Many parents want to get their children interested in hot air ballooning. So why not build or purchase a toy hot air balloon for them? Toy hot air balloons have been on the market for years. Since real hot air balloon rides are hard to come by, especially in some countries, why not build miniature ones so that children can play make belief they are flying in the real thing?
Toy hot air balloons are made from scraps of tissue paper and glue. In addition, a basket is made to carry a burner; this is created from balsa wood.
Fire balloons and solar balloons are two kinds of toy hot air balloons you can build for children.
Fire balloons are around since 180 AD and was first invented and used in China as “sky lanterns.” Fire balloons made from tissue or paper heated by fire as well as by a cotton ball soaked in alcohol. Countries like Latin America, Thailand, Burma and China still use fire balloons.
The downside to fire balloons is they are heated by fire. This means they tend to ignite and become a hazard to houses, trees, and people. Therefore, be careful when using them.
Solar balloons get their power from the sun and not from fire. They are much safer to use than fire balloons. Some solar toy hot air balloons are made from trash bags, and can be large enough to carry a video camera and even a grown person.
Some toy hot air balloons are radio-control models and require special burners.
If one wants to build a toy hot air balloon all he or she has to do is draw designs or patterns and leave the ink to dry. Then cut the strings into twelve inch lengths and tape those to the balloon about half way up, spacing them evenly all the way up. The next thing to do is tie the strings to the edges of the basket and make sure to cut off any excess strings. Finally, place a doll or toy inside of the basket and let it fly. You might need to place into the basket a lighter toy if the one you put into it is too heavy.
If one cannot find the time to build a toy hot air balloon, then he or she can buy an air balloon kit. Buying an air balloon kit will give the children more fun as they can use indoors as well as outdoors (depending on the inclement weather of course). In addition, an air balloon kit is safer to use and there is less danger of them catching fire.
A toy hot air balloon is the way to go if one is thinking of bringing joy to his or her child. Parents today are passing on the love of hot air ballooning to their children by buying them a toy hot air balloon. Who knows, this move may just make your child or children the next to create history in hot air ballooning.