Toy Parachute - with free template to make your own!

When my family moved into our new house a little over two years ago my husband and I quickly realized that we needed to make some new rules.  Our two story entryway and family room created a huge temptation for our children to throw toys from the second story and watch them drop below.  After discussing the new rule with our kids, and then a slip up and their favorite toys having an extended time out, it was never a temptation again.  Occasionally we make an exception to our "no throwing things from the second-story" rule though.  Like when my husband helped our kids create some toy parachutes from paper, string, and a napkin one weekend.

Our kids had a blast watching their parachutes float down to the floor below.

They also had fun putting small items in the parachute basket and watching how it affected the parachute fall.

These fun toys have held up exceptionally well with how much they've been played with and our kids have enjoyed the freedom of having something to toss over railing without getting into trouble. 

Want to make a parachute with your kids?  Chances are you already have everything you need: a piece of paper, some string, a napkin, and tape.  

If you don't have a second-story railing to throw them over at your house what about taking your parachute to the play ground?  What a fun outdoor activity these parachutes could make!

First print out the template below.

(Click on picture, right click and copy.  Open in a word document, reduce your margins to zero and paste.  Expand to 100% and print.)

Cut the template out and then cut along the dashed lines.

Fold along the solid lines.

Now fold the template into a box and secure at the top with tape.  Punch four holes where indicate.  Be sure to place the tape where you are going to punch the holes to reinforce it.

Take a plain old paper napkin and unfold it.  Place a piece of tape over each corner and then punch a hole on top.

Cut four pieces of string and tie one to each hole punch in the box.  Then tie the other end of the string to the napkin.  Now you're ready to play!

Have fun!