Home Games Parachute & Play Canopy Games

Parachute & Play Canopy Games

by Kit

General notes

A parachute is a useful way of involving a large group of children in an activity and because of its novelty even those who would normally opt-out, tend to get involved.

Between 20 and 50 children can be directly involved around the perimeter of a 15 foot (4.5 m) parachute. The majority of games are co-operative rather than competitive and so good for generating a group spirit and togetherness.

Where can I get one?

If you don’t have a parachute they are a resource well worth investing in and for the use you can get out of it, relatively cheap.

We’re always looking for good suppliers of parachutes and play equipment so if you want to recommend a company or advertise your own company email us.

Storage

A parachute is best stored by taking hold of the centre in one hand, twisting the canopy loosely into a rope, rolling it up and stuffing it into a sack – thin nylon sacks sold for the storage of sleeping bags are ideal.

If you are indoors (or outside with no wind). Tell everyone that on 3 they are to create a mushroom with the canopy but to ‘let go and STAND STILL’. When they let go at it’s fullest it should soar to the ceiling. You should be able to step into the middle, catch the centre and deftly stow using the twisting rope motion before anyone moves!

Getting Started

Drop the parachute from the bag and instruct everyone to take hold of an edge with both hands. Once everyone is hanging on, move them around the perimeter until they are evenly spaced out. Holding the canopy with fingers/knuckles on top works best.. Get everyone to hold the parachute taut and still at waist level.

For children practice working unison by getting everyone to raise and lower the parachute together. It also helps players to get accustomed to the way the parachute behaves. Keep hold of the edge all the time. Let the children experience the parachute billowing up. Do this a few times and on the third or fourth lift ask everybody to get the canopy as high as possible so that it billows tip. The development of this is to take one or more steps in towards the middle still holding the parachute so it creates a mushroom shape. As the parachute collapses, move back out. Practice this basic co-ordination until everyone is happy.

Have fun!!

Safety

We’ve used parachutes in our play a lot, but there are some general ules about safety. Most of these are common sense.

  • Parachutes can rip. So check your play area both on the ground and above for anything that could possibly snag or tear the material. Grass is one of the best surfaces when playing outside, but needs to be dry, not slippy.
  • A non-splinter floor if children are removing shoes.
  • If you are playing outside. Avoid windy days… It’s a parachute they are designed to catch the air and ANY wind. It’s preferable nobody is holding tight when that happens.
  • Players need to space themselves relatively evenly around the outside edge. If a mix of adults and children space the adults evenly so they can help control the parachute.
  • Give everybody clear warnings about looking where they are going for those parachute games that involve this.
  • Be sure group can sustain the weight of anyone put on the top, no letting go, dropping or kicking. (See caution note later)
  • A leader needs to be in charge even when young people contribute the games idea.
  • A second adult is helpful to field children, any balls and generally assist.

Caution icon CAUTION
You will sometimes see games described which involve putting one or more children (or adults) on to a parachute that is held off the ground. This is at your own risk.
Some risks are:
Games involving using the parachute rather like a trampoline with the margin held tautly and somebody 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 to be bounced on hard ground as the parachute is slackened with consequent injury to spine or head.
Games that involve walking on a tight parachute it is possible to damage an ankle by a sudden unexpected contact with the ground even though the drop is 10 cm or less.

  • Bouncing Balls
    You will need:A parachute (play or otherwise)Several small balls (foam or tennis balls work well). Players hold the canopy taut at chest height with 2 or 3 small or foam…
  • Cat and Mouse
    You will need:A parachute (play or otherwise)An empty can, or small soft object (bean bag, shoe..) Stand holding the canopy at shoulder height making sure there is a space between…
  • Lucky Seven
    You will need:– A parachute (play or other type) This is an adaptation of a country dance but works well with the canopy. Number off round the canopy A, B,…
  • Para-Ball
    You will need: Parachute (play or otherwise) Small soft ball Place a light-weight football on the chute surface and experiment with moving it. What happens when you shake the parachute,…
  • Para-ble
    (It could be worse!) You Using the parachute as an aid to storytelling. You have the attention of all because they are holding, the chute. Tell the story using the…
  • Para-circle
    You will need:– A parachute (play or otherwise) Simply use the parachute to adapt any circle game. E.g. “Fishes in the sea”, “One sent a letter” etc. Using the chute…
  • Para-Seek (Cat and Mouse)
    You will need:– Parachute (play or otherwise) Works best with larger parachutes. One player volunteers to be the ‘cat’ on top of the parachute, another player volunteers to be the…
  • Para-Shuffle
    You will need:– Parachute (play or otherwise) This game/activity is more suited to younger players and helps with gross motor co-ordination. Possibly useful as one of the warm up activities…
  • Para-swap
    You will need:– Parachute (play or otherwise) Number the children around the circle, say one to six. Get everybody to lift the chute three times and on the third lift…
  • Parachute Football
    You will need:A parachute (play or other type)A football This works best if the canopy is marked in segments or halves; so you can have 2, 4 or 6 teams.…
  • Round the Plughole
    You will need:A parachute that has a central hole Several small light balls (eg foam or tennis balls) If your canopy has a hole in the centre place 3 or…
  • Shark Attack!
    You will need:A parachute (play or otherwise) or an equivalent large sheet/cloth. Everyone sits on the ground with their legs stretched out under the canopy and the canopy held at…
  • Shoe Shuffle
    You will need:– A parachute (play or other) Number players around the parachute circle 1 or 6. Leader calls out a number and all those with that number remove a…
  • Tenting the chute
    You will need:– A parachute (play or otherwise) After lofting the chute several times, everyone steps inside, bringing the fabric taut behind their body, either to shoulder height or to…

1 comment

miles dunn 21 November 2020 - 22:31

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