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Parachute Activities
All children revel in play - games such as Tag and Hide & Seek go back generations. We all thrive with physical exercise and that same exercise clears the mind as well. Children need to physically expend energy periodically during their learning process.
Games are vehicles where children develop physically, mentally, and socially, learning to relate to each other as well as how to compete and/or work together. In the games are lessons in individual strengths and weaknesses, coping with success or failure. Many games act as abstractions of reality, where the principles of life are acted out in “play” situations.
Games are also an excellent way to build cohesion in a group of people as they learn to trust and work together. They break the ice and help people new to a group become better acquainted, and accepted. Teen groups also enjoy new games. Adults, once they relax, find them quite refreshing and invigorating as well.
A parachute is a wonderful addition to the play equipment in any Gymnastics program. Beautiful and sometimes calming, a parachute can create soft, whispering sounds or loud, rippling noises, depending on how quickly it is moved. Parachutes are usually made of brightly colored, lightweight nylon and are equipped with strong, reinforced handholds.
Why incorporate parachute play into your program? Because parachute games encourage cooperative, non-competitive play and reinforce turn taking and sharing. While most gross motor activities for young children develop muscles in the lower body more than the upper torso, parachutes strengthen primarily shoulder, arm and hand muscles. When children work together to make the parachute billow, they also refine perceptual motor skills and develop a sense of rhythm. Language activities are also often incorporated into most parachute games.
Parachutes are a lot of fun for both children and adults to play with, especially in open floor exercise areas, gymnasiums, or large, grassy areas. The opportunities to encourage children’s overall development with this exciting activity make it an ideal choice for early childhood programming. Parachutes can be purchased from athletic supply warehouses, early childhood suppliers, and army surplus stores (although the latter will be less colorful).
Here are some collected suggestions for parachute games:
Intro Game
This game is great for very young children as an introduction to the parachute that does not require much cooperation. Have each participant grab a handle with both hands. Have the children “shake” the parachute up and down, then side-to-side. Ask them to put the handle on their nose, … chin, … ear, …knees, … toes, etc. You can then have them join you in singing “Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes” while they put the parachute handle on those body parts.
Stretching Game
This game is also good for very young children as group time activity that does not require much cooperation. Have each participant sit on a colored section of the parachute. Have the children demonstrate various body positions; tuck, pike, straddle, arch, cat stretch, table, v-sit, etc. You can then ask them to sit outside the parachute with their legs underneath and repeat many of the same instructions.
Mushroom
This is not so much a game, more an essential starting point for parachute play. Get everyone to spread out the parachute and hold the edge, spaced out more or less evenly so they’re standing in a circle. Pull the chute taut and lower it to the ground (or knee level). On the magic word (e.g. Mushroom!) everyone pulls the chute upwards (don’t let go). It will fill with air and rise up like a giant mushroom - or igloo. To get it as high as possible everyone must take a couple of paces towards the center as the chute rises. It’s good to practice this so that the group can learn to work effectively as a team and get the chute really high. It won’t work without co-operation.
Variations:
Once you’ve mastered the basic mushroom it’s fun to experiment. See what happens if: Everyone mushrooms and then runs to the center, still holding the chute. Everyone mushrooms, and then lets go, especially outdoors on a windy day! Everyone lets go at exactly the same time. If there isn’t any wind, the chute will retain its perfect mushroom shape and rise straight up in the air. Indoors it may go up to the ceiling. To get this right it’s best for someone to shout “One... Two... Three... Go!” or similar, immediately after the “Mushroom!” instruction. For everyone to let go at exactly the right instant will take practice and concentration. Groups of children who haven’t played with a parachute before will probably be delighted and fascinated by the effect for quite a while before you move on to any other games. It’s particularly spectacular when the sun is shining down through the chute.
Roller Ball
Everyone holds the chute taut. Place a large 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, you lower the edge you are holding, and as it goes past you raise your edge. When all the players do this in synchronization it creates a wave going round the edge, pushing the ball round in front of it in a smooth, steady circle. It cannot be done without concentration and co-operation! However, it is very rewarding for the group to eventually achieve a smooth, continuous motion. Once you’ve done this try speeding up - or change direction.

Big Turtle
Have the children get on their hands and knees under a large “turtle shell” and try to make the turtle more in one direction. As a cooperative game, children have to work together to get the turtle to move.
Variation:
Have the turtle go over a hill or bench or through an obstacle course without losing the shell.
The Ocean
Pretend the parachute is the ocean. Have the children give the name of an ocean. Children move the parachute in response to the ‘weather report’ they heard. (Encourages children to be creative). For example, say, “I heard on the weather report this morning that there was a slight breeze over the Atlantic. What would that look like?” The children respond by making small waves in the parachute. Other suggestions have been - high winds, snow (we would have to pull it tight to make the ice), twisters, etc. Once they get the hang of it the possibilities are endless.
Jaws
Everyone sits on the floor in a circle holding the parachute stretched out with his or her legs underneath it. The chute is the sea and they are sitting on the beach, happily dipping their toes in the water. By shaking the edge of the chute realistic ripple or wave effects can be generated. Once the waves are going well someone is selected to be a shark and disappears under the chute. They move around underneath and because of the waves it will be difficult to see where they are. The shark chooses a victim and grabs him or her by the feet. The victim can give an appropriate scream before disappearing under the chute. This person now becomes a new shark. To prolong the game you can have the original shark revert to being a bather - or to make it more lively you can have several sharks in there at once. To finish the game you can choose ‘once a shark, always a shark’ - so everyone eventually becomes a shark. You can introduce freak weather conditions - or even a killer whale!
Seesaw Pull
From a sitting position, have the children pull the chute back and forth in a see- sawing motion.
Make Waves
While gripping the parachute, everyone moves their arms up and down to make small and large waves.
Ball Roll
Have the children try to roll balls into the hole in the center of the parachute.
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 and notice the different effects.
Another Mushroom
From a standing position, lift the parachute from the ground to waist height, counting one (lift) and two (lift). On three (lift), have everyone raise the parachute high over their heads and then crouch down, pulling the parachute tightly behind them. A mushroom effect is created as the parachute settles.
Parachute Tag
Lift the parachute high overhead. Call one child’s name and have her run (skip, hop, twirl or crawl) to the other side before the parachute comes down and tags her.
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 (i.e. direction can be changed every time the music stops).
Parachute Run
Have the 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 the length of the songs that the children choose to sing (i.e. everyone’s turn lasts the length of one song).
Popcorn
Place a number of beanbags, balloons, or cotton balls on the chute. Shake the chute to make them rise like popcorn.
Poison Snake
Place four to six pieces of yarn or string (jump ropes work well!) on the chute. By shaking the chute, try to make them hit the players on the other side. Keep track of who gets bitten. (With younger children you might want to do snake or worm kisses instead.)
Pompoms
Put the pompoms in the middle. Sprinkle various sized pompoms in the top of the shoot and try to get them into the middle pocket. You could have teams with different colors and count how many they get in.
Shaking the Rug and Making Waves
Shaking rug involves rapid movement either light or heavy. Making waves are large movements to send billow of cloth up and down like waves. Waves can be small, medium or large. Kids can alternate turns to see who can make the best waves.

Merry Go Round
Turn the bodies so that the chute is held with only one hand, walk, hop, jump, skip around holding the chute. It looks like a merry-go-round.
Cathedral
Everyone lowers the chute and then on the count of three raise his or her arms high once the chute is quite high. Everyone takes 3-4 giant steps toward the center and pulls the chute behind them and sit down with their bottoms on the edge of the chute.
Cat and Mouse
(Although some might find this dangerous - just make sure the cat is crawling on all fours and not running upright. I have personally done this and if you take the proper precautions it can be fun and uneventful.) One child (the mouse) is under the chute, everyone is shaking it, quite close to the ground and another child (shoes off) crawls on top and tries to hunt and tag the mouse.
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. (Lots of screams for this one.)
There Was A Man
Children walk around in a circle hanging onto the parachute.
There was a man in our town,
Who went for a WALK one day,
But the wind blew so hard,
He turned around,
And WALKED the other way.
Different actions, such as run, hop, skip, etc. may replace walk.

Weather
We start calm sitting on the floor and its a gentle breeze then rain and move up to a thunder storm with everyone standing up holding handles shaking as hard as they can to make thunder.
Drop the Ball
Place a soft ball of any size in the center and you have to try to keep the ball from falling off on your side.
Circus Tent
Pull the parachute up into the air. Step under it. Pull it down behind you and sit down with the parachute tucked under your bottom. We call this our circus tent.

When the Parachute Goes Up
Sung to: “If your happy and you know it”
When the parachute goes up… Stomp your feet
When the parachute goes up… Stomp your feet
When the parachute is high, and floats up in the sky
When the parachute goes up… Stomp your feet.

… bend your knees
... wiggle your bottom
... lift one leg
… shout hooray
... shake your head, etc. etc.

Name Game
Sung to: “Row Row Row your Boat”
Up, up, up it goes
Down, down, down it comes
If your name is------- (put in a child’s name)
Now’s your turn to run
As you sing the song have the children raise the parachute above their heads. When a child is named have him/her run under the parachute. Then slowly lower the parachute to try and trap the child. Continue until all children have had a turn.
Hop Scotch
Place the parachute (preferably an small one) spread out on the floor. Take beanbags or similar and have the children toss them onto specific colors then hop on the colors without beanbags on them.
Leaf Toss
Take a sheet, or a parachute. Gather real leaves, fabric leaves, or paper leaves. Place them in the middle of the sheet. Gather around the sheet and have the children lift the sheet slowly and then quickly to see how all the leaves “float”.
Fun Under the Chute
Grasp the edge of the parachute with an overhand grip and inflate. Beanbags, skipping ropes, balls, etc. have been placed under the parachute. Participants are numbered. Leader calls out a number and those participants run under the parachute and perform before the parachute deflates.
Toad In The Hole
Grasp the edge of the parachute with an overhand grip. Place two different colored, small, rubber balls on the parachute. Divide the group into two teams (each team has one of the colored balls. One team is on one side of the chute and the other team on the opposite side.) Each team tries to shake its ball into the center hole before the other team. A point is scored each time a team’s ball goes through the hole.

Birthday Exchange
Grasp the edge of the parachute with an overhand grip, and inflate. Leader calls out a month of the year. Those students born in that month let go of the edge and exchange places by moving under the parachute to an empty spot. This game can also take place by giving everyone a number from 1 to 8 or by calling out a color that the kids are wearing.
Bird and worm
In a kneeling position, grasp the edge of the parachute with an overhand grip. One or two children are chosen to be worms. They go under the chute on hands and knees. Another child is chosen to be the bird. The bird crawls on top of the parachute on hands and knees and tries to catch the moving worms. To make it more difficult for the bird, the Beavers around the outside edge are waving the parachute up and down. Therefore the bird has difficulty seeing the worms, but the worms can see the bird’s shadow from underneath. When the bird does catch the worms, a new bird and new worms are chosen.
Spinner
Have kids assemble around the parachute. Pick 1-5 kids to sit or lay down in the middle of the chute. Have the remaining kids grab the sides of the parachute tightly and walk slowly in a circle around the middle. Watch as the kids in the middle become encased within the parachute and then pull outward to release the encased children.
Alligator Saver
Have the children sit around the parachute with their legs underneath. Their legs should be straight and the parachute should be held at the waist. Choose one or two children to be alligators and two or three to be medics. The alligators hide under the parachute and eat people by tugging on their victim’s feet and pulling them under. The victim then becomes and alligator. The medics run around the outside of the circle and hold people when they begin to be pulled under and are yelling for help. Start a new game after there are so many alligators that the integrity of the parachute circle collapses. Caution the children not to play tug-of-war with victims. If a person is being saved, then the alligator has to find a new victim, not continue to pull. Also, victims should allow themselves to be pulled under. This will help to avoid rug burns and other injuries.
Parachute Volleyball
This game requires two large parachutes and at least one ball. Split the children up into two teams. Put one team around each parachute. Each team should be standing, holding the parachute with both hands. Place the ball on one of the parachutes. The object is for the team with the ball to propel the ball into the air and have it land on the other team’s parachute. This process then repeats itself going back the other direction. Once they have accomplished this move the teams increasingly further apart.
Air Conditioner
This game is good for recuperation after an energetic game. Hold the chute stretched out and have about a third of the people lie on the ground under it (best with heads near the middle). The rest mushroom the chute up and quickly pull it down again repeatedly. Air rushing in and out cools those underneath like a giant fan, and the sensation of watching the chute rise up and then come down on top of you is very strange.

Hammock
Get everyone to roll the chute up from the edge towards the center. Stop when you’ve got a circle about six feet in diameter left. Let a volunteer lie on this and be swung backwards and forwards or side to side. Rolling the chute up like this is also a good way of getting everyone to help when it’s time to put away.
Rocker
A co-operative type of trust game best saved for Parent-Tot classes. Several students lie on the chute, feet to the center. Others lift up the edges, so their bodies rise up (but feet remain down). They can then be swayed gently. Take turns in the middle.
Teacher Call-Out
Number the children by threes or fours around the chute, so that you have an equal number of ones, twos, threes and fours evenly spread out. Mushroom the chute, then call out a number and also a description of who you would like them to act as. For example, if you call out: “Mushroom... Number ones are ballerinas”, all of the number ones have to cross under the chute, acting like ballerinas on the way.
Catcher
Four people hang onto the parachute. The four with the parachute run after the other children. If they succeed in covering the child with the parachute, the child is now caught and must attach him or her self to the parachute. Now they join in, to catch the other children.

BASIC GUIDELINES
Start with the group as it is considering the age range, clothing, available play area, and their psychological readiness to interact with each other and go on from there.

Aim for games where everyone is involved. Standing around idle is opportunity for shoving, etc. And nobody likes to be “eliminated” from play for a long period of time and have to just stand around watching.

Be very open and welcoming to everyone, even a bit silly, modeling the style of play you want to encourage, Assure them with words and gestures that each game will be fun. Dress up the games with names promising fun, add appropriate “pretend” elements, and develop the group’s ability to play together.
Whatever the situation begin with simple games, easily explained, with simple equipment that provide easy access and that have few rules, that will end quickly so transition can be made to new games. Make room for new arrivals or latecomers and quickly incorporate them into play. Be ready to shift games as group size changes.
Game playing is initially best started by having the group forming a circle while the leader explains the game. You can play games in this formation, count off to create teams, or walk around the circle, while everyone has their eyes closed, touching backs to designate secret players or create “It”

Make sure everybody can hear you. Begin with a general description of the game including its imagery, object and if possible a familiar game category. Try to give them choices as to who plays what. Practice any special moves or phrases ahead of time.
Have a balance of strenuous and lower activity games. Let players stretch their bodies and feelings slowly at first. Try to conclude with an appropriate “wind-down” game as well. Be sensitive to when the players are getting tired and may need a less strenuous game, or even to stop playing; or when they are becoming bored and need something new or more “interesting”.

Be very safety conscious, and give clear safety instructions to the children. Make it clear that the objective is a good time for everyone. Stress the use of strategy and teamwork. Avoid contact games- some will get rough, tempers get shorter as time goes by, and someone always gets hurt.

Work towards building trusting relationships between players. Balance individual expression with group awareness and community sharing. Play down aggressive competition, stress co-operation. As the leader, don’t take yourself too seriously. Keep your sense of humor at all times, just one outburst of anger will turn everybody off. Encourage and keep alive the make-believe imagery of the games. Play with them as much as practical and possible. Ideal situations are those where the children take over the leadership of the play.

Try to Keep teams evenly matched - Some kids will always try to stay together; some will need so “nudging” to get them involved, hopefully most will show some enthusiasm once you get started. Expect some resistance; be enthusiastic! Boys and girls will tend to separate from each other. Counting off usually produces fair mixes.

Have a signal for “everyone to be quiet and pay attention” such as everyone raising the “one” sign. Don’t tolerate rowdiness or discipline problems - persistent troublemakers should be told to return to their parent.

Be prepared to modify the game to maintain or create a balance in the level of challenge. Keep the game from being too goal-oriented. Give everyone equal opportunity to play different roles, and don’t allow certain people to dominate. Increasing or decreasing challenge, simplifying or complicating moves, and changing boundaries may be necessary to adjust the speed of the game, its dimensions and the ease of achieving it’s object. You want everyone to have as equal an opportunity to enjoy participation in the game.

Be flexible - if a game isn’t working, adapt the game or do something else. If a game is working well, stick with it. A variety of several games they know well and enjoy is better than trying new games every single day. Older kids especially seem to prefer the same game every day. Relay races always work well, especially if made slightly complicated, and are good to fall back on when other games aren’t working. With larger groups, break into multiple teams. Watch your time!
Gym.Net - The Gymnastics Professional's Safety & Education Network
posted by Michael at 10:44 PM

 
Gym.Net - The Gymnastics Professional's Safety & Education Network
posted by Michael at 8:23 PM