Parachute Games for Children

Mushroom

• On the count of three, all children holding the parachute lift it over their heads and pull it behind them. They then sit down on the edge of the parachute, causing it to look like a mushroom cap.

Popcorn

• Place any number of beanbags or lightweight balls on the parachute. The children then shake the parachute, making the beanbags or balls pop like popcorn.

Sharks

• All participants sit on the ground and pull the parachute toward their chest, keeping their legs underneath it. One or two children crawl around under the parachute, pretending to be sharks. They quietly grab the legs of children holding the parachute and pull them under. Be prepared for lots of screams with this game.

Waves

• While holding the parachute in both hands, children move their arms up and down to make small and large waves.

One-Hand Run

• Have children turn to one side, holding the parachute in one hand. On your cue, they run (or skip or hop) in the same direction, causing the parachute to go around and around. After a few minutes, try changing direction.

The Flying Parachute

• On your signal, all participants swing the parachute upward, trying to keep it in the air for as long as possible.

Cat and Mouse

• Everyone holds the parachute stretched out at waist height. Someone becomes a mouse and goes underneath. Someone else becomes a cat and goes on top. The rest of the children try to hide the mouse by moving the parachute up and down.

Fruit Salad

• Give each child the name of a fruit, such as apple, strawberry or pear. When you call out the name of a fruit, everyone with that fruit name changes places by running under the parachute. When you yell "Fruit Salad!" everyone must swap places with the players on the other side.

Rollerball

• Place a ball on the parachute. The goal is to keep the ball moving only along the edge of the parachute by raising it as the ball approaches and lowering it as the ball rolls past. Try this with a football for an extra challenge.