Draw a 2-foot circle on a piece of newspaper and cut out. Cut the circle into six equal wedges. Turn the wedges into a hexagon by turning every other wedge so that the point is the to the outside of the circle. Tape the hexagon pieces together. This is your template.
Place the template on a piece of light-weight fabric or one layer of a plastic trash bag. Cut around the template. Decorate the parachute with paint, markers or stickers. Paint or markers work well on fabric, while stickers do best on plastic. Thread a needle with a 20 inch length of kite string. Tie a knot in one end and sew through one corner. The knot should be against the outside of the parachute and the length of the string on the inside. Tie a slip knot in the length of the string so that it is tight against the fabric. Repeat on all six corners of the hexicon.
Tie the strings of the parachute around a toy. A toy soldier is a popular choice. Another idea is to paint a cork to look like a space capsule. A small plastic container, such as film canister, allows you to parachute small loads such as notes or tiny toys from one location to another.
Hold the parachute by it's center with the load dangling. Run your closed hand down it, compressing the fabric, then fold it in half once and then twice, turning it into a small package. Wrap the strings around the packet and the load. Toss in the air, or down from a high place such as the top of a stair case. The parachute will open and deliver your load gently to the ground.