Fun with Balloons

Balloons are among the least expensive, most versatile summer toys around—whether they are filled with air or water. Children find them thrilling to touch, toss and, best of all, break! (One caveat: Balloons and toddlers, who seem to find broken balloons irresistibly edible, aren't a good mix.) Filling balloons outdoors is best (in case of spills), so make sure that your balloons have openings stretchy enough to fit over a spigot.

SPLAT!
For kids, there is something exciting about dropping things just to see them go splat. This game indulges that impulse without the indoor mess. To play, you will need a paved surface (such as a driveway), a box of filled water balloons (all close to the same size), some chalk and a measuring tape. Taking turns, each child holds a balloon high overhead, then heaves it onto the hot pavement, trying to make the biggest wet mark possible. The water will quickly evaporate, so two scorekeepers outline the wet mark in chalk and put the child's initials next to it, as well as the size of the splat at its widest point.

BALLOON SHAVE
Kids who watch in fascination as their fathers lather up will love this game. Give each child a balloon, a safety razor (or, for very young kids, a bladeless razor) and a dollop of shaving cream for slathering all over the balloon. Using the razor, each kid can shave the foam off the balloon. The successful player ends up with an unpopped balloon and lots of cool shaving cream on his or her hands!

COLD POTATO
Using a pin, poke a hole in a balloon before you fill it with water, so it has a slow but steady leak. Now, three or more players stand in a circle and toss the spraying balloon around from player to player. The object: Toss the balloon to the next player before it runs out of water.

FANS AWAY
For this game, you will need an air-filled balloon and enough homemade paper fans for all the players. Sitting in a wide circle of players, one launches the balloon into play. Each player uses his fan to blow it away as it comes toward him. If a player's fan touches the balloon more than once or if the balloon touches the ground, the player is out. With five or six fans going at once, who needs air conditioning?