Pipe Cleaner Parachutes

Parachutes have always been the go-to rainy day fun for my nanny kids and me, they get us thinking creatively all while burning out some energy. I have done this craft countless times and sadly never took pictures of the building process, so below you will see photos I took just now it is not surprising that I had fun making my parachute and its rider!

This craft is pretty simple and you most likely already have the pieces needed to get this craft off the ground! ( I love puns, can you tell?)

Supplies (makes 1 finished parachute)

Coffee Filter

2 Pipe Cleaners

Scissors or Hole Punch

Assembly is pretty easy, in my experience kids 5 and older can do this after a bit of guidance on the first build.

Fold the coffee filter in half and at the bottom-most point, punch a hole a bit back from the edge. If you do not have a hole punch, cut a slit that is parallel to the edge.

Unfold the coffee filter and slide the pipe cleaner through the hole until about 1/2″ is through, then fold over and twist. Do this again with the other end of the pipe cleaner to the other hole in the filter. Putting a slight bend in the center of the pipe cleaner helps a bit since the pipe cleaner is longer than the coffee filter.

Now is the fun and creative part, the little parachuting friend. I typically go for a stick figure person, but my nanny kids have created pipe cleaner animals, shapes, and even tangled messes. After some trial and error, we discovered that 1 opened coffee filter will glide down smoothly if the total weight is 2 pipe cleaners, of course, changes if we add more pipe cleaners or if we crumple up the coffee filter. ( Remember we already have 1 pipe cleaner attached to the coffee filter. )

Then simply fold over a small portion of your parachute rider onto the pipe cleaner that is attached to the coffee filter.

Then find a safe place to drop your parachutes from, the balcony at the top of the stairs ( no running up and down the stairs please <3 ), or even off the porch outside when the weather and wind permit. When we have created these we usually take turns with who is dropping all the parachutes and who is standing below trying to catch them, then we switch. We also have parachute races; which come down the fastest, slowest, or even in the most zigzag-y fall pattern.

For added creativity you can use markers to decorate the coffee filters, just make sure they are fully dry before cutting or using, the added moisture means they tear easier and are heavier than when they are dry.

Have fun as you try out different designs, weights, and parachute riders!

Respectfully yours,

Heather Poppins