Parachutes are an iconic piece of equipment in early childhood education. Australian educators may remember playing with them when they were children. Parachutes are excellent tools for encouraging physical activity, imagination and social skills.
In addition to group games, they can be hung from the ceiling to decorate a classroom or hung outside to provide shade on a hot day. Children can use them in free play to form cubby houses, invent their own games, or as props in dramatic play.
EYLF learning outcomes
The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) asks children to take increasing responsibility for their own physical learning (3.2), which includes the motor skills used in parachute play.
Parachute games are social (3.1) and help children connect with groups (2.1). They teach learning dispositions such as curiosity, confidence, creativity, enthusiasm, and imagination (4.1).
Learning experiences
Play group parachute games
Parachutes promote teamwork, collaboration and group bonding. They are a great way to establish a sense of belonging in your classroom. They involve children standing around the outside of the parachute, holding onto the sides. Try these ideas:
- One child is on top of the parachute, pretending to be a cat. Another child is underneath pretending to be a mouse. Will the cat find its food? Will the mouse escape?
- An educator calls out a colour. The children who are wearing that colour drop the parachute and run underneath to take another child's place.
- Pretend it's a mushroom. Children lift the parachute up and step underneath, pulling it down over themselves. Air will become trapped, making it look like a giant mushroom.
- Throw soft balls (like those in a ball pit) on top and shake it. They will bounce like popcorn.
- Place a large ball on top. An educator says the name of a child. Everyone works together to make the ball reach that child.
Experiment with parachutes
Children can experiment with parachutes by:
- creating their own from old bed sheets or large pieces of paper
- testing how they move with different numbers of children holding them
- moving them fast to create wind
- using them on windy days (hold on tight!)
- trying different types of waves
- and observing how objects move on top of them.
Use your imagination
Children can use parachutes as props in imaginary play. They can pretend:
- they are under the sea with the parachute as the waves
- it's a circus tent
- they are flying in a hot air balloon
- or it is a UFO landing.