Parachute Games

1. Parachute Games Abby EagleburgerChase McCutcheonTokieAromona

2. Benefits of Parachute Play • Parachute games encourage cooperative, non-competitive play and reinforce turn-taking and sharing. The games are a lot of fun for both children and adults. • The parachute works by the movement of air underneath or over it. It is a large nylon brightly colored circular shape with a hole in the middle.

3. Benefits of Parachute Play • Parachute play provides children with important physical activity and exercise while building gross motor skills, coordination, perceptual motor skills and muscle development. • Social skills are also enhanced as children experience teamwork and cooperation. • Parachute activities build upper body strength, gross motor skills and develop balance and flexibility. • Cooperation is a key learning skill with parachutes. • Can use with differing abilities • Fun, exciting, and highly engaging! • Develops a sense of rhythm • Enhances language development

4. Equipment • Parachute: A worthwhile investment and a versatile piece of equipment for using with groups of children. If a parachute is not available or not within budget, you can improvise with a large sheet or piece of fabric. • Selecting a parachute for your group depends upon the number of participants and the space available to play with the parachute. • Parachutes are available in bright, colorful designs and come in various sizes including: 6 foot, 12 foot, 24 foot and 30 foot diameters. • Parachutes can be used outdoors or indoors, as long as enough clear space is available. • $20-$200 • Balls/Bean Bags: • Majority of parachute games call for some sort of ball or bean bag.

5. Parachute Terms • Inflate: to lift the parachute over your head • Deflate: to let the parachute go into a flat position • Float: the parachute is in the air and above the students shoulders and back.

6. Parachute Safety • Use a variety of grips • One or two handed • Underhand • Overhand • Crossed • An unlimited number of objects can be used in parachute play • Bean bags • Foam balls • Beach balls • Volleyballs • Heavy items should not be used as they may tear or damage the parachute. • Children/Participants need to rest often after shaking or pulling the parachute. In between play group games, let them lie down and cover up with the parachute.

7. Parachute Safety • Beware of tangles when the students release the parachute. • Do not allow people to walk on the parachute, as it is slick. • Never allow participants to go on the parachute when it is floating. • Never force someone to parachute play. Instead, have them sit out and watch the group from a comfortable distance. Periodically, encourage them to join in. • Check to make sure that the floor underneath the area of use is not slippery (or that the grass is not wet, if outside) • Remind the participants to watch were they are going, to avoid bumping heads. • If the game gets too wild, switch to a more quiet, calming game. • Have ample amount of space

8. Parachute Games • It is helpful to go through the activity slowly at first to ensure everyone understands the concepts involved with the game. To begin, practice a few basic parachute movements such as lifting together on the count of three, shaking it, holding it still, etc. • Some young children may find their first exposure to a large parachute a little overwhelming. Be sure to introduce the parachute with some quieter and less vigorous activities while children familiarize themselves with it.

9. Parachute Safety • Participants can become over-excited. Before playing, establish or remind participants of some basic safety guidelines. • Remind children to always keep a hold of the parachute, unless letting go is a part of the game. This is a guideline that helps prevent participants running underneath or on the parachute and getting chaotic. • Never stick any body parts through the middle hole in the parachute.

10. Parachute Games • If there are not enough handles for every child to hold on to one, you may ask the children to hold on to the edge rather than a handle, or at least explain beforehand that it does not matter whether you hold a handle or the edge. • If a better grip is needed roll in edges of parachute slightly. • Explain to participants how parachute play involves cooperation or working together in order to make it work. Give clear instructions. • Always finish with a quiet, settling song or activity with the parachute.

11. Examples of Children Educational Games for Parachutes • Cats and Mice: Have three children go under the parachute and pretend to be mice. The rest of the group are cats. See if they can see the mice as they are crawling under the parachute. • All Change: Teacher calls out birthday months, colors, numbers, etc. Children swap places under the parachute before it falls to the ground. • Cat and Mouse: Everyone holds the parachute stretched out at about waist height. Someone becomes a mouse and goes underneath. Someone else becomes a cat and goes on top. The rest of the group tries to hide the mouse by moving the parachute up and down. • Roller Ball: Everyone holds the parachute tightly. Place a ball near the edge. Try to make the ball roll around the edge of the parachute. To do this, start the ball rolling. As it comes toward you, lower the edge, and as it goes past, raise the edge. For variety and even more fun, try changing direction and speed. • Popcorn:place a number of beanbags, small balls, or cotton balls onto the parachute. Shake to make them pop up like popcorn!

12. Examples of youth parachute games • Knock it off Divide the parachute into 2 teams, one team on each half. Put one ball onto the parachute. The object of the game is to knock the ball off the other teams half of the parachute. Players must keep both hands on the parachute at all times. • Parachute basketball: Divide teams in 2. Place two balls, small enough to fit through the opening in the middle of the parachute, into a fluttering parachute. The first team to make their ball go through the opening in the parachute scores a point. Both hands must stay on the parachute, you can not score with any body parts.

13. Other Uses • Musical Games • Adapt traditional circle games • Use as a dramatic play prop- Make a tent, cave, circus tent, etc • Use as a colorful backdrop