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 stormy 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.
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.
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.
»Decorate 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.
Cloth Wind-socks
A project for older children.
»You will need a plastic coffee can lid and a piece of fabric approx 12" x 16"
»Measure the diameter of the coffee lid and add 1" for seam allowance
»Fold the fabric in half. Measure and cut a rectangular shape. Make sure the short end is big enough to fit around coffee lid
»Unfold the fabric and decorate with acrylic or fabric paints on the right side of the fabric. Let dry.
»On one short side of the fabric, fold a 1/2" hem to the inside and stitch. Stitch hem binding or plastic tape evenly around this hem to create the streamers.
»Fold right sides together lengthwise and stitch a 1/2" seam along the long side of the fabric
»Poke a hole in the coffee lid and cut out the middle part of the lid leaving the outside rim. Ask for adult help.
»Slip the lid over the other short end of the fabric tube. Turn the fabric over the lid 1" and stitch. Turn tube right-side out.
»Punch 4 evenly spaced holes around the top through the fabric. (Opposite side of the streamers).
»Insert 3' lengths of yarn through each hole you punched and tie around the rim.
»Tie the yarn pieces together 2 1/2' from the wind sock. Hang on a hook.
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