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I’m always looking for different ways to help meet Sweet B’s sensory needs and give her different experiences. One of the ways that we’ve done this is with balloons though I will be the first to admit it- we have such a love hate relationship with balloons. Why? Well, pretty simple and I’ll get into it with a list of pros and cons. For the most part they have become a regular part of our sensory play at home, though a little more sparingly since Squeaker arrived.

love hate relationship with balloons for sensory issues

Pros of Balloons for Sensory Issues:

* Texture

* Size

* Diversity- whether filled with air, helium, water, shaving cream, or beans, we get a lot of use out of our balloons.

* Colors

Cons of Balloons for Sensory Issues:

* They pop- and for a child who has auditory sensory issues, this is a big deal. It’s one reason we stopped using balloons filled with air or helium and instead find alternative ways to fill the balloons.

* They’re a mess. Once they pop or somehow become so dismantled and ragged from overuse, they’re a mess to clean up. I can’t stand finding little pieces of balloon in the carpet or under the table… or the mattress, or in clothes. Or in the yard. You get the picture.

Using balloons in sensory play has been both a dream and a nightmare. They’ve come in handy to make makeshift stress balls (by filling with beans or pom-poms) but at the same time, they get chewed on and then I have to worry about finding pieces of balloons elsewhere.

Sweet B enjoys playing with water balloons in a water tub and I have no problem with that. It provides her with needed tactile input and we can talk about the colors, the texture, the weight of the balloons, etc. It really does become a unique learning experience for her.

Welcome to the Sensory Blog Hop — a monthly gathering of posts from sensory bloggers hosted by The Sensory Spectrum and The Jenny Evolution. Click on the links below to read stories from other bloggers about what it’s like to have Sensory Processing Disorder and to raise a sensory kiddo!Want to join in on next month’s Sensory Blog Hop? Click here!


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Kori

Digital Product Creator at Kori at Home
Kori is a late diagnosed autistic/ADHD mom. She is currently located in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodiverse family. Her older daughter is non-speaking autistic (and also has ADHD and Anxiety) and her youngest daughter is HSP/Gifted. A blogger, podcaster, writer, product creator, and coach; Kori shares autism family life- the highs, lows, messy, and real. Kori brings her own life experiences as an autistic woman combined with her adventures in momming to bring you the day-to-day of her life at home. Kori is on a mission to empower moms of autistic children to make informed parenting decisions with confidence and conviction.
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Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
8 years ago

Oh yes! We love balloons for sensory balls and for playing with. But for my kiddo who hates loud, unexpected noises, balloons often ended in tears as well.

Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution

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