How to make juggling balls using rice and balloons

Do you know how to make juggling balls using rice and balloons? It’s so very easy for children to make and juggling is a great skill to learn as it develops physical co-ordination, concentration and eye tracking. These juggling balls are cheap and simple to make, which makes them also great to sell at preschool fundraising events or give as birthday gifts. 

Let me share with you the simple steps on how to make juggling balls using rice and balloons. It’s a simple technique that your children will be able to do easily enough.

Recommended age: 8 years + 
(Strict and constant supervision is required. Balloons can be a hazardous to children) 

How to make juggling balls using rice and balloons

To make these simple juggling balls, you will need – 

• Coloured balloons
• Rice
• Small Bowl
• Spoon
• Cling film

Check out my Facebook LIVE demonstration. 

Preparing the inside of the juggling ball

Tear off a 12″ (30cm) piece of cling film and line it to the inside of the bowl with the edges spilling out over the edge of the bowl. We are going to make a small bag of rice. Spoon in 3 or 4 tablespoons of rice into the lined bowl. 

Pull up the edges of the cling film and create a small bag of rice, twisting the top so that the rice doesn’t spill out easily. Cut off some of the cling film, enough to keep the twist in place. Then cut off the neck of a balloon, as illustrated above. For safety, be sure to dispose of any pieces of cling film and balloon that are not required. 

Covering the juggling ball with a balloon

Give the balloon a stretch to encourage it’s elasticity. 

Putting your fingers inside the neck of the balloon and stretch it over the twisted opening of the cling film bag. You should be able to do this simply enough. If you have difficulty it could be because you have too much rice in your cling film bag or your balloon is too small. 

You can fix this by starting again and reducing the amount of rice in the bag to suit the size of the balloon and it’s elasticity. 

Decorating your juggling ball with extra balloons

Cutting the neck off another balloon in a different colour, stretch it over the first balloon and the opening that exposed the rice. It should look like the picture above. 

You can continue the process by layering of the juggling ball with different coloured balloons, however, it is also a fun idea to carefully cut random holes in a balloon first to create a cool marbled effect on each juggling balloon.

Important things to take note of

The more balloons you add the harder the juggling ball becomes so I would recommend no more than 3 or 4 balloons on the one juggling ball. Also remember, with each layer you add you can increase how severely you cut into each balloon. Don’t cut too severely into the first few layers, increase the severity as you go. 

Here is video that might help you learn how to juggle. It goes through the basics and starts off really slowly to help you build up your juggling skills. 

Juggling balls are lots of fun to make and play with. They are great to make for fundraising events and give away a set of three as a birthday gift. With these instructions on how to make juggling balls using rice and balloons you will develop physical coordination, concentration and more. Have fun! 

Do you know how to juggle? 

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