Andrew Oghinan

LEI 4724
Activity: Balloon Bop
Source: McGowan, K. (n.d.). Balloon Bop. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
Equipment Needed: 2-20 people, a bag of bright balloons, a chalkboard/eraserboard.
Activity Description:
1. Facilitator makes a circle of chairs for clients to sit in.
2. Divide the group into two teams with clients of opposing teams scattered around the
circle.
3. The facilitator throws the balloon into the air and the object of the game is to have the
players use a part of their body to hit the balloon without it touching the ground.
4. Each time a player does let the ball touch the ground; the opposing team gets a point.
5. Play to a predetermined final score.

Leadership Considerations:
1. For a fun twist in the game, clients can count how many times in a row a player of their
team hit the ball to earn extra points in a streak. The facilitator may even add extra
balloons to increase difficulty if/when clients get bored.
2. With regard to safety, chairs should be spaced out appropriately because the game can
oftentimes get physical.

3. For players that are symptomatic of disabilities that may often involve unpredictable
body movements like multiple sclerosis:
Before the start of the game, the facilitator may add very little helium and blow the rest of
the balloon up manually because it causes the balloon to fall slower.

4. For players with a disability that is somewhat physically limiting but still allows them to
perform, like Beckers muscular dystrophy:
The team/scoring aspect of the game can be taken out so as to reduce pressure from other
players. The game remains the same but the clients can play for an indefinite amount of
time and without penalty.