9 Ball Pit Games for Siblings That Teach Turn-Taking

When two children share one ball pit, it can go two ways: twenty minutes of happy play or a tug of war over the red ball. At Soft Play Market, the question we hear from parents of siblings is how to make the first one more likely. Structured games with simple turn-taking rules help a lot, especially when there's an age gap. This guide is about play with two or more children; for games aimed at one toddler, see our list of ball pit games for toddlers.

How many children fit in a ball pit at once?

Pit size	Children at once	Notes
90cm round or square	2 toddlers, or 1 baby with a parent	Fine for sitting games, too tight for jumping
110–120cm	2–3 young children	Room for a bucket and moving around
Pit plus foam pieces	3–4 children taking turns	Some children on the course, some in the pit

With a baby and an older sibling together, give the baby a corner with a shallow layer of balls and a "no jumping when the baby is in" rule. Always supervise mixed ages.

Which games teach turn-taking?

1. Pass the ball (age 1+)

1. Children sit facing each other in the pit, or one in and one out.
2. Roll or hand one ball back and forth, saying "your turn, my turn".
3. Add a second ball once they've got the rhythm.

2. Three throws each (age 2+)

1. Put a bucket outside the pit.
2. Each child gets three throws, then swaps.
3. Count the balls in the bucket together at the end, so it's a team score, not a contest.

3. Timer turns (age 3+)

For a slide or footbridge going into the pit, use a sand timer or a kitchen timer: two minutes on the slide, then swap. Children argue less with a timer than with a grown-up's judgement.

Which games are cooperative?

4. Fill it together (age 1+)

Give both children one large tub. The goal is to fill it to the top together, then tip it out with a countdown. Nobody wins, nobody loses.

5. Colour teams (age 2+)

1. Each child picks a colour.
2. They find all balls of their colour and put them in their basket.
3. When both are done, they swap baskets and check each other's.

This works best when you have only two or three colours. You can buy balls in single-colour boxes of 750 (£142.50) and mix your own, see bulk ball pit balls.

6. Rescue mission (age 3+)

Hide several small soft toys (large enough not to be a choking risk) under the balls. The children work as a team to rescue them all before a song ends.

Which games build confidence?

7. Hider and finder (age 2+)

One child hides a toy while the other closes their eyes, then they swap. The hider gives clues: "warm", "cold", "near the wall". Older siblings love being the clue-giver, which keeps them patient.

8. Leader says (age 3+)

One child is the leader and calls out moves: "sit", "throw a ball up", "lie back". Everyone copies. Swap leaders every few moves so the younger one gets to lead too.

9. Show and tell (age 3+)

Each child picks a ball and tells the others one thing about it: colour, where they'll throw it, what it reminds them of. Quieter children often find it easier to talk while their hands are busy.

How do you stop arguments?

• Set rules before they climb in. Three is plenty: no throwing at faces, no jumping on anyone, stop when a grown-up says stop.
• Have enough balls. A pit with only a thin layer means competition for every ball. Most of our pits come with 150 to 300 balls; you can add a box of 750 to deepen it.
• Give the older one a job. "You're in charge of counting" works better than "let your sister have a go".
• End before it goes wrong. Fifteen good minutes is better than forty with tears at the end.

For more on keeping an eye on mixed-age play, read how to supervise a baby in a ball pit.

Which ball pit works for more than one child?

For siblings, size matters more than anything. The Large Round Grey Ball Pit with 1200 balls (120cm, about £360) gives room for two or three. The Soft Jersey Ball Pit with 600 balls (110x110cm, about £191) is a good middle option. Adding a slide or step, such as the Step & Slide set with Round Ball Pit (about £330), gives one child something to do while the other has the pit. See all ball pits.

Frequently asked questions

Can a baby and a 4-year-old share a ball pit?

Yes, with a grown-up right there, no jumping, and the baby in a shallow corner.

What age do children start taking turns?

Many toddlers start simple back-and-forth games before two, though sharing reliably takes longer. Short, clear turns help.

Are these games OK for nurseries?

Yes. Colour teams and fill it together work well with small groups. Keep numbers to what the pit size allows.

More from Soft Play Market

• Ball pits
• Soft play sets
• Ball pit games for toddlers
• How to supervise a baby in a ball pit