Play parachute games

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Play Parachute Games

A play parachute is a fun and versatile tool for both children’s groups and combined activities with children and adults. Below are several game ideas where both children and adults enjoy playing and experiencing together.

Calm – Storm

Everyone stands evenly around the play parachute, holding the edges.
This game can be played sitting or standing. Sitting balances out differences in height.
Make small waves by lightly shaking the parachute.
Make bigger waves by adding more force.
Make giant waves by shaking the parachute strongly.
Greet each other under the parachute when it is lifted high.

Carousel

Children sit in the center of the parachute.
Adults stand evenly around the parachute, holding the edges.
Adults walk in the same direction, causing the parachute to rotate.
Walking can also be replaced with running.
Children can join the carousel together with an adult.
Remember to change the direction of rotation occasionally.

Circus Tent

Children go under the play parachute in advance.
Adults stand evenly around the parachute, holding the edges.
By moving the parachute up and down, air is trapped under it.
On a signal, adults go under the parachute with the children, pulling the edge along.
This creates a circus tent where a short story can be told while the parachute holds air underneath.

Switch Places Game

Stand around the parachute in adult–child pairs.
Adults move the parachute slowly up and down, holding the edges.
The instructor calls two children’s names at a time.
When the parachute is up, the named children run under the parachute holding their adult’s hand, swapping places.
Allow multiple switches for everyone.

Find Your Adult Under the Parachute

One or two adults at a time go under the parachute, moving by crawling.
Their children go on top of the parachute, moving by crawling on top.
The others sit around the parachute, holding the edges and shaking it gently.
Children on top feel for their adult and try to find them.
Switch adults under the parachute and children on top.

Popcorn Machine

Everyone stands evenly around the parachute, holding the edges.
Pour many ping pong balls (or ball pit balls, or tail balls) into the center.
Shake the parachute to make the balls bounce like popcorn.
Can all the popcorn balls bounce off the parachute onto the floor?

Family exercise

Family exercise is exercise in which the whole family and their immediate circle can move actively together. Family exercise is diverse, it can be both voluntary and part of early childhood education and hobby community activities. Family exercise can be carried out outdoors, in a gym or in your own living room. Interaction and shared exercise are important in family exercise, where exercisers of all ages and levels are taken into account. The goal of family exercise is to increase family time together, promote health and create an active lifestyle. The most important thing in family exercise is to do things together and enjoy exercise.

In early childhood education, family exercise is implemented by organizing various physical events, trips or exercise moments for families, where children can exercise together with their own parents or other important adults. The goal of family exercise in early childhood education is to develop children's motor skills, increase family activity and strengthen cooperation between early childhood education and home. Family exercise in early childhood education is at its best playful, inspiring and easily accessible to all families, such as small exercise moments that take place when a child arrives and starts school or a shared exercise event after the early childhood education day.

This project is sponsored by

Suomi liikkeelle -ohjelma

Liikunnalliset vinkit videoiksi pienten lasten liikuttajille -hanketta rahoitetaan hallitusohjelman Suomi liikkeelle -ohjelmasta, jonka tavoitteena on kääntää liikkuminen kasvuun jokaisessa ikäryhmässä.