Up, Up and Far Away

When selecting a parachute, look for one that has a mesh-covered center hole. This is mainly for safety reasons. The hole or center opening is an invitation for a young child to run beneath and stick their head through it. Other kids holding onto the parachute and pulling on the border can accidentally cause neck and spine injuries to a young body. If the parachute you presently own has an open hole, it's easy to fix. Just find yourself a piece of net at the fabric store or purchase a small net bag at the "dollar bins" from your local grocery or variety store. With needle and thread stitch it around the inside border of the hole and voila… your parachute is ready for safe play.Most parachutes have stitched handles, usually having as many handles as it is wide. The parachute is about the most "user friendly" piece of equipment I know of. You don't need a lot of ability or training to use it successfully. Get ready for that first day of school, that first introduction to movement and "feeling good about using our body" by including parachute play.Kids who have had earlier experiences with the parachute will have beloved games they want to play. They might already be shaking the parachute, jumping up and down or running under the parachute full of liveliness, eagerness and nonstop giggles and wiggles. Assure them there will be a time for them to lead their game but first the group needs to set up rules for playing safely and politely with the parachute.Seek ideas and suggestions from the kids themselves. They will more likely have a sense of ownership and even "buy into" accepting and highlighting the rules if they have had a part in creating them. Here's according to online teacher training what you'll want to discuss with them before the parachuting begins:1.Institute the freeze rule, which means that at the teacher's command, "Freeze!" the kids stop all activity and listen to instructions. 2.Hold the border of the parachute with both hands at all times except instructed to do otherwise. 3.Raise and lower the parachute on command. 4.Highlight good listening. 5.Teach kids to stay away from the center hole or opening of the parachute. Inform the group that this hole or opening allows air to escape. This enables the parachute to move down slowly and keep the proper shape without moving up and down. 6.Stress working together cooperatively. "SHAKING THE PARACHUTE" is a great warm-up exercise. Plan to conduct this activity at the beginning of each parachute lesson. It serves to appraise and remind; and the kids react immediately by shaking the parachute up and down.Using a rainbow-colored parachute, let the kids holding onto just one color shake the parachute while the others rest. Try having kids holding onto just two colors shake the parachute at one time.Montessori course advises to let the kids discover and experiment with the different ways of moving and shaking the parachute, either standing up or sitting down. Are we having fun yet? You bet! And the fun began the moment you brought in a parachute! And now you're READY! Your class is all SET, doing moving' and shakings' warm-ups! The kids are enthusiastic to GO and play more games and activities with the parachute!