science for tinies: balloon

[psocoptera]

Project: Floating in Air
Materials: half-price heart-shaped helium mylar balloon, red
Explanatory details: Junie's first balloon
How did it go: Not Well.
Things we talked about: it rises when you let go instead of falling like other things; it's floating in air like the duck floats in the water
What Junie got out of it: She was initially intrigued, happy to choose the color and eager to try pulling on the string to watch it bob around, but by the time we were checking out she didn't want to hold it any more, and then. The balloon just *kept coming with us*. It followed us out of the store. It didn't go away when we asked. Oh god, it's in the car. Oh god, it's coming in the house! Oh god oh god is nowhere safe aaaaagh... That is a paraphrase, of course, the actual transcript would be more like "no balloon. no balloon! no no no!" I shut it away in the back bedroom and distracted her, and she didn't seem to mind it particularly when we went in there this evening to say hi to Daddy, although she was definitely eyeing it with a little concern. I think part of the problem may have been that when we brought it home it was blowing around in the wind and moving really unpredictably? We may go look at it tomorrow and see if it's still scary.

Comments

[irilyth]

I want some more no balloon! Hee hee hee, silly Buggins.

[tanyareed.livejournal.com]

I can see where a balloon could be scary. It follows you around and bobs and weaves unpredictably.

[sheepboyofchaos.livejournal.com]

If you were living in a children's story, this would probably mean that whenever you turn away the balloon does horrible scary things to which Junie is the only witness. Sometime soon the balloon will threaten you or J, perhaps by trying to smother you in your sleep and Junie will have to attack it with a knitting needle or something.

[prof-fran.livejournal.com]

Try balloons again in 3 months or so; they are currently Max's FAVORITE toy (hurrah for low cost, low noise). We went with ones you blow up (not helium) and we play a LOT of balloon tap.

[irilyth]

She's actually fine with latex balloons, as I recall -- I think she enjoyed playing with that one (or some?) in Vermont, for example. I think it's the helium nature of this one that's got her spooked... It moves very fast, and not in the direction that things usually move when you let go of them.

[rivka17.livejournal.com]

Lirael still loves her 1st bday balloon and will dig it out of where ever we hide it to drag it around by the string. We have tried the regular latex balloons at other kids bday parties but we had to take them away because she really wanted to chew on them.

[ccommack]

Did you check the balloon for any unusual markings?

[rebeccapaul.livejournal.com]

I remember Jonah being terrified of a balloon (probably around that age) - I think it was the unpredictability. His balloon was not allowed to leave the car...