PLAY PARACHUTE SAFETY & GAME DESCRIPTIONS
Play Parachute Safety Information and Game Descriptions For Teachers and Group Play Leaders. Feel Free To Copy This Information At Anytime
Parachutes are a great addition to any game session when working with children. They teach teamwork, cooperation, strength, agility, body movements, coordination, and endurance. They also encourage cooperative group play and help to build muscle tone and eye / hand coordination. Parachute play also helps to develop perceptual, cognitive, motor, and academic skills in children of all ages. Group sizes can be small, large or anywhere in between…depending on the size of the parachute.
Parachute games are very flexible, and can be played from short or long periods of time depending on group needs. The games are successful for a broad range of ability levels, special needs, and co-educational settings. They help to stimulate the imagination of children of all ages, and can be played indoors or outside.
A variety of grips can be used with using the parachute. Grips can be done with one or two hands, underhand, overhand or crossed. It makes the games more exciting when the motions are varied.
Specific terms are very important in parachute play. Terms such as inflate, deflate, float, dome, and mushroom need to be addressed:
INFLATE means to lift the parachute over your head
DEFLATE means to let the parachute go into a flat position.
FLOAT is when the parachute is in the air and above the student’s shoulders and back.
An unlimited number of objects can be used in parachute play, such as bean bags, soft foam balls, beach balls, volleyballs, frisbees, and many more. Heavy items should not be used as they may tear or damage the parachute.
When playing teams the leader should decide who is on each team by numbering, birthdays, or any random type of delegation.
Music adds to the fun atmosphere of using a parachute.
Please remember that children need to rest often after shaking or pulling the parachute. They like to lie down and cover up with the parachute.
Beware of tangles when the students release the parachute because someone could be caught and fall. Do not allow people to walk on the parachute, as it is slick. Never allow a child to go on the parachute when it is floating and toss them up in the air.
Discipline is essential in any form of playing. Be sure to let the children know the rules and the consequences for deliberate inappropriate action. Having a child sit out for round can be very effective. If a child is active, have him be your special assistant. 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.
EXAMPLES OF PARACHUTE GAMES
Cats and Mice...
Have three children go under the parachute and pretend to be mice. The rest of the groups are cats. See if they can see the mice as they are crawling under the parachute.
All Change...
Teacher calls out birthday months, numbers, colors, etc. Children swap places under the chute before it falls to earth. Make sure that those who remain around the edge allow the canopy to fall, rather than pulling it down hard.
Cat and Mouse...
Everyone holds the chute 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 chute up and down.
Roller Ball...
Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a ball near the edge. Try to make the ball roll around the edge of the chute. To do this, someone starts the ball rolling. As it comes towards you, lower the edge, and as it goes past, raise the edge. For variety and even more fun, try changing direction and speed. A very rewarding group experience!
Mexican Wave...
One person raises their arms holding onto the parachute. This action is then repeated around the circle to create a wave. Just like the Wave at a baseball game.
Washing Machine...
On the count of three children raise their arms, lifting the chute over their heads, while pulling the chute behind them and sitting down with their bottoms on the edge of the chute. The children should now be inside the chute. They can then start rocking from the left, right, forward, and back.
Merry Go Round...
Turn the body so that the chute is held with only one hand, and walk, hop, jump, or skip around holding the chute. It looks like a merry-go-round.
Popcorn...
Place a number of beanbags, stuffed animals, or other small objects on the chute. Children then shake the chute to make them rise and fall like popcorn.
Snakes...
Place four to six skipping ropes on the chute. By shaking the chute, the children try to shake them off.
Sharks...
Everyone sits on the ground with his or her legs stretched out under the chute while the chute held chest high. One or two children crawl around under the chute and are the “sharks”. They quietly grab the legs of anyone around the perimeter, and pull them under the canopy. The shark now swaps places.
Mushroom...
Everyone lowers the chute and on the count of three raises their arms high. Once the chute is quite high, the group takes 3 or 4 giant steps toward the center and pulls the chute behind them and sits down with their bottoms on the edge of the chute.
The Ocean...
Everyone who wants to can have a turn “in the ocean”. While everyone is standing, one or two children (with their shoes off) go toward the center and lie down…then all make waves. This is fun!
Running by Numbers...
If the chute is a large one, the kids love to run underneath and switch places with others - could number them 1 through 5 around the circle- and then call out a number.
Bouncing Balls...
The canopy is held taut at chest height with 2 or 3 foam footballs on the surface. 3 or 4 children underneath the canopy have to try to knock the balls off while those around the canopy try to keep them on.
Poison Snake...
Place four to six pieces of yarn or rope on the chute. By shaking the chute, try to make them hit the players on the other side. Keep track of who gets bitten.
Parachute Run...
Have children take turns running on the parachute as it lies on the ground, while the other children make waves. See how long the children can maneuver on the waves before falling down. The length of turns can be determined by songs that the children choose to sing.
PARACHUTE TAG...
Lift the parachute high overhead, and call one child's name who then runs, skip, hops, twirls, or crawls to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags them.
ONE HAND RUN...
Have each child hold the parachute with one hand, extending the opposite arm out for balance. Run around in one direction, then change and run around in the other direction. A variation would be to use music as the cue for changing direction, as in musical chairs.
CHUTE LIFT...
Ask the children to lift the parachute high over their heads and down again. Talk about the soft sounds and breezes that are created. Move the parachute faster or slower, and notice the different effects.
BIG TURTLE...
Have the children get on their hands and knees under a large "turtle shell" and try to make the turtle move in one direction. Great for building teamwork, as the group has to work together to get the turtle to move. Try having the turtle go over a hill, bench, or through an obstacle course without losing the shell.
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