Childs party is this a good or bad idea

[Anontwentyone]

In the absence of being able to hire a bouncy castle or softplay equipment or an actual ball pool like they have at soft play for a birthday party, I was thinking of using our large paddling pool and filling it with balloons (obviously no water involved).

They'll have normal party games and music, but there needs to be something else for when they're not doing the games.

Do you think all the balloons will pop and it'll be rubbish or basically just a pointless/daft idea or do would it be fun, like a ball pit but just balloons instead?

It's a 7th. A couple of younger siblings coming.

They’d be happy dancing to music if ball pool thing is non starter. Food, music and birthday cake

I think games, music, birthday cake sounds ok.
I would imagine the balloons would pop🙈

I would just have the balloons. They will bat the around for hours given the opportunity

They'll pop, but I see no harm in inflating a dozen or so balloons for the kids to run around and play with. Just blow more up when they pop.

Don't bother trying to confine them to the pool though, that's not going to work.

If you're not able/willing to hire the extra stuff, I wouldn't try to create "fake" versions personally. And a balloon pit is just asking for trouble if any children don't like popping balloons because there WILL be one child who LOVES popping balloons.

A bubble machine can generate a LOT of excitement and can be purchased cheaply and used for endless parties afterwards (or donated). I have been known to buy colouring books and cheap pencils and/or packs of cheap crafts and put those out.

Games of musical statues and pass the parcel always go well and require nothing except the prize.

Instead of a balloon bursting ball pit, get some inflatables, like long blow up sticks with animal heads on the end or mini zorbs.

Running around crazy and hitting each other with inflatable bananas is much more fun than a ball pit (even one with balls that half hold your weight) at 7!

You can even give away the inflatables as party favours!

Most people just blow up a packet of balloons and stick on some music to run around to.

If you want something along the lines if a fake ball pool we had great success for a fourth birthday with LOTS and LOTS of tarpaulin/groundsheet marking off an area and then a bale of unused recycled paper flake horse bedding ("Fitch") tipped out onto it as a snowdrift. Many small children throwing and swimming in it!