If there is one thing we love more than getting outside and playing, it is getting outside and playing timeless games. And, it’s pretty safe to say that there’s nothing more timeless than children playing with a large, colorful parachute! It’s got to be one of the best group activities probably ever (we’ve all played with one!) and kids always seem to know what to do with them once grabbing a hold of their handles. The best part about parachute play is that there are so many benefits to it – kids are actually building muscle, learning problem-solving skills, working together as a team and so many other amazing benefits. While they can totally be used outside in the grass like we have pictured, the great part about parachutes is they can also be used inside in a gym or garage if the weather has turned on you lately!
We’ve done a few different posts about parachutes and different ways you can play with them (click here for the latest!), but this time we’re including a super easy and fun DIY that is great for all ages. This DIY will give you lots of team and cooperative play, so the more children you can play with the better it will be. This might even be a good one to tell your kids’ teacher or daycare about!
Playchute Play Parachute
All you have to do is just open the box and watch their faces. Every child somehow instinctively knows what to do with one of these “Playchute” Parachutes! It’s quite literally gigantic fun for kids of all ages – it measures at 10 feet in diameter.
Parachutes promote super fun cooperative group play, while helping to build muscles and help develop perceptual, cognitive, motor and academic skills. They’re so fun for every kid at birthday parties and picnics, and they’re absolutely perfect for large groups. They’re also even great for classrooms for all you teachers out there! There are literally endless different games that a child can play using these “Playchutes“, and its’ durable construction will ensure years and years of playtime to come. When playtime is over, just fold up and store in it’s own carry bag. It’s definitely a must have item for every child!
DIY Pom Poms
Everyone knows that the only thing better than playing with a parachute is playing with one while bouncing objects on top of it! We love doing these types of DIY’s whenever we have our models play with a parachute because they get super into it – which means your kids will, too! Just be careful around any trees – let’s just say we learned that the hard way!
While this craft may seem tedious, it is pretty simple once you get the hang of it and you’ll be churning them out in no time. Remember – the more you can make, the better!
What you’ll need
- Different colored yarn
- For this DIY, we used the colors of the parachute but you should get as creative as you’d like! Extra points if you make lots of the same color so that you can divide up into different teams, rather than few of many colors.
- Scissors
How to make it
- Wrap the yarn around your four fingers (excluding your thumb) about 100 times, leaving a little piece of extra yarn in the beginning and at the end.
- Take a separate piece of string and wrap the whole thing together in the middle very tight.
TIP: Another person here coming in and tying this would be helpful, it’s tricky to get it tight on your own. It’s a great step for the kids to do! - Now, you should have the shape of a “bowtie” with the two loops on either side.
- Cut the end of the loops, AKA the edges of the bowtie
- Cut them all until there is no looped yarn left
- Be careful not to cut the middle string, as that string is keeping it all together!
- Now you have a very fluffy pom pom, so keep trimming and fluffing until you get the shape you want!
- Throw on your parachute and let the fun begin!
Play with your Pom Poms
Now that you have these awesome little pom poms, there are a ton of things you can do with them while using your parachute. Work ahead and make a ton of pom poms, because the more there are the merrier the games! We gathered some of our favorite play ideas for you, below:
- Popcorn: This one is pretty simple, so it’s great for super young kids. Place a number of the pom poms onto the parachute. Shake to make them pop up like “popcorn” without letting any fall off!
- Pom Pom Roll: Have the children try to roll the pom poms into the hole in the middle of the parachute, or have the children do the opposite – try to keep the balls from touching or going over the mesh circle in the center.
- Roller: Try to keep a pom pom moving only along the outer edge of the parachute around the circle. As it comes toward you, cooperatively lower your edge. Just past you, raise it.
- Pom Pom Knock: Put a large number of pom poms on top of the parachute. Have one or two children under the chute trying to hit the balls as they touch the surface, knocking them off the parachute from underneath, while the kids holding onto the parachute work to keep them on! Whichever has more – the ground or the parachute – after one minute, wins!
Let us know!
Did you make this DIY, or play with your parachute lately? Do you have any more fun parachute games to let us know about? Let us know in the comments below!