This activity is a fun way to get your child physically moving that also requires him to use listening skills and learn to cooperate with others. Cooperation and listening are skills needed to help your child be successful in school.
Learning Area(s): Social and Emotional; Physical Development
MATERIALS
- Small blanket/sheet that can be held between two people when open (like a parachute)
- Lightweight ball
LET'S PLAY
Lay the parachute (blanket/sheet) flat on the floor, and have your child sit around the edge of it, but not on top of it. Have your child hold the edges of the parachute in front of him and stand up. You will do the same. If possible, have other family members join the fun.
Encourage your child to follow the directions you give (a few examples are listed below):
- Walk around in a circle holding the parachute.
- Raise the parachute high over everyone’s head and look underneath at each other.
- Raise the parachute together to make waves.
After you understand how you can make the parachute move, place a lightweight ball in the middle of it and make the ball bounce by shaking the parachute. Explain that everyone has to cooperate and work together in order to keep the ball on top of the parachute.
Have everyone holding the parachute walk forward several steps toward each other in the center. Then walk back out again and stretch out the parachute. Use the parachute to pop the ball up in the air and catch it again. Work together so that the ball does not fall to the ground.
TIPS
- Praise your child when you see him following your directions.
- Point out to your child that when you all work together and cooperate with each other, the ball stays on the parachute.
- Allow the child to have a turn giving directions.
- Be creative! While balancing the ball on top of the parachute, try walking around in a circle fast and then slow, try raising the parachute high and then down low, try having everyone jump or kneel at the same time, try rolling the ball towards a specific person and then back to the middle, etc.
- This is a great activity to take outside.
- Have one person not follow directions and talk about what happens when we do not cooperate.