Because I didn't fly a kite.
Flying a kite is not one of my favorite things to do. Flying a kite with a little kid is even worse as far as I'm concerned. Yes, I enjoy the giggles and awe from a child who sees a kite up in the air for the first time, but the effort it takes to help that child get a kite in the air is just not the kind of effort I want to expend.
Does that mean my kids never get to fly kites??
NO!
Shopping at Meijer for Easter basket fillers a couple of years ago, I found a MicroKite.
Best. Kite. Ever.
It's only a few inches wide and a few inches tall, but it has what seems like a 10-ft. tail.
And, AND it only cost $2.
(It can be found on Amazon, but Walmart and Meijer are cheaper.)
Best part? With a bit of wind, a kid can get it flying in no time. No running necessary, which is good, since running with a kite through our yard would mean a sprained ankle or dog poo covered shoes.
I bought some for my nieces and nephews for Easter this year, plus an extra one for Cuckoo. He's been asking to fly a kite every single time a good, stiff breeze blows through.
There is a nice, long string, so the kite can get up pretty high.
I assume it's the tail that gets it to dive and weave and really make the kids giggle.
What do you think about flying kites? Any good kite-flying memories?
Have a lovely day!
That does look like fun. I have never been successful at flying a kite. If someone ever tells me to just "go fly a kite" I would be out of luck!
ReplyDeleteNo joke. It isn't nearly as easy as kids would like it to be. I didn't even get into the hazards of trees and power lines!
Deletehey! I remember! (the old kites… that for reasons lost to the past we would make ourselves out of newspaper and balsa wood. and the running! that's the part that have the most…. detailed recollection of, mostly because of how complex it was, run with kite behind…letting out string, trying to watch the kite and not run into things)
ReplyDeleterealfun
don't let my italics fool you, the thing about it all is the …effortless-ness of a 5 year old child's effort to run. I often say, it's not the coordination (or lack thereof) that is so incredible about a child running, it's the lightness of their selfs not yet weighed down by life experiences and such
You continuously surprise me, Clark. I don't know why, seeing as how it's in a clark's nature to think things through. "the lightness of their selfs not yet weighed down by life experiences and such". yup.
DeleteWhat a great tip! I don't remember ever being successful at kite flying as a kid so I've been motivated to try with mine. But maybe I'll give one of these a shot. The biggest downside of kite flying is that it gets Let's Go Fly a Kite stuck in my head.
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks a lot, Sarah. Not my favorite song in that movie, either.
DeleteLet me know how it goes if you get one!
Never had, or flown, a kite and never really wanted to - even when I was a kid it wasn't something that interested me. A few years ago though there was a kite day held in one of the local parks and it was all very colourful.
ReplyDeleteI do like watching other people's kites. It's so pretty to see them all up there.
DeleteI loved flying kites as a kid, but wasn't very good at it. I need that kite you bought. How fun.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. :)
I've come to realize that kite flying is a skill. One that I don't possess.
DeleteI am always picking them up at the dollar store - we have fun with them I even like to fly one - without the running it is relaxing - we have taken them to the beach, out east at the wineries and at the orphanage in Russia. Always enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteIt is relaxing once it is up in the air. It's the getting the thing in the air that's the problem. I expect it is easier at a beach, though. Glad you enjoy them.
DeleteI have a bad kite memory from when I was about 7. We lived in garden apartments in Queens, NY and there was a dad of one of the kids who was flying a kite to the delight of all of us. (We hardly every saw anything suburban like that). He let every kid take a turn holding the string. Of course he said, don't let go. And you can guess when it was my turn, it jumped out of my hands and took off over roofs and a chain link fence. He was not a happy Dad and I was very embarrassed. Fast forward lots of years. It wasn't until one of the mother's of a girl in my Kindergarten class flew a kite with the kids on the beach and showed me how that I ever got to flying a kite alone. I think the kind Cuckoo has would be perfect for me. Help me get my kite confidence..
ReplyDeletekite flying jou jou is in your stars! You spend so much time on beaches... the perfect place!
DeleteOH NO!! Poor little you! Those kites can really pull, and it's not always a matter of letting go or not. Sometimes, the kite is just stronger than the person holding it.
DeleteWhat a nice lady, to show you how. The beach is the perfect place for a kite... Let me know if you ever give it a try!
I adore kites, kite flying, kite building and anything and everything about them... I have two custom made kites that people have gotten for me ... I used to fly competatively at UMASS... yup there is such a thing!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's impressive.
DeleteI just read the book "The Kite Runner". It was the first time I ever heard of kite competitions. I am guessing that your competitions were very different from the ones in the book.
The folks in Bermuda have their own way of making kites. They are made with tissue paper and make a cool humming noise when they fly. You will have to show me how it's done when I manage to make a visit up to see you.
Box kites!
DeleteI've never flown a kite in my life, because my dad couldn't get a kite to fly to save his life. Then my husband, who DID know how to fly one, could never get our kids interested in them. Yesterday, Emma said to him "I wish I had a kite to fly!" Husband nearly came unglued. "DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY KITES I HAVE BOUGHT AND WE'VE THROWN AWAY OVER THE YEARS?!"
ReplyDelete