Pop the Balloon Game

My girls requested that we play at a game at their recent rainbow themed birthday party, so I set out to create something simple that they would enjoy.  I started with a piece of scrap plywood from the garage and covered it with a plastic tablecloth that was an extra from the party decorations.  I just wrapped it around and hot glued it on the back of the wood.

I started out planning on making a rainbow shape with the balloons, but that was easier said than done.  If my original wood piece was bigger, this probably would have been easier.  Oh well, you get the idea.

The day before the party, I filled each balloon with a small prize before inflating it.  The smaller the object, the better!  This proved to be a harder task than I anticipated.  I used some really tiny party favors like plastic rings and necklaces, small animals, stickers, Tootsie Rolls, change, confetti, and a few lottery tickets that the adults enjoyed.  One trick I learned was to turn the uninflated balloon inside out on your fingers and then turn it back right side out once the prize is in place.  Think of it like you're folding a pair of socks.  I also went ahead and splurged on the $1.99 balloon pump.  Why didn't I buy one of those things sooner?  Much easier on my lungs.

Once they were all inflated and tied off, I just hot glued each balloon into place.  I wasn't sure if they would pop from the heat, but they all did just fine.  I just kept the glue onto the knot and the tied end of the balloon.

For the actual game, I used Sharpies to color each side of a die a different color.  When it was your turn, you rolled the die and popped a balloon of the coordinating color.  I couldn't find a thumb tack, so we ended up using a sewing pin.  A thumb tack with a little handle would have been easier. 

It was really simple, but the girls loved it!  I'm sure you would have to add a more complicated element for older kids, but it was a blast for 3 and 5 year olds and their adult guests!