Wobbly Balloon or Ball

What you need

• balloon or small beach ball

What to do

Half fill the balloon with water, and then blow the rest up with air and tie it off. Allow your child to explore how it rolls along the ground. Try shaking it or moving it in a circular pattern so that the water swirls inside the balloon. It may help to colour the water with a few drops of food colouring for visibility.

What they learn

On a simple level children can gain motor and perception skills by following the ball’s wobbly movements and attempting to catch it. On a more complex level, the children engage in a higher level of thinking by having to predict the balls movement. Being able to see the water inside the ball helps the child to relate the water to the ball’s wobbly movements.

Encouragement questions

• Where is the water? (Prompt: bottom or the top?)
• Is it heavy or light?
• Is it easy to catch?