Left over balloons from a party? Reuse them for Infant Balloon Gross Motor Play! All you need is helium filled balloons, string, play mat, and if you want to enhance the experience you can add in a mirror.
Gross motor development involves the larger stronger muscle groups of the body. In early childhood, it is the development of these muscles that enable a baby to hold his/her head up, sit, crawl, and eventually walk run, and skip. There are three different types of gross motor movements: 1. Locomotion 2. Stationary 3. Manipulation.
Strengthening gross motor movements where babies can improve those three different types of gross motor skills is a great way to keep babies engaged and help reach milestones. For this specific activity, with every kick and punch, leg and arm raise to move the balloons up & down + side to side, the baby develops their eye tracking ability, cause and effect, and concentration.
This is great to start at three months. Active supervision is required for this activity as balloons and string can be a choking hazard.
Another fun way to get the last use out of the balloons is letting a child paint on the balloons.