5 Fun Balloon Games to Improve Toddler Catching and Hitting Skills

Key Takeaways

• Balloons move slowly and stay in the air longer than balls, which allow toddlers more time to motor plan and make them less intimidating when practicing throwing, catching, and hitting skills.

• Catching, "Keepy Uppy," Hanging Balloon Hit, Balloon Over Tennis Net, and Hitting with Object are great options to work on these skills.

• Balloons add a fun aspect to sports play!

Developing early ball skills like catching and hitting is an important part of your toddler’s gross motor development. These skills help build hand–eye coordination, timing, balance, bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body together), and body awareness.

As a pediatric physical therapist, one of my favorite tools for teaching these skills is something most families already have at home: a balloon 🎈

Balloons move slowly, stay in the air longer than balls, and are less intimidating for young children—making them perfect for toddlers who are just beginning to explore throwing, catching, and hitting. Below are five simple balloon activities you can use at home to support your toddler’s motor development through play.

1. Balloon Catch With a Parent

How to play:

Sit or stand a few feet away from your toddler and gently toss a balloon toward them. Encourage your child to watch the balloon and catch it with two hands. At first, it may land against their body—and that’s okay!

Skills being developed:

• Hand–eye coordination

• Visual tracking

• Bilateral hand use

• Body awareness

PT tip:

Start close and toss the balloon gently at chest level. As your toddler’s confidence grows, slowly increase the distance or toss the balloon slightly to one side to challenge their reaching skills.

2. “Keepy Uppy”

How to play:

Your goal is to keep the balloon from touching the ground. You and your toddler take turns tapping the balloon up into the air using hands, arms, or even heads.

Skills being developed:

• Reaction time

• Coordination and timing

• Core stability

• Balance

PT tip:

For younger toddlers, model tapping the balloon upward and celebrate any attempt they make—even if they swat it sideways. This game is great for building confidence and encouraging movement in all directions.

3. Hanging Balloon Hit

How to play:

Tie a balloon to a string and hang it from the ceiling or a doorway so it’s at about your toddler’s chest or head height. Encourage your child to hit, tap, or bat the balloon with one or both hands.

Skills being developed:

• Upper extremity strength

• Crossing midline (reaching across the body)

• Visual-motor integration

PT tip:

Adjust the string length to change the challenge. Hanging the balloon slightly off-center encourages reaching and trunk rotation, which are important for future sports skills.

4. Balloon Over the Net

How to play:

Set up a low “net” using a child-sized tennis net, a jump rope, or even a piece of string taped between two chairs. Help your toddler hit or toss the balloon over the net to you—and then send it back.

Skills being developed:

• Hitting and throwing mechanics

• Spatial awareness

• Turn-taking and social play

PT tip:

This activity works best when the “net” is low and close. Focus less on rules and more on fun, back-and-forth movement. Narrate the action: “Hit it up and over!”

5. Kicking or Hitting With an Object

How to play:

Once your toddler is comfortable using their hands, try hitting the balloon with a soft object like a paper towel tube, pool noodle, or small paddle.

Skills being developed:

• Eye–hand coordination

• Motor planning

• Graded force control (learning how hard to hit)

PT tip:

This is a great bridge activity toward sports like tee-ball or tennis. Keep the object lightweight and the balloon slow-moving to reduce frustration.

Why Balloons Work So Well for Toddlers

From a developmental standpoint, balloons give toddlers extra time to process movement. Because balloons float and fall slowly, children can watch, react, and adjust their bodies—skills that are much harder with fast-moving balls.

These activities also encourage:

• Active play

• Confidence with movement

• Early sports readiness

• Positive parent–child interaction

Final Thoughts

Remember, toddlers don’t need perfect form or structured drills. The goal is exploration, movement, and fun. If your child misses the balloon, laughs, and tries again—that’s success.

If you ever have concerns about your toddler’s coordination, balance, or motor development, a pediatric physical therapist can provide individualized support and playful strategies to help your child thrive.

So grab a balloon, clear a little space, and let the learning begin!

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