How To Fill Water Balloons For Maximum Fun
Water balloons make for an excitingsunny-day activity with lots of laughter for everyone involved. But before any water balloon can be tossed, before any battle commences, before you get to surprise somebody with an unsuspected splat, the balloons must be filled up!
Brush up on your balloon basics and learn a few tips for getting the most fun out of your water balloons.
Fill a Water Balloon In Three Basic Steps
There are three basic steps to filling up water balloons that you’ll do every time, regardless of which water source you use to fill your balloons.
Here they are:
- Stretch the Balloon: Give your balloon a little stretch before filling it up. It’s not the end of the world if you forget, but it will reduce the chances of the balloon breaking as you fill it.
- Fill Balloon Slowly To 90%: Whichever method you use for filling your balloons, take it easy with the water pressure and stop when the balloon is around 90% full. Filling the balloon too quickly or with too much water can cause it to burst.
It’s definitely tempting to see how large you can make the balloon. However, the fewer balloons that break during fill up, the more chances you get to splat your target.
- Tie It Off: Slip the balloon off the nozzle while pinching the end of the balloon between your thumb and index finger. Using two hands, make a loop with the end of the balloon and pass the tip through to create a knot. It may help to wrap the tie-off section of the balloon around your finger to help create a loop.
Four Different Methods For Filling Water Balloons
There is more than one method for filling up water balloons when it comes to the type of water source you use. While the three steps covered above will remain the same, there are some specific tips to filling up at different water sources, as well as some advantages that some have over the others.
Hose
Filling up water balloons with a hose or a spout is a common option for backyard use, or perhaps a water balloon fight that goes down at a park. One of the advantages of using a hose is that it can be used as another way to soak people!
For filling up water balloons with a hose, you’ll need a nozzle. Otherwise, the wide mouth of the hose and its textured surface will most likely tear your balloon. A water balloon nozzle will screw right into the end of the hose or spout and provide a thinner opening to fit the water balloon over.
Look for this nifty device wherever you happen to pick up water balloons. It’s pretty common to find a pack of water balloons that includes a nozzle with the balloons.
- Tip: It really helps to have a partner if you’re filling up water balloons with a hose. One person will be in charge of filling and tying the balloons, while the other person will carefully open and close the water valve. Teamwork makes the dream work.
If you don’t have a hose and nozzle available, opt for one of the methods below:
Sink
A sink is another water source you can use to prepare for your wet and wild fun. A sink that has a standard-sized spout opening is perfect (think the silver one found in many people’s kitchens). They’re a good size for water balloons and have a smooth surface that won’t rip the balloon too easily.
A sink with a large spout (like one with a filter on it or multiple settings for the type of stream you’d like) isn’t ideal. However, it can still work with the use of a funnel (see below).
The only disadvantage of using a sink is that they’re usually indoors. This isn’t too bad, except that it might make it a bit difficult to fill up additional water balloons in the middle of the action. You probably don’t want soaking wet kids back and forth from the yard to the house. In this case, it might be best to fill up all your water balloons ahead of time.
Funnel
A funnel will allow you to fill water balloons with any kind of water source. Use a funnel at a hose when you don’t have a nozzle or at a sink with a spout that’s too large. You can even use a funnel to fill water balloons from a water jug, far away from any other water source. This could prove to be an advantage in the heat of the water balloon battle.
Attach the balloon to the end of the funnel and slowly fill up the funnel with water. The water will flow through the funnel and into your balloon.
Where To Stage Water Balloons Once Filled
After you fill your water balloons, you need a place to put them until it’s time for thewater balloon activities to start. A container filled with water will give your water balloons a place to bob around safely.
By far, the most exciting option for staging your water balloons is to fill up an entire inflatable kiddie pool. Think about how cool they’d look in thisgroovy tie-dye pool. Kids and adults alike will be impressed by the colorful display so much so that they might forget the incoming water balloons. Plus, once the water balloons are all gone, the party guests can continue cooling off inside the pool.
If you aren’t using tons of water balloons, you can still use a kiddie pool, or you can scale back the size of your container. Keep the same fun summer vibes of the kiddie pool with astylish inflatable drink cooler. The aesthetic matches water balloon activities perfectly.
You can use a plastic bin or bucket to stage water balloons if need be, but it’s just not near as exciting (and will not look as great when posted on Instagram).
Let the Games Begin
Let’s face it: There is something about water-based physical challenges that we humans love to watch. Whether you grew up obsessed withLegends of the Hidden Templeon Nickelodeon or are a die-hard Olympic diving fan, water games are guaranteed to… make a splash.
Here are our favorite water balloon games that are fun for the whole family:
Water Balloon Spoon Race
Say goodbye to the egg on the spoon race; we have a new (less disgusting) version.
- Line up all the players on the starting line and give them a spoon and water balloon (the fuller, the better).
- Have them place the balloon on the spoon. When the whistle blows, they have to cross to the finish line.
- If the balloon falls off their cutlery but doesn’t pop, they may return to the starting line and try again. However, if the balloon falls and bursts—they are out.
Water Balloon Dodgeball
Maybe races aren’t your thing. No problem. We’ve got another great contender coming at you from your middle school gym class days: Water Balloon Dodgeball.
- Fill your water balloons and divide everyone into two teams.
- Establish the boundaries of the “court” and where the center line is. We recommend chalk or painter’s tape.
- At the farthest end from the starting line, fill a bucket full of water balloons. Remember: You want them fuller so that they are more likely to pop.
- Then, play dodgeball. The twist—if the thrown balloon hits the opponent on the other side and doesn’t pop—they are safe. If the balloon pops, well, they’re out.
- Last team standing wins.
Simple and Timeless Water Fun
You can count on water balloons as a fun way to cool off on a warm sunny day. They’re bound to bring out laughter and joy while creating memories to smile back on. Filling up water balloons for a day of lawn games can take time, especially if you’re doing it by yourself, but it’s a labor of love that everyone will enjoy.
The best way to fill up water balloons for maximum fun and efficiency is to enlist a few people who are willing to help you out;fun is meant to be shared! Make use of multiple water sources using the different methods available.
Someone can man the sink, another two people use the hose, and even a few more people can fill up balloons with a funnel or tank sprayer. Before you know it, you’ll have an entire pool’s worth of water balloons and a day of fun ahead of you.
Sources
50 of the BEST Water Balloon Games for Kids, Tweens and Teens | BirthdayPartyIdeas4Kids
