Parachute – Radiating design
Price range: $60.00 through $140.00 inc. GST
A group exercise parachute for seniors that gets everyone moving together. Participants hold the handles and work in unison to wave, lift, and ripple the fabric, supporting upper-body movement, coordination, and social connection. Available in two sizes to suit different group sizes, with indoor and outdoor use.
This exercise parachute brings group movement and coordination to aged care activity sessions
An exercise parachute for seniors that works across a range of mobility levels, this colourful radiating-design parachute is built around shared, rhythmic movement. Participants hold the handles around the edge and work together to wave, lift, and ripple the fabric, supporting upper-body movement, coordination, and social engagement. It suits residential aged care activity programs, day programs, and intergenerational sessions where children and older adults participate together.
What’s included
Two sizes are available to suit different group configurations:
- Small size: 1.8m parachute with 6 handles
- Large size: 3.6m parachute with 12 handles
How to use
Both sizes work indoors or outdoors. The radiating colour design helps participants track movement and stay oriented during play. Lightweight bean bags or soft balloons can be placed on top of the fabric for added engagement, with the group working together to keep them airborne or catch them on the material.
Activity benefits
- Upper-body movement: lifting and lowering the fabric engages arms and shoulders gently
- Coordination: participants follow group cues and time their movements together
- Social connection: shared activity encourages interaction and group participation
- Suitable for people living with dementia: simple, repetitive movement with clear visual cues
- Wave and ripple: Have participants hold handles evenly around the parachute and work together to create slow, steady waves by lifting and lowering the fabric in unison. Call out cues to guide the rhythm.
- Parachute popcorn: Place lightweight bean bags on the surface of the parachute. The group works together to bounce them into the air and catch them back on the fabric.
- Balloon keep-up: Place a soft balloon on the parachute and challenge the group to keep it from falling off by adjusting the fabric together.
- Intergenerational play: Pair older residents with younger visitors or children, with each pair sharing a handle. The shared physical task gives both generations a natural point of connection and interaction.
- Colour call-out: Use the radiating colour sections of the parachute to prompt simple games, such as calling out a colour and asking participants to identify their nearest section, supporting cognitive engagement alongside movement.
- Small size: 1.8m diameter, 6 handles
- Large size: 3.6m diameter, 12 handles
- Use: suitable for indoor and outdoor use
- Design: radiating multicolour pattern
