• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Adventures and Play

Kid play and learning adventures

  • Home
  • Adam and I
  • Adventures
  • Ways To Play With…
  • Reviews
  • Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Animal Balloon Herding

May 4, 2017 by Emma Edwards 11 Comments

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.

Animal Balloon Herding

(This post contains affiliate links)

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…

Pig balloon

…and chick balloons with a beak.

Make your own chick balloon

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.

DIY Sheep balloon

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.

Chasing animal balloons outside

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.

Gross motor play with balloons

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.

Toddler balloon play activity

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.

Herding animals play activity

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

Farm animal balloons game

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!

Toddler outdoor play activity

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

Toddlers and chickens

…and cow herding.

Toddlers and cows

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

You May Also Like:

http://adventuresandplay.com/sheep-shearing/
Adventures of Adam Cow skittles farmyard party games
Farm yard party games
Adventures of Adam ghost balloon busters
Ghost Balloon Busters

Check out our other ways to play with:

Adventures of Adam Ways to play with balloons

Filed Under: Play Activities, Some time required, Supervision needed Tagged With: Animal themed play, Balloons, DIY activities, Gross Motor Skills, Outdoor Play Activities

Previous Post: « Sheep Shearing
Next Post: Broad Bean Colour Sort »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. over40andamumtoone says

    May 21, 2014 at 9:23 am

    That is such a great idea, bet the kids had a fab time #alphabetphoto

    Reply
    • Emma Edwards says

      May 21, 2014 at 8:06 pm

      Thanks. The children loved it. Anything involving running around the garden ticks Adam’s requirements for a fun play activity.

      Reply
  2. Cheryl (@CherylInTheUK) says

    May 21, 2014 at 10:05 am

    I am so going to store this idea for next time I need to entertain the children with something novel. Hopefully not a windy day. Lovely idea. #AlphabetPhoto

    Reply
    • Emma Edwards says

      May 21, 2014 at 8:07 pm

      Certainly choose a non-windy day! More herding and less chasing would be involved then.

      Reply
  3. mummyoftwo2 says

    May 21, 2014 at 11:52 am

    What a shame it was too windy it sounds like such a fun idea! It looks like they all had lots of fun chasing the balloons around.

    Reply
    • Emma Edwards says

      May 21, 2014 at 8:07 pm

      Animal balloon chasing didn’t have the same ring to it!

      Reply
  4. Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) says

    May 21, 2014 at 1:39 pm

    Those are unique balloons! Looks fun to chase them too =P
    #alphabetphoto

    Reply
    • Emma Edwards says

      May 21, 2014 at 8:08 pm

      I would certainly call my sheep dog come sheep balloons unique! My artistic skills are not improving!

      Reply
  5. Charly Dove says

    May 22, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    Just love this post and the idea too – brilliant! Sounds like it was the best day and the photos are ace. Thank you so much for sharing with #alphabetphoto

    Reply
  6. Mhairi Little Hands says

    May 22, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    Such a great idea and looks like they had lots of fun. #alphabetphoto

    Reply
  7. Shay: TwoTinyTerrors (@shay_noble) says

    May 23, 2014 at 10:59 am

    This is such a great idea!! Looks like a lot of fun 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome!

Emma and Adam

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.

To learn more about Emma and Adam click here.


To subscribe to our newsletter enter your
* = required field

powered by MailChimp!
MAD Blog Awards UK 2015

Archives

Footer

WE’RE MEMBERS OF

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

BritMums - Leading the Conversation

Awards:

FINALIST BiB 2014 FRESH VOICE

Crafty Blogs

Find Us At:

Adventures of Adam Toys R Us Toyologist
Adventures of Adam Trunki Chief Tester

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Twinkl Educational School Resources

Copyright © 2021 · by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Necessary Always Enabled

Non-necessary