Use a broom to gently sweep and guide a balloon across the floor toward a finish line, keeping it low and under control the whole way. Race against a sibling with two balloons and two brooms, or time a solo run against the clock.
What you need
- a balloon
- a broom or soft-bristled brush
How to do it
- 1Mark a start and finish line across the room with tape or two objects.
- 2Use the broom to sweep the balloon along the ground toward the finish line.
- 3Race a second balloon and broom side by side if there are two players.
- 4Time a solo run and try to beat the previous best time on the next attempt.
Variations
- If a broom feels awkward to control: a rolled-up towel or a pool noodle works as a gentler sweeping tool.
- How it ends: crossing the finish line and announcing the winning time closes the race.
💡 Parent tip
Keep the sweeping strokes low and gentle -- big swings send the balloon flying instead of rolling, which turns the race into chasing it around the room.
What your child develops
- Tool control — guiding an object with a broom rather than hands is a real fine-and-gross motor challenge
- Focused tracking — keeping the balloon moving in the right direction trains sustained attention
- Friendly competition — racing side by side builds early turn-taking and sportsmanship
Safety notes
- Use a broom appropriately sized for the child's height and supervise closely to avoid swinging it near faces.
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