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The smiles and laughter of the children as they delight in playing with a large, colorful parachute is testimony to how much fun parachute games are! Parachute play can be effectively combined with musical play for added enjoyment and learning. Valuable aspects such as teamwork, cooperation and inclusiveness are all shared benefits of both music and parachute play. The parachute creates an instant circle, allowing everyone to feel a part of the group and encouraging eye contact and interaction between all participants.
Parachute play can be used to add an exciting element to singing games or music and movement activities. Games can be played for fun, or to highlight and reinforce musical concepts. Parachute play is also energizing, helping children switch on their brains for more focused learning.
Starting Out
It is helpful to go through the song or activity slowly first to ensure everyone understands the concepts involved with the game. Practice a few basic parachute movements such as lifting it together on the count of three, shaking it, holding it still, etc.
If there are not enough handles for every child to hold on to one, you may ask all the children to hold on to the edge rather than a handle, or at least explain beforehand that it doesn’t matter whether you hold a handle or the edge.
Some young children may find their first exposure to a large parachute a little overwhelming. Ensure you introduce the parachute with some quieter and less vigorous activities while children familiarize themselves with it.
Explain to the children how parachute play involves cooperation or working together in order to make it work.
Playing Safe
Most children find playing with a parachute very exciting and therefore there is the potential for children to become over-excited. Before playing, establish or remind children of some basic safety guidelines. For example, remind children to “always keep holding on to the parachute” (unless letting go is part of the game!) It’s a guideline that helps prevent children running underneath or on the parachute and getting chaotic.
Always finish with a quiet, settling song or activity with the parachute.
Musical Activities:
Some simple activities to use with the parachute are:
Tempo - Slow and Fast:
Listen to music that contrasts between slow and fast. During the slow music everyone lifts the parachute up and down together slowly. During the fast music everyone shakes the parachute quickly. This "Slow and Fast" song from Hap Palmer is perfect for this activity:
Vocal Exploration:
This little activity encourages children to exercise their voice as well as raising awareness of pitch (high and low sounds). Start with everyone holding the parachute down low near the ground and singing a low sound on an ‘oo’ vowel. As you raise the parachute slide your voice up high (glissando.) As you lower the parachute back down, slide your voice down in pitch. This little activity is helpful in children developing their vocal skills (head voice, range and flexibility.)
Ring-a-Rosie:
Bring new life to the simple game of Ring-a-Rosie! Children hold onto the parachute and circle around while singing. At the end of the song they all fall down.
Ring a ring a rosie
A pocket full of posies
A tishoo, a tishoo
We all fall down!
Cows are in the meadow
Eating buttercups
A tishoo, a tishoo
We all jump up! (Jump up while sliding voice from low to high and lifting parachute).
Popcorn:
This is a favorite with children of all ages. Place some plain white cotton-balls on the parachute and shake the parachute to some upbeat music. The ‘popcorn’ will pop and bounce around. A fantastic piece of music to use with this activity is "Popcorn".
A lot of the ‘popcorn’ will fly off the parachute during the game (which is half the fun!) but let the group know it will be picked up at the end of the game. If people let go to pick up the pieces during the game, all the ‘popcorn’ will fall off in the gaps where people have let go. Before playing, remind children to keep holding on to the parachute till the end of the game. Children also enjoy picking up the popcorn together at the end of the game.
Mango Treats:
 You will find Mango Treats in our Free Downloads section. The Mango Treats song lends itself well to parachute play. One or two children jump or dance in the middle of the parachute while the other children, seated with the parachute, make waves by shaking it up and down. At the end of the song the teacher sings the name of a child to jump out and a new child to jump in.
In the jungle there’s a monkey
Dancing to this groovy beat
All he wants is ripe bananas
All he wants is mango treats
So jump out ………....
And jump in ………….
Additional songs and resources that are fantastic for Parachute Play are available at www.BeatBoppers.com
Floating Down the River contains an arrangement of this exciting song especially for use as a parachute game. Children love exploring tempo (fast and slow) through this musical parachute game.
Little Green Frog is such a popular song with children - add to the fun with a parachute game!
Purchasing a Parachute:
Parachutes are available in bright, colorful designs and come in various sizes including: 6 foot, 12 foot, 20 foot, 24 foot and 30 foot diameters. The smaller 6 foot parachutes are a bit too small for most groups but are suitable for a small group of toddlers to play with. Selecting a parachute for your group depends upon the number of participants and the space available to play with the parachute. Parachutes can be used outdoors or indoors, as long as enough clear space is available.
Non-Musical Benefits of Parachute Play:
Parachute play provides children with important physical activity and exercise while building gross motor skills, coordination, perceptual motor skills and muscle development. Social skills are also enhanced as children experience teamwork and cooperation.
A parachute is a worthwhile investment and a versatile piece of equipment for using with groups of children for musical activities. If you don’t have a parachute you can improvise with a large sheet or piece of fabric or lycra.
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