You can make a DIY Balloon Dart Game…all the cousins will be talking about it until next Chanukah!
For as long as I can remember (perhaps for more than 10 years!), I’ve been hosting a big kids-oriented Chanukah party for the extended family…and I always try to think of the latest and greatest activities to enthrall the kids. Because when the kids are occupied, everyone is happy!
Last year’s Balloon Dart Game wasn’t just an amazing activity…it was my best activity ever. It wasn’t only popular with the kids…even the adults wanted to get the pleasure of popping some balloons! Plus, I found that it was very orderly too. Each kid received 10 tickets in a gift bag (the bag is meant to hold their candy and prizes) when they arrived that they could either cash in for darts or spins on this wheel. They happily waited on a neat line for their turn as it was super exciting to watch others pop balloons too! Each color balloon coordinated to a different prize category.
- You’ll need some foam boards (I used these). You can make your game as small or large as you desire (I taped 6 foam boards together so it was pretty big). Attach the foam boards together using duct tape (colorful duct tape is great!). You can cover the foam boards with colorful paper or simply use colorful foam boards (vs. black or white).
- Next, you’ll need balloons and darts. They come together in one set and they’re really inexpensive!
- You DON’T want to commit yourself to blowing up hundreds of balloons without an electric pump. This is the best balloon pump ever. It blows up each balloon in a second and makes the set up so much easier. You can blow up the balloons the night before the party. I’ve enjoyed using it since then for other events.
- I attached the balloons to the board using these push pins (any push pins would work).
- You need a safe place in your home to use play the game. I propped the foam board against a wall and put a baby gate around it. This way, no one can walk in front of the game. The person throwing the dart stood behind the gate. You can also simply use chairs and rope/string to create a cordoned off area.
- Finally, you need prizes! You can plan this part however you like. I had different levels of prizes coordinating to each balloon color.
Feel free to ask any questions below and get popping!
Sounds like fun! BUT balloons around young children are a
dangerous choking hazard.
“Latex balloons are festive and colorful, but they are also the leading cause of choking deaths in children in the U.S.
Even pieces of broken balloons pose a serious potential choking hazard because they are easily sucked into the throat and lungs. Uninflated balloons and pieces of broken balloons are particularly hazardous because of the way they can stretch and mold to a child’s throat, making it impossible to breathe.”
https://www.stlouischildrens.org/health-resources/pulse/why-are-latex-balloons-danger-children
Thanks
Gimme a break
I wanted to know if I should glue the foam board to the same size pieces of plywood? My husband’s concerned the foam board alone may get blown away. Any advice. Thank you.
Joanne
Love this idea! What are some of your prizes you gave out?
Not understanding the rules of the game ….do the kids need to answer questions to be able to pop balloons? Or do they just get to pop if it’s their turn?
How many turns does each kid take? We have lots of kids at the grandparents party…
also, what did you do when someone didn’t pop any balloon? Were they still able to walk away with prizes?
They had about six darts each. If works fine with lots of kids because it’s still fun to watch for those who are waiting. Most popped balloons. Yes, if younger kids missed they could redo it.
We did this and it was so cute! I found these specific balloons super tiny and hard to get things into (like even a tiny piece of paper). My girls put funny activities in some like “make up a verse of dreidel dreidel” or “hug the person behind you”. I put money into some as well. Super cute for all ages. Thanks for the suggestion.
did you find that some missed and you were left with holes in the wall?
Yes definitely made many holes…even went through the foam boards…not to be done on a regular wall…I had a wall that I didn’t mind getting holes