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[Childcare] Parachute (paraballoon): Classic techniques and fun activities
A parachute is a game where all the children hold a large, circular, colorful cloth together and move it up and down or back and forth and side to side to create different shapes.
Because it’s dynamic and visually striking, many kindergartens and nursery schools incorporate it into their sports days.
Parachute routines, where everyone synchronizes their movements to create a single trick, are moving to watch because you can feel how hard the children are trying.
In this article, we’ll introduce popular parachute tricks.
Along with ideas perfect for events like sports days, we’re also sharing ways to use the parachute in everyday play, so please use these as a reference and have fun with the parachute together.
Waza (1–10)
crown
Parachutes, which can be used to create many different shapes with a bit of creativity, are a popular attraction at sports festivals.
Here are a variety of ideas, from classic ones to slightly unusual twists.
Try making a crown-shaped parachute—when performed with a large group, it results in an even more spectacular display.
First, gently inflate the parachute.
While holding the edge, everyone takes four steps toward the center.
Close the parachute in place and pin it down with your feet.
Then turn around, join hands with the person next to you, raise your arms in celebration, and your magnificent crown is complete.
home
Let’s make a big house using a colorful, large circular cloth called a parachute (paraballoon).
A parachute can take many shapes, but let’s start with the classic house.
Hold the edge of the cloth firmly, and everyone turn around together in a circle.
Once you’ve formed a neat circle, lift the cloth high to make it billow.
While the cloth is filled with air, go under the canopy, sit down inside, and close it—then you’ll have a big, fluffy, impressive house.
Inside the balloon, sit with your knees up (like a tuck sit) and hold the cloth securely.
Parachute
This move makes the parachute balloon float and then descend to the ground like a parachute.
Everyone holds the parachute balloon while squatting, then stands up quickly.
When you let go, the air trapped inside makes the parachute balloon lift up for a moment! After floating for a few seconds, it will naturally come down, so get ready for the next move.
It’s also great to use not in the middle but as the finale of your routine.
It’s mysterious and dynamic, so definitely give it a try.
Popcorn
Let’s master the “Popcorn” technique with the parachute—an energetic move that’s fun to watch.
Just like popcorn popping in a frying pan, colorful balls bounce on top of the big parachute.
There are a few tips for this trick.
While the balls are placed in the center of the parachute, everyone should hold the fabric and stay completely still.
Then, when the signal is given, pull the fabric all together in sync to pop the balls up from the middle.
If you make big, powerful waves with the fabric, the balls will bounce just like popcorn in a pan.
merry-go-round
The parachute used at school sports days has a variety of tricks.
There are many formations, with different levels of difficulty and different final shapes.
One popular shape and movement is the merry-go-round.
The key to this formation is the person at the center serving as the core.
When performing with children, a tall teacher will usually take this position.
With the teacher in the middle as the axis, the children around them hold the edge of the parachute fabric and walk in circles, completing the merry-go-round.
Practice repeatedly, checking the shape and timing several times as you go.
Rocket
Let’s use the parachute to create a dynamic rocket shape! First, keep the parachute stretched as taut as possible.
When you hear the cue, everyone lifts the parachute high at the same time and runs toward the center.
This will form a big rocket shape! The closer everyone gathers in the center, the taller and more elongated the rocket becomes.
A fun variation is to place a ball in the middle of the parachute beforehand and use the momentum of everyone rushing to the center to launch the ball like a rocket.
Try doing this during the chorus or the climax of the music to deliver a spectacular performance!
mountain
Let’s master the most basic of all large-group sports day parachute (parachute cloth) moves: the Mountain.
Watching a big circular cloth softly change shape is impressive and fun for spectators too.
The standard parachute move, the Mountain, isn’t very difficult.
Once you and your teammates firmly grasp the edges of the cloth, lift it to fill it with air.
After the air goes in, take a few steps toward the center and close the cloth in place.
That will form a rounded, mound-like mountain.
Be sure to hold the closed section firmly.