Parachutes on the Playground

Last week, Melissa and I had the parachute out and the kids went crazy for it. Along with Nekeshia, we were able to lift it up high into the air and bring it back down again for our own private airborne tent. As we watched the kids run laughing through underneath the colorful fabric, we knew we had a priceless photo opportunity on our hands- so today we got it out again and brought the camera with us. What is it about tents and small places? In his book Evolutionary Playwork, Bob Hughes talks about major archtypes in the play schemes of young children- things that seem nearly universal to children's play. Among them are themes like care for animals, and the use of tools. He also speaks about the theme of cave-dwelling and tent making. There is a great degree of security provided by such a closed-in space, one that invites peer relationships and exudes the auroa of a world set apart. The parachute lent itself to this kind of play wonderfully. We draped it over the slide set, and soon the kids found themselves in a new private get-away. To see the kind of delight and response that such a simple activity rendered, you need look no further than their expressive faces, pictured below.