Difficulty Medium
Duration 30 minut
Type of activity Long term activities
Season Any
Occasion Any
Suitability Physcally fit
Locations Indoor, Outdoor
Tools
rainbow parachute (bought or made from a large tarp (with a small hole in the middle) or similar materials
diameter: 2-5 m
Goal
Encourage cooperative, non-competitive play and reinforce turn taking and sharing.
Intergenerational benefits
Understanding and relationship building
Understanding and relationship building
The activity promotes the understanding and appreciation of the attitudes, opinions, and experiences which different generations bring to the relationships, understanding and avoiding generational stereotypes and fostering tolerance of different lifestyles and an appreciation for cultural heritages, traditions and histories.
Intergenerational learning and skill sharing
Intergenerational learning and skill sharing
The activity promotes learning and skill sharing among younger and older generations. It involves the sharing of positive resources that the young and old have to offer each other, especially the experience with novelties of modern times and valuable life lessons as well as cultural and familiar traditions.
Health and wellbeing
Health and wellbeing
The activity promotes physical and mental well-being. It has a positive impact on the quality of life (feeling of self-worth and a reduction in loneliness and isolation, promotion of physical and cognitive activity).
Personal impact
Personal impact
Developing soft skills (like empathy, confidence, communication abilities, learning skills) and developing their own strengths and talents.
Cognitive skills
Cognitive skills
Supporting mental / brain-based skills we need to do anything from the simplest to the most complex tasks:perception, attention, memory, motor skills, language, visual and spatial processing, executive functions.
Community involvement
Community involvement
The activity increases confidence and involvement within the community. It offers a starting point that could have a positive impact within the community.
Step by Step
- Children and seniors are alternately spread out in a circle around the parachute, which is spread out on the floor between them. Then, they each get a hold of the outer border of the parachute (or the handles, if there are any). The parachute can also be used when seated (when the seniors have mobility problems or when the participants sit on wheelchairs).
- Pull the parachute and then lower it between knee level and the ground.
- On a signal-all raise the parachute upwards; it will fill with air and rise up like a giant mushroom.
- Other games with the parachute: Popcorn: Place a number of beanbags or small balls onto the parachute. Shake to make them pop up like "popcorn".
- Ball Roll: Have the children and seniors try to roll the balls into the hole in the middle of the parachute. (Or have children try to keep the balls from going into the hole in the center.).
- Making Waves: Children and seniors can make small, medium, or large movements to make various types of "waves." You can incorporate a story about a ship on the sea, weather, etc. or use your voice as a tool to emphasize directives.
- Rollerball: Try to keep a ball rolling only along the outer edge of the parachute around the circle. As it comes toward you, cooperatively lower your edge. Just past you, raise it.
Shown: 2x
