Emotion Stress Balloons
Stress Balloons are a unique homemade alternative to the traditional stress ball that you can make with a child while talking to them about what is causing the stress in their lives. The instructions below use flour to fill the balloons. Use can also use rice, small beans or sand. These stress balloons can be a valuable soothing tool in a child’s Coping Tool Box.
What You Need to Make Stress Balloons
- A package of balloons.
- Flour (2/3 of a cup to a cup for each balloon)
- Funnel (or a water bottle)
- Pen or pencil
- Sharpie Marker
- Scissors
How to Make Stress Balloons
- Stretch out balloon (or inflate it to stretch it out).
- Put funnel in mouth of balloon.
- Fill balloon with flour (2-3 inches deep) using the funnel. Go slow, and push flower through funnel with a pen or pencil if needed.
- Tie balloon shut once filled with flour.
- Clip off any excess balloon material after tying.
- Draw different emotion faces on the balloons.
For more awesome resources for learning about and dealing with emotions, please visit our Hope 4 Hurting Kids Emotions Help Center.
Wayne is the founder and executive director of Hope 4 Hurting Kids. He is a happily married father of four kids with a passion for helping young people who are going through rough times. In addition to Hope 4 Hurting Kids, Wayne previously started I Am A Child of Divorce and Divorce Ministry 4 Kids to help kids who are dealing with the disruption of their parents' relationship. These are now part of Hope 4 Hurting Kids. Wayne speaks frequently at conferences and churches on issues related to helping kids learn to deal with difficult emotions and life in modern families.
Wayne lives with his wife, three youngest kids, three dogs and an insane collection of his kids' other pets outside of Columbus, Ohio. In addition to his work with Hope 4 Hurting Kids, Wayne is a partner in a local consulting firm, an avid reader, coaches his son's soccer team and is a proud supporter of Leicester City Football Club (and yes, for those in know, his affinity for the club does predate the 2016 championship).
You can reach Wayne at wayne@hope4hurtingkids.com.
