It's A Fun Thing
For Spring
Spring is known for being windy. You and your kids can have fun with the wind by flying kites and making wind socks.
Fly a Kite
Caution
Don't fly kites near power lines. If your kite should get caught in a power line, do not attempt to get it out. Leave it!
Don't fly kites in wet or stromy weather. If you notice a storm with lightening approaching. Leave immediately.
Don't fly a kite near trees or busy streets
Don't fly kites high in fly-zones. I never thought of this until my son called me to see how high he had got his kite. Helicopters land at a hospital near us and the kite was high enough to be in their path.
Do not attach any metal to the kite including aluminum foil
Tips
Winds about 5 to 7 mph. are ideal. Strong winds don't work
Face away from the wind
Tug on the kite to get it in the air. Hold up the kite or have a friend hold it. Running usually doesn't work.
If the kite is dipping relax on the string
To move a kite tug on the string
Simple Lunch Bag Kite
Small children will be able to fly this simple kite.
»Decorate the bag with crayons or markers
»Open the bag and roll over the free top edge twice to make a cuff
»Punch a hole on each side of the cuff and tie a string to each hole
»Tie the two strings together in the middle. Leave a long length of string to hang on to
»Add a tail by tying strips of crepe paper or cloth to the bag
For more kite flying tips and kite-making links please visit Lady PP's Family Blog at http://ladyppfamilylife.blogspot.com/
Streamer-on-a-stick
Children too young for kites can use steamers-on-a-stick. The child holds the toy up in a breeze and watches the wind flutter the streamer. Older children will also enjoy playing with these.
Steamers-on-a-stick are made by attaching a long length of non-adhesive plastic tape around the end of a short dowel.
The crime scene tape used by police is an example of the type of tape you will need. You can find plastic tapes in the hardware or party sections of stores. Caution: pad the bottom of the stick.
Wind Socks
Bleach-bottle or Poster Board Wind Sock
Young children will need help from an adult.
Wind socks can be created using either a 20" x 8" piece of poster board or a well rinsed bleach bottle with the top and bottom cut-off. A parent needs to do this.
»Deocorate the poster or jug using markers.
»Staple or glue streamers to one long edge. Can use crepe paper, plastic tape, cloth strips, etc.
»Roll poster board into cylinder and staple together.
»Punch 4 evenly spaced holes around the top. (Opposite side of the streamers).
»Insert 3' lengths of yarn through each hole you punched.
»Tie the yarn pieces together 2 1/2' from the wind sock. Hang on a hook.
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Lady PP's web site "Lady PP's Heart of the Home" at https://www.angelfire.com/rings/ladypp/index.html is for busy moms. It is full of helpful information and links to other resources.
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© Lady PP's Heart of the Home
2004
