Moon Balloons

Our third activity for our 'party night' was these moon balloons (at least that is what Bubble called them). I made some party showbags for a friend's little boy this week and had a heap of glow sticks left over, so we put them to very good use. They cost $6 for a tube of 50, so this activity cost us next to nothing but was a blast!
Bubble activated each of the glowsticks by flexing and shaking them, while I blew up balloons and put a glow stick inside each one. I think this activity would be much easier with mini glowsticks rather than the big ones we had, but it was still doable. I had to blow the balloon up first and then slide the glowstick in without letting too much air escape, whereas with mini ones you could pop them into the balloon before blowing them up. The lighter coloured balloons definitely worked the best.
We made ten of the glowstick 'moon balloons' and when the lights went off the effect was incredible! The photos don't do them justice at all, they were beautiful and the girls were absolutely beside themselves with excitement :-) Bubble went nuts, racing around throwing, kicking and shaking the balloons while Squeak stood in the middle of the room just squealing with happiness for a good ten minutes before joining in.
I have been told that you can reuse glowsticks a few times by putting them into the freezer after they lose their glow and thawing them about an hour before using again. I have no idea if this is true but will give it a go and report back.

Games we played with our glowsticks and moon balloons:

* Playing catch and soccer in the dark with the balloons was very cool :-)
* I taped glowsticks around the outside of a hula hoop and held it up for the girls to throw moon balloons through - our own version of glow in the dark basketball.
* We used the spare glowsticks to make letters in the dark by laying them in different formations on the floor.
* We put glowsticks under our clothes to see the effects under different fabrics (and to run around like loonies with glowing clothes :-D).
* I put a few glowsticks inside an empty plastic bottle and Squeak loved rolling this around on the floor.
* We made our glowsticks into bracelets using the included connectors and watched the effects when we danced different actions. We put on some music and tried to make as many different patterns in the air as we could think of - the girls loved the effect made when we rolled our arms.
* With the glowsicks inside them the balloons made a great noise when banged together or on the floor.
* We took our balloons outside for some nightime fun in the cubby.
* Once all the excitement was over and it was bedtime the girls were happy to drift off surrounded by the glow of the moon balloons - the effect was really magical.

Please note: I didnt allow Squeak to have a glowstick when the lights were out in case she bit into it. Putting the glowsticks into the empty plastic bottle was a good way for her to be included safely :-)

Bubble activates the glowsticks.

The balloons were nothing special with the lights on, but with the lights off ...

It was party time :-)

The colourful blurs are the girls running around with their glow sticks and glow bottle :-D

Making letters and words with our glow sticks.

Come play at the Childhood 101 'We Play' link up