What exactly are "parachute activities" and "ring games"?!

**mumofone** · 22-01-2015, 10:20 AM

Can anyone tell or explain to me what exactly are "parachute activities" and "ring games" as mentioned in "Development Matters" for a child of 30-50 months? Thank you! :-)

**moggy** · 22-01-2015, 01:45 PM

Originally Posted by mumofone

Can anyone tell or explain to me what exactly are "parachute activities" and "ring games" as mentioned in "Development Matters" for a child of 30-50 months? Thank you! :-)

This is aimed at nurseries or groups of toddlers...

Parachute games- you can buy these enormous silky fabric 'parachute' with handles round see:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PLAY-PARACHU...play+parachute

Ring games- games you play with lots of children sitting in a circle (ring-a-ring-of-roses, throwing a ball to each other round a ring, Here we go round the Mulberry Bush, and there are lots of others- also called 'circle games'. To do with taking turns, cooperating, social skills etc.

**Maza** · 22-01-2015, 05:08 PM

Lots of playgroups/music groups/exercise groups end their sessions with parachute games. They are fab and the children love them. I'm sure you'll come across them soon, but in the meantime it's not something for you to worry about because as Moggy said, you need quite a few children for them to be successful. x

**k1rstie** · 22-01-2015, 06:00 PM

.............

**k1rstie** · 22-01-2015, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by k1rstie

We go to a soft play/gym at our local sports flirts cente

Sorry, start again.
We go to a soft play/gym session at our local sports centre on a Friday.
At the end we get a large parachute out. It's the adults who tend to do the flapping up and down, the activities that the kids do include;
Going on top - swishing down the bubbles
Going underneath - reaching up high
Going under - lying on backs and kicking to roof with their feet
Going on top - who can lie on a red slice
Each time the children go back to their adult before doing the next instruction - you always get one who wants to stay under when we are going to go on top!
It's a great exercise for doing what their told , as I one can do the next bit until everyone is back with their adult.

They are great fun with balls or balloons on top.
Parachutes got a bit of bad press a few years ago, and many people ( our children's centre included) cut the handles of their parachutes as children had dislocated their arms by holding the handles and flapping. The kids all fight over who holds the handles anyway.

Parachute games are best played with lots of adults and the kids really must do as they are told or else it's mayhem!

**bunyip** · 22-01-2015, 06:11 PM

Parachute games: flapping an extortionately expensive sheet in the air until your arms ache.

Ring games: these involve watching remakes of Japanese cult horror films, then you die screaming.

............? I have got that right, haven't I ? ...............someone?

**Dragonfly** · 22-01-2015, 06:54 PM

I think I must be the only one that goes oh no not the parachute again!

agree with bunyip parachute very expensive (make one) so leave them to the groups.

**watford wizz** · 22-01-2015, 07:30 PM

Any large piece of flap able material can be used x got mine from material bin at second hand shop 50p a piece x

**loocyloo** · 23-01-2015, 06:57 AM

A squarish piece of lycra can be used instead of a parachute. I got some local fabric shop.

**mumofone** · 23-01-2015, 07:34 AM

Thanks guys, I think id have to see it I action! I asked because it's mentioned in development matters-surely as a childminder with a couple of kids I'm not expected to do this? Or am I?!!

**Dragonfly** · 23-01-2015, 07:03 PM

No you are not expected to do this . Physical exercise the great out doors and singing with props and actions in your own way is just as good, or better.

**moggy** · 23-01-2015, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by mumofone

Thanks guys, I think id have to see it I action! I asked because it's mentioned in development matters-surely as a childminder with a couple of kids I'm not expected to do this? Or am I?!!

Dev Matters is not 'statutory' so nothing in there is 'expected' by anyone.
Inspectors use 'Early Years Outcomes' (newer than DM) as a guide to child development so it is sensible for us to have some knowledge of that.

We can refer to any document we want to in our own settings, and many of us find DM useful. The majority of children in childcare in this country are in nurseries so you'll find a lot of EY materials/ideas/training etc is geared up for group settings.

CMers often get together for playdates- 3 of us did so recently and had 9 toddlers amongst us, so group activities are possible.