It is Spring Break and that means lots of time for kid crafts and adventures!
We found a great project on Spoonful.com; bean bag balls! These are cheap and easy to make, and best of all they turned out just like the picture! I love that. Once made, these squishy balls can be used for a game of toss or would be ideal for the novice juggler. The feel also remind me of those “stress balls” from years ago… It is quite possible that this mama will be using them by the end of this fun, busy week!
What you’ll need:
- 9 (11-inch) balloons (for 3 balls)
- Funnel
- 2 1/4 cups of dried lentils
- Scissors
- Skewer or chop stick (not included on the original directions, but we found it helpful to push the lentils down the funnel.)
How to make it:
- Stretch the first balloon by inflating it halfway, holding it closed for about 30 seconds, and deflating it.
- Place a funnel in the balloon’s neck and gradually pour in 3/4 cup of lentils, pushing them in as you go. The balloon should be firm but squeezable.
- Snip off the balloon’s thick rubber lip. Cut the neck off a second balloon and gently stretch the opening.
- Ease the second balloon over the filled balloon, tucking in the neck as you go.
- Cut the neck off the third balloon, stretch the opening, and ease it over the other two. Repeat this process to make a set of three balls, or however many you’d like.
Tips: We ended up using about 1/2 cup of lentils instead of the 3/4 cup recommended. It was extremely helpful to inflate the first balloon all the way before holding it for the thirty seconds. This helps to make sure the balloon is stretched out before beginning the funnel step. A nicely stretched out balloon made filling much easier! We also used a skewer to help push the lentils down the funnel. The kids had a great time picking out their personal color combinations and helping both to measure and fill.
This was a fun project that I would definitely recommend. And, since making the balls didn’t use all the balloons we purchased, we had the secondary activity of blowing up the rest of the balloons and playing in the backyard for the afternoon!
Happy Spring Break!
Poole Party of 5 
These are also fun feeling if you use cornstarch instead of the beans. My other suggestion is to cut off the bottom of a water/soda bottle to use as a funnel. Way bigger opening for the “funnel”
Great ideas, Becky! We’ll definitely give them a try on another go around. Thanks for stopping by!
Lesley, I just want to get back with you saying that I have LOVED all your PPfor5 postings. You are indeed a gifted writer and I have enjoyed every one of your postings. I hope you are saving each of them…. they are a bit of your Poole family history. You have such talent. Keep it up. With admiration. Margie Versaw
Hi Margie,
Thanks so much for reading my posts. Yes, I agree that the blog is doing a nice job of tracking our hectic movement and serves as an honest record of this time! Thanks for letting me know that my words reached you!