Animal Balloon Herding

Animal Balloon Herding is a game I set up in order to play at Adam’s farmyard theme birthday party. This outdoor gross motor skill activity is perfect for getting little ones moving and learning about different farm yard animals.

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Resources needed for Animal Balloon Herding

* Yellow, pink and white balloons

* Sellotape

* Black Permanent Marker

* Yellow, black and white card

Setting up Animal Balloon Herding

Simply blow up the balloons, tie the end in a knot and decorate each balloon to look like a farm yard animal. We made pig balloons with a curly tail…

…and chick balloons with a beak.

The white balloons were originally going to be cows but changed them to sheep at the last moment. However, my first attempt at a sheep ended up looking more like a sheep dog. So we ended up with two types of animals – sheep and sheep dogs.

How to play Animal Balloon Herding

The original idea of the game was to try and herd the four types of animal balloons into four different Tuff Spot/ Builders Trays. Unfortunately it was too windy to play the game at the party. However, a few days after the party my cousins 4 year old daughter came to play at Nana’s house. We played an altered version of the game. Instead of herding the animal balloons into the Tuff Spots the three children could chase the animal balloons around the garden.

It was still windy so the animal balloons didn’t stay on the ground for long. Lana had a great time chasing the balloons across the garden. She was closely followed by Adam.

Beth had decided she wanted to wear Iggle-Piggle wellington boots that were several sizes too big and therefore had difficulties running. It didn’t stop her stomping across the garden after a sheep balloon though.

We had been concerned that the balloons would go over the dyke and into the field with the cows. Luckily the balloons didn’t get that far.

As soon as they got to the reeds and the rose bushes the balloons popped.

I discovered that despite not liking loud noises, Adam enjoys popping balloons. He kept deliberately poking his fingers into the balloon until it would pop. He certainly doesn’t have my fear of balloons!

After all the balloons had popped the children played their own version of chicken herding…

…and cow herding.

Animal Balloon Herding can be played outdoors and inside. It would make a fantastic indoor party activity where children worked in teams to herd one particular animal into the corner of the room.

We have teamed up with our favourite bloggers to create an A-Z Play At Home Series. We are starting the series with the letter A:

Audio Book Collection for Kids (How to Make Your Own) // Bambini Travel

Alphabet Hop // Play And Learn Every Day

Acorn Throwing // Teach Me Mommy

Alligator Tongs Fine Motor Activities // Line Upon Line Learning

Apple Print Butterflies // The Gingerbread House

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Emma Edwards

During a difficult pregnancy suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Emma vowed to make every day an adventure once she had recovered. Adventures of Adam is the outcome of completing a 100 day play challenge with Adam as part of that promise. Emma has a section dedicated to HG friendly play activities so that Mums can still be part of their children’s play whilst they are ill.

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