meta-dad

Go fly a kite!

Flying a kite with the kids is yet another golden activity that holds great potential for learning, bonding and just having a little fun. Ever wonder exactly why and how a kite flies? Chances are at some point your kids may ask you, right? With a little digging around I have found some great sites for explaining why and how kites fly, believe it or not NASA’s Glenn Research Center has a fantastic (and thorough) explanation of exactly how and why a kite flies.

While the forces on all kites are the same, each kite flies a little differently. Some kites are highly maneuverable and some kites are very stable. There are kites with multiple control lines that can perform stunts, while other kites can be flown to high altitudes. We can use math techniques that you learn in school to determine the altitude of a kite graphically. With a little more knowledge of mathematics, you can actually calculate the altitude at which the kite is flying” ~ Kite Flight, NASA’s Glenn Research Center

I got my kids into kites last spring with a simple $5 classic delta design and 200′ of line. I think it was a Diego design, surprise-surprise. They were thrilled at the action we got from the nearby ocean breeze. But kids being kids, they already have their eye set on getting one of those cool dragon designs where the long tail twists and whips about. They’ll just have to put it on the top of their “list” and wait for their birthday.

Regardless, it is yet another cheap and easy activity for dads to do with their kids. Remember, these are the kind of activities that hold the potential to build great memories, opportunities to connect with the little ones, be silly and show them you know how to have fun, too.

If you want to take it to the next level, you can experiment with building your own kite! There are some wonderful kits out there (check the links below) for DIY Dads and Moms for making a full array of kites, spinners, flyers and fighters – from traditional Delta Wings, Babu Khan Fighter kites, Kono Box kite or even a Bell Tetra kite kit. Evidently, March 28th to May 3rd is National Kite Month, I guess they can not fit all the festivities into the calendar month so they have to let the celebration slip over, a bit.

Sited & Related Articles:
NASA | Kite Flying
National Kite Month | Resources
Into the Wind | Wide Kite Selection and Kite Accessories
Kites, Wind Spinners & Kite Accessories @ Amazon
Banana Junction | Airplane Kite Kits
Drachen Foundation Store | DIY Kite Kits