Parachute games encourage cooperative group play that reinforces turn-taking and sharing and helps to build muscle tone.  Parachute activities are usually quite physical. To avoid injuries and to maximize the fun, explain the terms and rules to your children before approaching the parachute.

Playing with a parachute will also help develop perceptual, cognitive, motor, and academic skills, that can be used in many aspects of a child's life.

Terms:

Directionality - Forward, Backward, up, down, clockwise, counter-clockwise, right hand, left hand, high, low, and sideways.

Locomotor Skills - Skipping, hopping, walking, running, jumping, galloping, and leaping.

Movement Skills - Fast, slow, accelerating, decelerating, light, and heavy.

Ways to grip the parachute:

• Overhand - Palms are facing down
• Underhand - Palms are facing up
• Crossover Grip - Right hand over left hand - with both palms down 

Rules & Safety:

Parachute games are for all ages; however, you may need to change each game for the age group that is involved.  The nature of parachute games means that children are actively running around, pulling the chute, crawling around, and possibly climbing on other children.  Playing with a play parachute is generally very safe; however, from time to time, an accident will happen. 

To avoid injuries, explain the following rules:

Have the children remove their shoes before approaching the parachute.

Encourage the children to space themselves around the parachute so that there are no large gaps.  If there is a large gap, roll up the parachute - making a smaller parachute.

Have the children hold the parachute with both hands at all times.  Don't allow the children to remove their hands in order to hit balls.

The children should take care of others:  they should not kick under the parachute and they should watch their elbows, either of these can cause injuries.

If the parachute is used for trust exercises, i.e. walking on air - parachute game, use play mats under the play area.

If the parachute has a hole in the middle, please ensure that the children know it is dangerous to place their head through the center.

If these precautions are taken, your children will have an entertaining and educational experience with the play parachute.