Parachute Games

​Younger Kids Games

• Touch the Sky: everyone raises the parachute up as high as they can
• Touch the Floor: bring it down to the ground
• Waves: all children shake parachute up and down, creating waves
• Foot Inside: everyone puts one foot under the canopy
• Walk: the group walks in a circle
• Underneath: all children run under the parachute when up
• Umbrella: all children lift at the same time, float slowly
• Dome: all children lift, then pull their handles all the way to the ground and sit down (sitting outside)
• Class Picture: all children lift, pull handles down to ground, putting only their heads in the parachute

​Older Kids Games

• Igloo:
  • ​Lift parachute all together, take two steps in and sit down on the edge
  • While in the "igloo," have kids change places based on the color they're sitting on
  • Variation: all move to the middle, sit down and have parachute enfold the group
• Parachute Race:
  • All children lift parachute, leader calls a color
  • Those holding color handles run around the entire parachute before it falls to the ground
  • Variations: cross in the middle, go around the outside (do this game while sitting in the “Dome”)
• The Wave: make a singular wave that goes back and forth on the parachute; one side lifts, then the other
• Surf's Up: make big waves
• Ball Tornado:
  • Put a ball on the parachute
  • By lifting in sequence, have the ball circle the edge of the parachute (see how fast it can go!)
  • Variations: If your parachute has a hole in the center, try to keep the ball from falling into the hole.  Or try to get the ball in the hole.
• Flying Chicken (or ball):
  • Place a rubber chicken (or ball) in the parachute, lifting it up
  • Everyone pulls down at the same time, launching the chicken (or ball) in the air
  • Goal: see how high you can make the chicken fly! (launching a chicken = definition of fun)
• Make a Mess:
  • Put a bunch of objects (or small balls) on the parachute
  • By lifting up and down, see how fast all objects can be thrown to the ground
• Let it Fly: All children lift up and let go (must stand still!). Whoever the parachute lands on are the “winners”.
  • Variation: have kids hold parachute handles running in the same direction. Leader calls “Let It Fly!” When it is called, children stop and pull handles in the air and then let go
  • Variation: After children lift up on the parachute, they are allowed to run under the parachute as it falls.
• ​Popcorn Popper
  • ​Wrap white cloth around some balls, with a rubber band securing the ends to look like popcorn
  • Throw "popcorn" in the parachute as kids shake it
  • Or just throw a bunch of small balls in and pretend they look like popcorn
• ​Snakes: Use pieces of rope (jump rope) as snakes
• Snake Attack:
  • ​Divide group into two sides
  • Try to get all the snakes on the opponents side without getting "bit" by the snakes
• ​Merry-go-round:
  • ​Instruct the kids not to pull the parachute tight, but to just hold on
  • Walk in a circle
  • Gallup (say "ye-haw!")
  • Skip
  • Run
  • Switch directions
• ​Mushroom:
  • ​Start with parachute pulled tight and on the ground
    
  • On the magic word (mushroom, or today's date, or yesterday's Word-Up), everyone pulls the parachute upward
  • Everyone take two steps in (remain standing)
  • Next time take three steps in
  • Then four
  • Then five
  • Last time, take five steps in, let go and sit down
  • Variation: Everyone mushrooms, then runs to the center still holding the chute
• Spider:
  • Lift the parachute all together
  • Take two steps in
  • Lay flat on stomach, with heads toward the center and legs sticking out
• Groundhog:
  • All sit with legs under parachute
  • Call a color
  • Kids on that color crawl under to change places
• Climb the Mountain:
  • Lift parachute all together, then hold the edge down tight to the ground
  • Call the name of a color
  • Anyone on that color get to climb up the "mountain" as it deflates
• Switch It Up:
  • Assign two or more children to switch places
  • As soon as parachute is lifted, then try to switch places before the parachute falls on them
  • Can select kids by color they are holding on to
  • Or anyone who: is wearing red, is wearing sandals, drank milk for breakfast, has a dog, etc.
• Keep Away:
  • Divide into two teams, one on each side
  • Place two different colored balls in the parachute
  • Kids shake the parachute, trying to knock the other team's ball onto the ground
• Turtle:
  • The parachute is the turtle's shell
  • Kids crawl on hands and knees, holding on the parachute to move the turtle
• Practice Memory Verse:
  • Say verse while running in a circle
  • Run faster and say the verse faster
• Review Game:
  • Lift parachute and ask a question
  • Anyone who thinks they know it runs to the center and shouts the answer
  • Variation: Take turns being the runner/answerer

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Parachute