10 Best Parachute Games for Kids

Parachute games are one of the most popular games among kids. Not only are they an excellent way to entertain children, but these games will also ensure that your kids get some exercise as well. The greatest part about playing with a parachute is that you can use it for an unlimited number of games. But, have you run out of ideas? Don’t worry, we’ll help you out with our list of the best parachute games for kids.

Many parents think that parachute games are for young children only. But, we have prepared a list of parachute ideas that kids of all ages can enjoy. Whether they are toddlers or they’re already going to school, kids will spend hours playing with a parachute.

The best part is that you can show one parachute game to your kids and, since they are such creative human beings, they’ll come up with dozens of other versions of that game.

In this article, we are going to cover the best parachute games for toddlers and older kids as well. Keep reading and write down which games you like the most!

1. Mushroom
2. Popcorn
3. Parachute Tag
4. Camping
5. Under the Bridge
6. Parachute Basketball
7. Mousetrap
8. Alligator
9. Switcheroo
10. Weather Man

10 Best Parachute Games for Kids

1. Mushroom

Image Courtesy of First Cry Parenting

Mushroom is a great parachute game to help your kids get familiar with using the parachute. Start by telling the children to spread out in a circle evenly. Each child should hold the edge of the parachute.

Then, pull the parachute taut and then lower it between knee level and the ground. Then, tell your kids to raise the parachute upwards on your signal. The chute will fill with air and turn into a giant mushroom (or a giant igloo if you’re using it during the winter).

To get the chute as high as possible, all participants should take a few steps towards the center as the parachute starts rising. This game will help your kids learn to work together as a group and it will improve their cooperation.

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2. Popcorn

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Popcorn is one of the best parachute games and kids just love it!

To play the game, you will need several small balls, and, of course, a chute. Have all the kids hold the ends of the chute and make it tout. Then, you (or any other adult) must put all the balls on the chute. This is the starting position.

Then, once you give them a signal, the kids have to shake the chute and make the balls fly in the air. The aim of the game is to keep the balls on the parachute as long as possible while bouncing them. Once all the balls fall off, start the game again.

Popcorn is a great way to pass the time and it is suitable for kids of all ages. Even the youngest ones won’t have any trouble understanding how the game works.

3. Parachute Tag

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Have the kids lift the parachute high overhead. When you call out one child’s name, he/she has to run to the other side before the chute comes down and tags them. You can modify this tag game by having the kids crawl, skip, or even twirl to the other side.

Parachute tag is a great twist to the classic tag game. The kids will love it and even the toddlers (who still are not that good at running) can play this game. There’s no need for everyone to run, just have all the kids crawl!

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4. Camping

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Camping is very similar to the first game on our list – Mushroom. Here’s how to play it.

All the kids should hold on to the sides of the chute and wait for the instructions of an adult. When the adult says “up”, the kids should raise the parachute overhead. The only difference between Mushroom and Camping is how the kids raise the. When playing Mushroom, the kids raise the chute slightly in front of them, but during Camping, the chute should be held over them.

Once you give the kids the second signal, they have to pull the parachute down and hide under the chute. Doing this will transform the parachute into a makeshift tent. If the kids are old enough and there is no need to supervise them, you can have them take turns on who plays the role of the leader and gives instructions.

5. Under the Bridge

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To play this game, there is always one child who needs to be a supervisor. This game is a variation of Parachute Tag, and it is very similar to it.

To start playing, all kids should hold on to the sides of the parachute and raise it overhead. Then, the supervisor calls out one player, randomly. The chosen player has to try to get from one side of the chute to the other by walking, running, or crawling underneath it.

All the other kids try to trap him under the parachute. If the player is caught, he becomes the next supervisor and the game starts again. However, if the player manages to make it to the other side, the game starts over again but the supervisor doesn’t change.

This game is one of the best parachute games for kids and it gives all of them an opportunity to be a supervisor and run under the chute.

6. Parachute Basketball

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To play Parachute Basketball, you need at least eight to ten players. This is one of the best parachute games for kids at birthdays or other similar gatherings.

To start, you’ll need to group the players into pairs of two and give one player in each pair a small ball (approx. the size of a baseball). The ball be small enough to fit through the hole in the middle of the parachute without getting stuck.

Then, have one player in each pair hold the side of the parachute so they could make a mushroom. Then, the other players (who have the balls) have to then position themselves a foot behind their pair. They will then try to throw the ball through the hole of the parachute. Once a team manages to throw the ball through the hole, the players switch positions so that the one who was holding the chute becomes the one throwing the ball.

The first team to make the ball fall through the chute 10 (or more) times wins.

If you’re looking for other games for many children which don’t involve a chute, take a look at our large group games.

7. Mousetrap

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Mousetrap is an exciting parachute game where all players work together against one chosen kid and they try to trap him under the chute.

Before you start, give each player a designated number and have them hold on to the sides of the parachute. The children should hold the parachute overhead, as high as they can. Also, you should make sure that the parachute is taut. The easiest way to do this is to ask each child to take a step back once they pick up the chute.

Then, you call out one number. The player whose number is called will try to crawl under the parachute and come out from the other side. As soon as he is under the parachute, the other players have to pull the parachute to the ground and trap the mouse.

However, there is one catch. A child can only pull the parachute down if they are standing next to the chosen player or if a player next to them has pulled the parachute down.

8. Alligator

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The best parachute games for kids have an element of silliness to them, and Alligator is one of those games. It is a fun and very goofy game the kids will love.

To play the game, at least four kids need to be present and one adult to manage the game. Tell the children to lie down on the ground and pull the parachute to their chin, just like a blanket. On your signal, the children have to close their eyes and pretend they’re asleep. Then, the coordinator walks around the circle and taps one of the players on their shoulders.

That player becomes the Alligator and has to crawl under to ‘eat’ the sleeping kids by pulling them inside the parachute. The player who is being pulled has to scream so he could warn the others. After being eaten by the alligator, the child will turns into one and helps the original alligator eat all the other children.

The game is played until all the kids turn into alligators. If all the players are converted to Alligators, then the original Alligator wins the game. But, if the other players manage to identify the original alligator then they win!

9. Switcheroo

Image Courtesy of First Cry Parenting

Switcheroo is one of the best parachute games for kids that tests the players’ coordination and their limits of how well they can work together. To start playing, divide the kids into two groups. Then, give each group a parachute and make the children hold it overhead. You should also make sure that each group is standing next to each other as two adjacent circles.

Then, tell one group to walk in a clockwise direction and the other group should walk in an anti-clockwise direction. When a player in one group finds themself right next to a member of the other group, they leave their parachute and switch to the parachute of the other group and join their circle. The player from the other group has to do the same thing.

To make the game successful, the players have to work together and coordinate when they will drop their own parachute to grab the one from the other team. If the game gets boring, you can ask the players to pick up the pace until they start running.

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10. Weather Man

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Children have very vivid imaginations and Weather Man is one of the best parachute ideas for encouraging kids’ imagination.

To play the game, tell the kids to hold on to the sides of the parachute and pretend that it’s an ocean. One player has to play the role of the weatherman and call out weather reports. All the other players have to move the parachute to make it appropriate for the weather report they hear.

For example, if the weatherman says, “the weather report says today we’ll have a strong wind over the Pacific Ocean,” the children have to shake the chute violently. On the other hand, if the players hear a slight breeze, they have to make small waves in the parachute.

Keep in mind that there is no correct way to imitate the weather. The children will move the parachute in a way they imagine and you should encourage them to think differently even if you think they are wrong.

These were our best parachute games for toddlers and older kids. Each game guarantees incredibly fun playtime and it will also help the children develop some skills.

First of all, parachute games improve a child’s communication skills. The children have to interact and communicate with each other in order to win the game. Also, the kids have to work together and learn the importance of teamwork to win. According to many studies, individuals who know how to work together with other people tend to be much happier than lone wolves.

Parachute games are also a great way of incorporating exercise in your kid’s life. To hold and move the chute, there is a lot of upper body movement. This will build upper body strength and also lead to better bone density and hand-eye coordination. Also, to make waves or trap a player under a chute, children need to have a sense of when and how to move. This is very useful to developing a child’s sense of rhythm and movement.

What do you think of our list of the best parachute games for kids? And, which games you can’t wait to play? Share your thoughts in the comments!