A balloon floats slowly enough that a small kid can hit it and win a point. In half an hour you set up a net, learn the rules together and play a few games.
Dad Field Manual editors · Drafted with AI help · Published Oct 15, 2026
A pack of latex balloons (you blow up one, plus one spare)Have / $3
String or yarn, tied between two chairs at kid shoulder heightHave
Painter's tape for a floor net and court linesHave / $5
Paper and a marker for the scoreHave
Where: Any room with a clear patch of floor about the size of a rug, with breakables and lamps moved out of the way.
Before you start
Balloons are a choking risk for kids under 8. You blow them up and tie them. Keep the uninflated ones in your pocket, not on the floor.
Pick up every piece of a popped balloon right away and throw it out before play goes on. Little ones are never alone with a balloon.
Clear the court. Move lamps, glasses and anything breakable, push the coffee table back, and keep play away from stairs.
Hands only. No diving over furniture for a save; a dropped point is fine.
02Steps
Set up the court
DadFive minutes. Tie a string between two chair backs at about your kid's shoulder height, or run a line of tape across the floor. Tape a back line on each side so everyone knows where their side ends.
Blow up one balloon
DadBlow it up only partway so it's a bit heavier and floats less wildly. Tie it off and put the rest of the pack away. Keep one spare in your pocket.
Say the rules once
Dad"Hit it over the net with your hands. Don't let it touch the floor on your side. You get three hits to get it over." For little ones, skip the three-hit rule.
Warm up by keeping it up together
TogetherBefore you play against each other, play together: count how many hits you can make in a row without it touching the floor. Try to beat your record three times.
Play to 7
TogetherKid serves first. First to 7 points wins a game. Play about three games, and switch sides between them. Play with one hand behind your back if you're winning too easily.
Clean up the balloons
TogetherWhen you're done, pop the balloon yourself and put the pieces straight in the trash, or put it up high out of reach of younger kids. Untie the string and pull up the tape together.
03If it stalls
If they get upset about losing points, go back to the keep-it-up record. Everyone is on the same team.
If the balloon floats too much and they miss it, blow up the spare a little smaller, or lower the net so they can reach it sooner.
If two kids fight over hits, call out whose turn it is, or play two against Dad.
If the balloon pops, stop play and pick up every piece before you blow up the spare.
04Variations
Ages 4–5
No net and no points. Just keep it up together and count out loud. You stay within arm's reach the whole time.
Ages 6–8
Add the three-hit rule and a bonus point for a hit with your head or elbow.
Ages 9–10
Raise the net, play two balloons at once, or add a rule that you can't hit it twice in a row.
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Balloons and choking. The AAP says balloons, balls, marbles and other small round objects cause the most choking deaths in children, lists balloons among household items to keep away from young children, and says balloons are a choking risk for children up to 8. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) Checked Oct 15, 2026
Deflated balloons and kids under 8. CPSC advises keeping deflated balloons away from children younger than eight and checking packaging for choking-hazard warnings on balloons. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Checked Oct 15, 2026
How much kids should move. CDC says children 3 to 5 should be active throughout the day, and children 6 to 17 need 60 minutes or more of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Checked Oct 15, 2026
Where the idea came from: a suggestion in a r/StayAtHomeDaddit thread, put in our own words. The facts above come from the sources listed, not the thread.
Dad Field Manual · Field card 130 · Indoor & Rainy Day
Balloon volleyball in the living room
A balloon floats slowly enough that a small kid can hit it and win a point. In half an hour you set up a net, learn the rules together and play a few games.
Time
30 min
Cost
$0
Ages
4 to 10
Where
Living room
What you need
A pack of latex balloons (you blow up one, plus one spare)
String or yarn, tied between two chairs at kid shoulder height
Painter's tape for a floor net and court lines
Paper and a marker for the score
Before you start
Balloons are a choking risk for kids under 8. You blow them up and tie them. Keep the uninflated ones in your pocket, not on the floor.
Pick up every piece of a popped balloon right away and throw it out before play goes on. Little ones are never alone with a balloon.
Clear the court. Move lamps, glasses and anything breakable, push the coffee table back, and keep play away from stairs.
Hands only. No diving over furniture for a save; a dropped point is fine.
Steps
Set up the court. Tie string between two chairs at kid shoulder height, or tape a floor line. Tape a back line on each side.
Blow up one balloon. Blow up one balloon partway and tie it. Put the rest away and keep one spare in your pocket.
Say the rules once. Hands only. Hit it over the net. If it lands on your side, the other side gets a point.
Warm up by keeping it up together. Play together first: count hits in a row without a floor touch, and try to beat your record.
Play to 7. Kid serves first. First to 7 wins. Switch sides between games, and handicap yourself if you're winning easily.
Clean up the balloons. Pop the balloon and throw the pieces out right away, or store it up high. Take down the net together.
If it stalls
If they get upset about losing points, go back to the keep-it-up record. Everyone is on the same team.
If the balloon floats too much and they miss it, blow up the spare a little smaller, or lower the net so they can reach it sooner.
