Stuck inside on a rainy, hot, or snowy day? This simple balloon tennis game gets kids moving fast! With just a balloon and a paddle, children can run, reach, and react while burning off extra energy indoors.
This easy movement game works for one child, siblings, or the whole family and takes less than a minute to set up.
Looking for more easy ways to get kids moving indoors? Explore our full collection of indoor activities for kids.
Supplies
- Balloons
- Fly swatters, paper plates, or cardboard paddles
- Painter’s tape or string (optional boundary line)
All supplies can be found at the dollar store or around the house.
How to Play Balloon Tennis
- Clear a play space in the room.
- Place a line on the floor using tape or string to divide the sides.
- Each player stands on one side holding a paddle.
- Tap the balloon back and forth over the line.
- If the balloon hits the floor, the other player scores a point.
- First player to 10 points wins — or play for time instead.
Game Variations
Younger Kids
- No scoring — just keep the balloon in the air
- Use hands instead of paddles
Challenge Mode
- One hand only
- Sit and play
- Add two balloons
Single Player
Hit the balloon against a wall and count how many hits you can get in a row.
Skills Kids Practice
- coordination
- reaction time
- tracking moving objects
- balance and movement control
This makes a great indoor energy-release activity for home, classrooms, or brain breaks.
More Indoor Movement Activities
Looking for more ways to get kids moving inside?
- Indoor Scavenger Hunt
- Line Jumping Game
- Ball Movement Game
- Paper Airplane Distance Challenge
- Gross Movement Exercises
More Balloon Activities
Try Another Quick Activity
Balloon tennis is perfect for short energy breaks. When kids are ready for a new challenge, rotate in another simple indoor game to keep movement fun throughout the day.
👉 See all our Indoor Activities for Kids
My son got given a tennis racquet for his 3rd birthday but was finding it difficult to hit the ball more than once with it (he loves any ball sports!) but I saw this and we tried using balloons and he can repeatedly hit them – such a confidence booster and soo much fun – a new dimension to ‘keepy uppy balloons’! Thanks for the idea.
Thanks. Saved a rainy day.
This looks like a lot of fun, and simple to do. I’ll have to try it with my kids. Thanks!
Wonderful Blog…. Thanks for sharing with us…
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