to 5 years

5 to 8 years

Why is this activity important?

Children marvel at balloons as they are objects that are half in the sky and half on earth. This activity introduces the inner self as part of human existence, as something that lives within us that we cannot see and encourages your child to think about the mysteries of life and nature. It nurtures their curiosity and sense of imagination about being in the world, while preparing them for the challenges they will face in their lives, including the loss of loved ones.

How can you do that:

FOR AGES 3-5 AND 5-8 YEARS OF AGE:

Find a space together that is easy for both of you to move around. It could be outdoors. Take an empty balloon and explain to your child that the balloon is like his body. The balloon has nothing inside, but what is inside our body? You can talk about physical parts of the body first, such as organs.

Now ask your child what we need to inflate the balloon (air). You can use the dialogue and questions below to start talking about the parts of us we can't see. This can be adapted according to the child's age and context and beliefs:

Can we see the air? Not. Just like we can't see some parts of ourselves either. What are the parts of us that we can't see? This is called our spirit, soul, interior, which lives within us and helps us to be useful, grateful, kind, etc.

  • Do we feel this when we are in contact with nature? As?
  • Do we feel it when we are playing with our friends? As?
  • Do you feel it when you pray? As?

When you're done talking, inflate your balloons, but don't tie them yet. Hold the end of the balloon so that the air does not escape. Now talk about how the balloon is full, grew up as an adult! Inside the balloon is still the part of us that we can't see, but what happens to those parts when we let go of the balloon? Release the balloon!

If you feel it's appropriate, this is a good time to talk about what happens to what happens to the parts of us we don't see - soul, spirit, inner self, etc. their religious tradition. You can include religious rituals related to remembering ancestors here or talk about how even if you are not physically together as a family (eg, losing a grandparent), you will always be together spiritually.

After taking the balloon, try to inflate it again and tie the end in a knot. Play some music and have fun playing with the balloons.

Tips on how to do this activity in a group

Discuss what the balloons represent and the questions above before giving each child a balloon.

Once you've done that, make sure everyone has the opportunity to speak and share their answers to the questions. At the end of the activity, have a 'balloon party' with music. Allow the children to play freely with each other and with the balloons, alongside the music. You'll see how much fun they have!

Activity: Balloon Play

This activity exposes your child to a tangible difference between body and spirit. By providing a concrete example of the spirit, your child's sense of self-awareness and gratitude for life is developed as they realize their existence in relation to others and how we all go on a journey of growth, life and death.

Inflating balloons is a great way for children to exercise the muscles they use to speak, improving pronunciation and increasing lung capacity, which has been proven to help children with asthma. Not only does balloon blowing increase respiratory functioning, but playing with the balloons improves hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness - important motor skills children need for lasting health and physical well-being.

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