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Home › Articles › Activities › Let's Go Fly a Kite

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Old-fashioned Family Fun

By Teri Brown

Pages:  1  2  3  

  • Stand with your back to the wind.
  • Hold your kite up by the bridle point and let the line out. If there is sufficient wind, your kite will go right up.
  • Let the kite fly away from you a little, and then pull in on the line as the kite points up so it will climb. Repeat this until your kite gains the altitude necessary to find a good steady wind.

Light wind? Have a helper take the kite downwind and hold it up. On command, the helper releases the kite and the flier pulls the line hand-over-hand while the kite gains altitude. Practice this high-launch technique.

No helper? Prop the kite up against a bush, post or wall. Reel out enough line for altitude and simply pull the kite aloft.

If the kite sinks tail first, there might not be enough wind. If it comes down head first or spins, there might be too much wind. If your kite has an adjustable bridle, move it higher (nearer the top) in higher winds, and lower (toward the tail) in lower winds. (Adjust no more than 1/2 inch at a time.)

One way to get ready for your family's kite flying day is to make your own kites. You can buy ready-made kits at craft or hobby stores or download some instructions off the Internet. Decorate it, add a tail and you're ready! Family kite flying is a wonderful way to spend time together as a family. Take a picnic and make a day of it!

Go Fly a Kite

Check out these kite flying tips and commonsense safety rules from the American Kitefliers Association:

  • Always fly kites away from airports, away from power lines and never over roads.
  • Always fly away from other people.
  • Remember to be considerate of others.
  • If you tangle lines with another kite, don't yank the line or it might break. Fliers should walk together, and the tangle will slide right down the line to where you can unwrap it.
  • If you think you're getting good, offer to help a friend. Flying is fun. Pass it on.
  • As a kiteflier, you are responsible to think about safety and what you are doing.


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