For groups of all ages and all sizes.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PARAGRAPH IS HERE!!!

CAUTION – You will sometimes see games which involve putting people on to the parachute. Most dangerous are those that use the parachute like a trampoline with the edges held taut and the ‘victim’ bounced in the middle. The problem is that the player does not know where the ground is and it is all too easy for him or her to be bounced on hard ground as the parachute is slackened.  This type of activity can lead to head injury or death. Even games involving walking on a parachute can be dangerous. Be especially cautious and avoided possible injury by being sure that your playing surface is perfectly flat.

Play SAFE!

Check the ground underneath your parachute. It should be flat. Grass is by far the best surface, but it needs to be dry, not slippery.

A non-splinter floor is necessary if children are removing shoes.

Give everybody clear warnings about head bumping and looking where going.

Parachute material is usually highly inflammable. Use with care and keep away from barbecues, fire, cigarettes etc.

Parachute activities are adaptable and enjoyable for groups of young people. They are ideal for every age group and a great way of involving a large group of children in an activity.  Between 20 and 50 children can be directly involved using a 15 foot parachute. Because it is impossible for such a large piece of equipment to be manipulated successfully without the co-operation of the entire group, a majority of games are co-operative rather than competitive, generating group spirit.

Wheelchair Adaptable Games

There are many other games that involve running under the chute that can be played with a player in a wheelchair if someone helps him or her. If the activity cannot be done from the wheelchair have that player help you count and keep score.

First Games
When introducing a parachute to a group of children, we have found it fun and beneficial to do the following:

With the children sitting in a large circle,  place the parachute, rolled tightly in its bag, in the middle.. Ask the children what they think it might be. When all the guesses have been discussed as to their likelihood (e.g. why the suggestion of ‘an elephant’ might not quite fit!), pull out one tiny piece of the parachute and give it to one of the children to hold. Guessing continues as the chute is pulled out so that the whole group is holding a section of the outer rim. Excitement increases as the size becomes apparent and so the first thing to do is to expend some energy by jumping up and down and giving it a good shaking.

As the children begin to tire, the shaking can be slowed and practice in creating different effects begun, such as slow whole arm movements that make enormous waves, or fast  wrist movements to create tiny ripples.

Young children often want to play the same game over and over. You need to be aware that enjoyment will wane for some before others. It is useful to know both quiet and active games so that activities can be organized appropriately. The older the children are, the more physically exhausting the sessions become.  Allow for rest periods and winding down games.

Children under five need ample support and supervision. As a leader you are responsible for safety and supervising the group.  Simultaneously you also need to be able to keep the games flowing. Be prepared.  Have the adults ready as helpers if you think the group warrants them. 

Stories with a Parachute
Try using a parachute in story-telling and nursery rhyme activities.  A parachute can be moved in the cadence of the rhyme. It can become Aladdin’s magic carpet when you sit on it.  Go underneath and suddenly you are transported down the rabbit hole. Language development can be emphasized and parts of speech can be introduced: prepositions - crawl over, hop under, walk around the parachute etc; adjectives and verbs - sway slowly, hop quickly etc. Be open to exploring the possibilities.

Ball Games

Most of these games can be played with balls of different kinds: Tennis balls; footballs; beach balls; and even a giant beach ball. Different sized balls will change the way in which the game goes, so feel free to experiment. Try balloons. They move in a gentle motion different from the balls. For outdoor activities on warm summer days, water balloons can add a splash of excitement.

Circle Games

Simply adapt of any circle game using the parachute to maintain the circle form. This sort of games consist of one or more people racing around the circle and back to their space, or any free space. Games like ‘Duck, Duck, Goose” work really well.

Storage

A parachute is best stored by taking hold of the center in one hand, twisting it loosely into a rope, rolling it up and stuffing it into a sack. Most parachutes are sold in sacks, if not; the thin nylon sacks sold for the storage of sleeping bags are ideal.

On to the Games!