15 Parachute Games for PE Class, Preschool and Birthday Parties

A play parachute is the rare piece of equipment that works for a 2 year old and a 12 year old on the same afternoon. These fifteen games are sorted by age, and every one assumes nothing more than the parachute itself and a few bean bags or soft balls.

Toddlers and preschool

1. Waves

Everyone grips a handle and shakes: small waves, big waves, storm. The warmup for every other game.

2. Peekaboo mushroom

Lift together on three, step in one step, pull the edge down behind you. The parachute domes into a tent everyone sits inside.

3. Color walk

Kids hold the edge and walk in a circle. Call a color and everyone standing at that panel swaps places under the chute.

4. Popcorn

Toss bean bags on top and shake them off with waves. Then race to shake them off in ten seconds.

5. Sleeping giant

One child lies in the middle. Everyone raises and lowers the chute gently over them like a blanket. Calmest two minutes you will ever get from a toddler group.

Elementary and PE class

6. Cat and mouse

One mouse crawls under, one cat crawls on top, everyone else shakes waves so the cat cannot see the mouse moving. The classic for a reason.

7. Ball roll

Place one ball on the chute and roll it around the edge using coordinated lifting. Try to complete three laps without it falling off.

8. Number swap

Number kids one to four around the circle. Lift high, call a number, those kids run under and swap spots before the chute falls.

9. Parachute volleyball

Two parachutes, two teams, one soft ball launched back and forth. The reason big schools buy two.

10. Merry go round

Everyone holds with one hand and jogs in a circle, then on your whistle, stop, switch hands, reverse. Sneaky cardio.

Big groups, camps and field days

11. Launch

All together: three big waves, then one maximum lift to launch bean bags as high as possible. Measure by ooohs.

12. Climb the mountain

Lift, step in, kneel on the edge. The trapped air makes a mountain kids flatten by climbing on. Best with a 20 foot chute or larger.

13. Shark attack

Kids sit legs under the chute, making waves. The shark below pulls one child gently under, who becomes the next shark. Screaming guaranteed.

14. Steal the bacon, parachute edition

Lift high, call two names, both race under to grab the single bean bag in the center before the chute falls.

15. The wave

Stadium style: kids lift in sequence around the circle so a wave travels the parachute. Harder and more satisfying than it sounds.

Which size to buy

Six feet suits up to 6 toddlers, 12 feet handles a typical class of 12, 16 to 20 feet covers large classes, and 24 feet and up is field day territory. Every GSI parachute has one handle per foot of diameter, so every kid gets a grip. Compare sizes in the play parachutes collection, or see the 12 foot bestseller with 1,400+ Amazon reviews. For the rest of the PE kit, read the complete equipment guide.