Parachute Peekaboo: Who Is Hiding?
The whole group lifts the parachute and, while it is up, one child hides underneath. When the fabric comes down, everyone else guesses who is missing. Kids practice focused attention, learning classmates' names, and moving together as a group.
How to play
- Children stand in a circle around the parachute, holding the edge with both hands. Practice for 1 minute: "Up!" lifts it high, "Down!" brings it to the floor.
- Model it: tap one child on the shoulder, the group says "Up!", and that child crawls into the middle and sits down under the fabric.
- The group lowers the parachute and crouches. Ask: "Who is hiding?" Everyone looks around the circle for the empty spot and calls out the name.
- To check, call "Up!" again: the hidden child comes out waving and goes back to their spot. Give them a round of applause.
- Play 8–10 rounds (about 9 minutes), choosing a different child each time. From the fourth round on, two children hide at once.
- Finish with "Up, and everybody in!" Everyone steps in, pulls the edge down behind their backs, and sits on it: a giant tent for 10 seconds.
Rules
- Only the child who gets the shoulder tap goes under.
- Crawl under and sit still in the middle.
- Never let go of the edge suddenly or yank it toward you.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, give hints to help guess: "It's a girl with a red shirt."
Standard
For 4-year-olds, one child hides and the group names them without help.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, two or three hide, and everyone walks to a new spot before the fabric comes down.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the child plays from the wheelchair; to hide, the group rests the fabric on their shoulders.
- Autism or fear of being covered: the child hides behind the teacher or pops their head out of the center hole.
- More skilled kids describe the hidden child's clothes; for less skilled kids, point to the empty spot.
Learning goals
- Coordinate lifting and lowering the parachute with the whole group.
- Recognize classmates by name and appearance.
- Keep visual attention on the circle.
Equipment for a class of 25
- play parachute: 1
Teacher tip
Always use the same two words, "Up!" and "Down!", with big arm gestures. If the circle gets messy, put a floor spot for each child before you start.
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