By Christina Lee Steele Chapan

Parachutes are a great addition to any game session when working with children.  They teach teamwork, cooperation, strength, agility, body movements, coordination, and endurance.  It encourages positive cooperative group experiences.  A group 6 to 40 can play.

Even when students are playing against each other, they have to work together toward a creative end.  This is good practice for group sports must share equipment.  Instead of people always fighting over who has control of the equipment, most parachute games do not involve competition at all.  They play to share one goal; to have fun. 

Parachutes games  help strengthen the biceps, triceps, forearms, back, and the deltoids.  The exercises also work the entire shoulder girdle.  Sometimes you can even involve other parts of the body such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves when doing parachute games. You can perform isometric, rhythm and locomotion skills also.

Games are very flexible with the parachute.  You can play from five minutes to over an hour depending on your needs.  They are for all abilities levels and can be played for quiet or noisy games.  They work well with many abilities and special needs are for coeducational settings.  They lead to imagination.

 Parachutes can be played anywhere.   A group exercise instructor needs to remember certain games work best with different kinds of surfaces.  Safety should proceed with any type of parachute play. 

A variety of grips  can be used with using the parachute.  Grips can be done with one or two hands, underhand, overhand or crossed.  It makes the games more exciting when the motions are varied.

• When lifting the parachute, you should lift it in a 1, 2, 3 count.  Lower and get all of the air out by pulling  it toward you.  Start in a squat position on the feet so it is easier to stand up  and places less pressure on the back.  Be sure to stretch arms upward and reach full height to make the parachute go higher.  Emphasize the importance of everyone lifting at the same time.  Be sensitive too if different sizes/ ages of students are using the parachute.  Safety is most important when doing parachute play.

 Specific terms are very important in parachute play.  Terms such as inflate, deflate, float, dome, and mushroom need to be addressed;

•  Inflate means to lift the  parachute over your head,
• Deflate means to let the parachute go into a flat position.
• Float is when the parachute is in the air and above the student’s deltoids and back.
• At the game leader’s request the group can change the direction to a dome.  Have the students lower the parachute together to the ground, the children together go under it, and it becomes a dome.
• To make a mushroom grasp the edge of the parachute with an overhand grip and inflate. Pull edge of parachute to the ground, trapping air inside and creating a mushroom.   

Parachute activities need to be repeated so that children have a chance to learn the game.   A game leader should  be sensitive to know when the activity is exhausted.  Each group or set of children you work with will be different.  Give students opportunities to be a leader by having them explain rules of parachute games to students who have never played the particular activity with the parachute. 

Objects can be used  with the parachute.  Some items include a soft foam ball, a beach ball, or volleyball.  Frisbees and ropes can be used as well.   These items be easily stored in a duffle bag.  Heavy balls such as medicine balls should not be used.  They can tear the parachute.  Beanbags are useful.  If you use a small parachute, be sure that the objects you use for the middle of the parachute are lightweight and small.

When doing parachute play, the trainer needs to think ahead.  It is important that they have the supplies that they need ahead of time.  This will allow the group to focus on the activity and not on the process of gathering the equipment.  You can even take part of the session by have the different participants take charge of gathering the equipment. 

When playing teams let the leader, decide who is on each team by numbering, birthdays, or any non-threatening form of delegation. 

Discipline is essential in any form of playing.  Be sure to let the children know the rules and the consequences for deliberate inappropriate action.  Having a child sit out for round can be very effective.  If a child is active, have him be your special assistant.  Never force someone to parachute play.  Instead, have them sit out and watch the group from a comfortable distance.  Periodically, encourage them to join in.    

Games that students can play include the following.

      Ostrich

• Make a mushroom. (Directions for mushroom are given above.)  On a given command pull the chute down hard behind the student and only put your head under the parachute.

Igloo

•  Make a mushroom.  Take a step underneath the parachute, pull it    own behind oneself, and sit down on the edge of the chute.

                        Cat and Mice

• Have three children go under the parachute and pretend to be mice.  The rest of the group are cats.  See if they can see the mice as they are crawling under the parachute. 

Other activities that can be done with the parachute  are skipping, galloping, sliding, or side steps around the parachute.  You can also practice left and right skills walking with the parachute.  Shaking the rug and making waves is another favorite activity.  Add soft balls to the parachute and you can make an imaginary popcorn machine.  Music adds to the fun atmosphere of using a parachute.

Please remember that children need to rest often after shaking or pulling the parachute.  They like to lie down and cover up with the parachute.  Beware of tangles when the students release the parachute because someone  could be caught and fall.  Do not allow people to walk on the parachute, as it is slick.  Never allow a child to go on the parachute when it is floating and toss them up in the air.

 History tells that parachutes were originally used for very different purposes.  They were used for the safety of a pilot or passengers falling out of the plane allowing people to fall safely to the earth and dropping off supplies in wartime and disasters.  Daredevils of the past and present used parachutes to float safely down to earth.  Parachutes were even essential for airplanes.  They were used as brakes to reduce the ground speed of heavy aircraft and the space shuttle.

Parachutes are great addition to any training program.   A chute comes on three different sizes for groups of 8, 12, and more.  Parachutes are a fresh innovative tool in and out of doors.

Suggested References:

Lefevre, Dale. The New Parachute Games Video, New Games 2002

Parachute Ideas

http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/pe/parachute/contents.htm

Parachute Lesson Plan Page

http://schools.eastnet.ecu.edu/pitt/ayden/physed8.htm

Stewart, Georgiana.  A World of Parachute Play, Kimbo Music, 1997