In a time when digital entertainment is ever-present, the idea of flying a kite can seem quaint. But the concept of flight is magical at any age. Follow these steps to create your very own kite and then head to your nearest park, field or even parking lot to put your new aircraft to the test.
Gather Materials:
- Large sheets of lightweight, strong paper or fabric (ideas include gift-wrapping paper, tissue paper, newspaper, nylon, plastic sheets, cellophane or even kite paper)
- Wooden dowels or lightweight rods for the frame. Repurposing wire coat hangers can also work.
- String or kite line
- Scissors
- Glue or tape
- Ruler
- Pencil
- Optional: markers, paints or other decorative materials.
Design Your Kite:
- Decide on the size and shape of your kite. Traditional diamond shapes are popular, but feel free to get creative.
- Use the ruler and pencil to outline your design on the paper. Make sure to leave extra space around the edges for folding and attaching the frame.
Construct the Frame:
- Cut the wooden dowels or rods to the appropriate lengths for your kite design.
- Lay out the frame on top of the paper outline and trim the paper to fit, leaving a border of about 1 inch around the edges.
- Use glue or tape to attach the frame to the paper, folding the edges over the dowels and securing them in place.
Attach the Bridle and Tail:
- Cut a length of string slightly longer than the width of your kite.
- Tie one end of the string to the two top corners of the kite frame to create the bridle.
- Attach a longer piece of string to the bottom corner of the kite to serve as the tail. This will help stabilize the kite in flight.
The Extend-A-Care YMCA provides safe, enriching and educational programs for children at seven area preschools and more than 60 area elementary schools. For more information about Extend-A-Care YMCA programs visit www.eacymca.org.
