Children make a kite that is ready to fly in three minutes. You will find all the materials you need at home. The kite is so easy to make that the children don’t need any help from adults. We have for you this simple craft instructions for the dragon. When you have finished building it, there is only one thing to do: Get out and fly the kite.
Kites fly highest against the wind and not with it!
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill is said to have said this wisdom. We also go against the "wind" today and do without expensive high-tech materials as well as complicated building instructions. With us you get today a simple, but great kite to make. These are the materials you will use to build it:
- a DIN A 4 sheet of paper
- Pens
- colorful leftover paper
- Hole punch
- Kite string
Kids make a kite: No glue necessary
First, the children paint both sides of the paper colorfully. The more colorful and wild the better! The Outdoorkids can also, quite classically, draw a bird or an airplane on the paper. Fold the sheet in half and punch a hole in the top and bottom of the line with the hole punch. Now fold a strip about five centimeters wide on both sides. You leave this fold folded backwards. Thread the kite string through a hole in the paper and knot it tightly. Please make sure that the paper does not tear in the process. Cut thin strips from the leftover paper. From these we make the tail of the dragon. However, the easiest way is to use old streamers for this purpose. These are perfect for this purpose. No matter how you craft the tail for the kite: Tie the strips together with a short piece of kite line. Thread the two ends through the free hole from the kite and tie the line in a knot. Ready is our kite to take off.
Children outdoor knowledge: How to fly a kite
Probably the Chinese have already been using kites in the 5th century. Century v.Chr. Let the kite fly. Flying objects have been made of bamboo and silk, so called Centipede. Dragons are probably even older, as findings from Indonesia suggest. Dragons came to Europe from Asia. When can no longer be determined. The Romans used these colorful flying objects as field signs. Today we are using a so called single line, because our dragon needs only one line. Multi-liners, they usually have two lines, are excellent to steer, but are less suitable for children. Four-legged friends can even fly backwards. We are happy with the kite we bought and first of all we go outside. In a few minutes the kite is assembled and can actually take off. But wait a minute! Where does the wind actually come from? The best thing to do is to watch the tops of the trees as they bend in the wind. Or you take a bunch of grass in your hand and throw it in the air. You already know, without an app from your smartphone, which way the wind is blowing. With this, you have clarified the most important things and can slowly start launching the kite. For this purpose, there are several methods that have proven successful over many generations of children. Whether it’s a homemade or store-bought single-line kite, use our tips to get kites to take off and pay attention to safety.
Children outdoor knowledge kite flying photo (c) Kinderoutdoor.en
Kids Outdoor Knowledge: Flying a kite
Flying a kite the right way is easier than most kids think. With our five tips, all of which we have tried out ourselves, and a little practice, the kite will be flying in the sky in no time at all. What else you should pay attention to a perfect start hinzubeikommen that we show you.
"Who is not happy when the kite flies high?!" is a song in the wonderful Disney movie "Mary Poppins". But once the kite is in the air, the patience of children and adults is stretched, like the line from a box kite on the North Sea at wind force 5. Before you unpack the kite please think about the safety.
- Is there a thunderstorm coming or is it already thundering? Then better go home. The kite can act as a lightning rod. The ingenious inventor and later US President Benjamin Franklin has proven this.
- Keep at least five kilometers away from flying and landing areas.
- The line of the kite may be, in Germany, a maximum of 100 meters long.
- Please keep your distance from power lines, railroad lines and other kites.
- Please do not let the kite fly in any nature reserve.
How to fly a kite correctly Tip number one: Choose the right flying area
Ideal is a completely free, flat undeveloped area. Like the beach or a wide meadow. Trees, rocks, houses create turbulences. This will cause the kite to spin.
Proper kite flying: We have five tips for you.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
How to fly a kite correctly Tip number two: Recognize the wind strength
The main thing is a stiff breeze! This is what some kite owners think and are surprised when flying is anything but good. If you have a purchased model, it is written there for which wind force this is designed. But how do you recognize it?
At force o, the smoke rises vertically, no branch moves. No kite will take off.
Force 1 on the Beaufort scale: Here the smoke drifts a little and delta kites rise here.
At force 2 you can also let the kite take off. Here the leaves are already rustling
It is more interesting at Beaufort 3 and 4. On the trees the leaves move and also branches shake.
Box kites go up high at wind force 5 and 6. Smaller trees are already swaying and thick branches are moving. With 34 to 45 km/h the stiff breeze sweeps over the land or the sea.
The right way to fly a kite Tip number three: How to get off to a good start
Our tips all refer to kites with a line. Stand with your back to the hand. Hold the kite in one hand and stretch out your arm. Let go of the kite and give it a leash now. It rises slowly.
Another possibility is the launch at the long line. Another child or adult holds the kite tightly. Unroll about ten to 15 meters of line and walk backwards to the wind. Tighten the line a little. A sign to the one holding the kite. He lets go of the kite. Move to windward (windward side) to the rear and if necessary get a little line in.
If you launch the kite on a slope, do it at about half height of its wind side to avoid turbulences. These occur mainly at the crest.
How to fly a kite correctly Tip number four: Avoid turbulence
Whether it’s a passenger plane or a single-line kite: Turbulence in the air is a problem for everyone. Best is to avoid such vortices. turbulence occurs at obstacles such as trees, buildings or on the tops of hills. Therefore keep the kite at a distance from it.
How to fly a kite correctly Tip number five: Reel in properly
With kite flying it is like with barbecue: Always in the end the wind or the embers are best. When pulling in the kite, there is a danger that the children will cause a veritable canvas salad. This can be avoided. Slowly wrap the line around the spool. If the kite starts to "dance" in the air because of turbulences, stabilize it and give way with the line. When the kite is calmly in the air again, you continue to pull in the line.
Children outdoor knowledge: Make a kite
Kchildren tinkering a Hawaii kite. In less than fifteen minutes the kite is ready to take off. The special thing about this kite: It is only 2/3 strung. In strong wind it dances through the air like a Polynesian on the beach. The advantage of this model: It takes off even in light winds.
Children make a kite from Hawaii: the legendary circle kite.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Hawaii as a state has quite a bit ahead of the other 50. Only here the locals grow coffee, pineapple and bananas. Here is the only royal palace in the USA, but there are no poisonous snakes on these islands. In Hawaii, the locals also tell each other the legend of Puna and the dragon. We make the classic Hawaiian. A real eye-catcher and very easy to make. You should gather the following materials:
- Tissue paper
- Armor tape (fabric tape)
- Scissors
- kite string
- Glue stick
- fresh rod from the fruit tree
- Wax crayons
- Crepe paper
Children make a Hawaiian circle kite: It really takes off!
Children make a kite from these materials.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
First you bend the thin whip to a hoop. So that the whole thing holds you fix the two ends with the fabric tape.
First we bend a frame from the crop.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Now put the ring on the tissue paper. Draw the outline first and then the edge. This should be a few centimeters away. Draw a semicircle. Then we cut it out.
Put the hoop on the tissue paper.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
With the scissors you cut the edge squarely.
Cut the edge in a V shape.
photo (c) kinderoutdoord.e
Now paint the front side of the tissue paper with the wax circles. You can draw typical floral patterns as they are often found in Hawaii.
Paint the front side of the kite.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Now put the hoop on the tissue paper with the cut edge. Tape the individual flaps one by one. So that the paper is well stretched, always glue the flaps opposite each other. First the left, then the right. This way the paper is evenly stretched.
Glues the tabs on the stringing tightly.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Cut a small hole in the middle of the hoop with a pocket knife.
Drill a hole in the top center of the hoop.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Where the string of our circle kite passes into the hoop, also drill holes on the left and right side with the pocket knife.
Now thread the kite string into these three holes and connect the strings together. "Libra" is what the experts call it.
Connect the kite strings with each other.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Cut strips about three meters long from the crepe paper and hang them as a tail in the hoop.Ready is our circle kite.
Finished is our Hawaiian circle kite.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Please observe the following rules when flying kites:
- The string must not be longer than 100 meters
- Do not fly the kite at the airports (distance at least 3.000 meters)
- Keep your distance from power lines and railroad tracks
- Do not fly the kite in nature reserves
- Wind speed: 5 to 20 km/h
- Load capacity: about 10 kg
Kids Outdoor Knowledge: Della porta kite craft
Children make a kite in classic Della Porta design. It flies better and looks better than a purchased kite. But what is priceless is how proud and happy the children are when the flying machine they have made stands high up in the sky. The material for this you have at home or get it in any craft or paper store.
"Man, he just doesn’t take off!" says a child and comes with sad face over the mowed cornfield angeschlurft. It pulls the bought kite made of plastic foil behind itself. Why not take advantage of the fall and build a classic Della Porta with the kids?. It is a model for those who are in a hurry. This design can be described in a few words: The sail has the shape of a rectangle and the frame is crossed. That is all. With the Della Porta it concerns a Einleiner. For materials you will need a thin square bar, scissors, kite string, glue, kite paper, pocket knife and a pencil.
Kidner make a Della Porta kite from this material.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Children make a kite: 20 minutes to the first launch
First measures out the middle of the two square bars. Cut a notch in both pieces of wood with the large and hopefully sharp blade of your pocket knife. This should go halay from the square wood.
Notches with the pocket knife both woods.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
With the small blade you remove, carefully, the wood between the two incisions.
This is how the finished notch should now look like with your linkage.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Before you connect the linkage, put a few drops of glue in the notch.
The kite string should now look like this.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Take the kite string and additionally knot the linkage. Important: Leave one end of the kite string a good 20 centimeters long.
Now tie a knot in the kite string, leaving one end of the kite string about 20 centimeters long.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Now cut a few millimeters into the wood at each end. Now guides the kite string in these slots around the rod. Knot the two ends of the kite string together so that it is taut.
Coat the top of the wood with glue. Cut a thin hole in the middle of the paper and pass the free end of the kite string through it, still free from the knot on the cross. Now place the rod on the kite paper. Cut it out accordingly. Presses the paper against the wood and smooths it out as smoothly as possible.
Now cut out the glue tabs with the scissors. These lie above the taut kite string. Cut the paper accordingly at the ends of the woods. Make sure that the flaps are the same size, otherwise the Della Porta hangs crooked in the air.
Now prepares the glue tabs for the kite.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Spread a thin layer of glue on the protruding tabs. Put them over the cord. Spans thereby again the kite paper. Here’s how well you cut the slits in the pole.
The back of the Della Porta Dragon should now look like this.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Knots now a kite string at two ends of the rod firmly. The experts call this the "scales.
Use the kite string to tie the "scales" to the ends of the pole.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Now connect the string from the middle of the pole to the scale.
Knots the "balance" with the string from the crossing point of the boom.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Important is for our kite the two tails left and right. They give it the necessary stability in the air. Cut the two strips of kite paper in the middle again.
Cut out the two tails from the kite paper. Through it the kite flies more stable.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Tie the kite string to one end of the tails and tie it to the frame. The Della Porta kite is ready.Have fun with the kids!
Our Della Porta kite is ready.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Kids Outdoor Knowledge: Make your own kite from a plastic bag
Kite tinkering with children is possible without having to shop at the craft store. We make our kite with the kids in less than 20 minutes. All the material you need can be found at home or in nature. Let’s get started with our craft instructions for the classic kite.
Three golden eagles were circling over the city park and two white-tailed eagles were also in the sky. "But I want to have a kite that no one else has!" a child started to quarrel. When my golden eagle was lying in the lawn again, I took a closer look at it: Three thin wooden sticks, printed polyethylene foil and a little kite string. You can actually find something like that at home. First I looked for a printed plastic bag. For supermarkets my kite should not be an advertising flyer. There I found a bag in which a Dynafit jacket has been packed in. This alpinist brand has a beautiful snow leopard as logo. To see it in the sky is something special. In addition, two thin branches, a little tape, a pocket knife and kite string.
Kite crafting with kids: Here is our material list.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Kite making with children: cut by cut you get closer to the sky
First, remove the back of the bag and put it in the yellow bag.
Craft instructions for a kite: First remove the back of the bag.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Fold the bag in the middle.
Kidner make a kite: First fold.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Now bend the upper left corner to the middle.
A classic kite craft: First of all origami for beginners.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
In the next step you fold the lower left corner to the middle. Now you have half a rhombus.
We fold the foil of the dragon once again.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Cut away all the excess foil with a pocket knife and fold the whole thing open. Now you have a perfect rhombus in front of you.
This is what our dragon will look like later.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Kite making with kids: Without a pocket knife it stays on the ground
Now lay the two straightest possible branches on the foil and measure them out. I used sticks from the stick bread for it. Why burn such beautiful wood? Carve these branches as thin as possible with the pocket knife.
Children carve the frame for the kite with a pocket knife.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Put the first part of the finished frame on the foil. Fits the length?
Children make a kite and carve the frame themselves.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Attention. Determine the point of the long rod where the crossing point for the horizontal rod is located. Carefully drill a hole in the vertical (longer) rod with the awl of the pocket knife.
Prepare the frame and drill a hole in it.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Through the hole in the longer rod we push the short rod and have now a cross.
Ready is our kite pole.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
With the small blade of the pocket knife you notch each end of the rod with a short cut. Now cut each corner of the foil a little millimeter.
While making the kite you now cut the corners a little bit.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Now stretch a kite string from each end of the pole to the next. The notches make it easier.
Stretches around the frame of the kite a thin cord.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Put the rod on the foil and carefully fold it over at the edges. Fix it with tape.
Our kite is now strung.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Turn the kite over and connect the two ends of the longest rod with a kite string. The string should be loose and not taut.
Almost our building instruction for the kite is at the end. Still at the front connect the two ends of the longest rod with each other.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Take the string between thumb and forefinger. Try to "swing" the kite so that it lies perfectly horizontal in the air. Tie the kite string at this point.
Soon the children are done with the kite crafting.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
We have done it: The children have made their own kite with a little help from you. in the sky flies then in any case a kite, which attracts all eyes on itself.
Kite crafting with kids: Our snow leopard is clear for takeoff.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Kids Outdoor Knowledge: Make a kite in five minutes
Kite tinkering with children can go really into the money. There are high-tech kites with carbon frame to build yourself and as everywhere: technology costs. When we make kites with the children, the whole thing should be as cheap and simple as possible. Accordingly easy to understand is also our tinkering instruction. Everything you need to make a kite with the kids you will most likely find at home.
"Kite making with children? I do not have the time! Can you present a tinkering instruction for a kite, which is ready in less than ten minutes?"was written in an email to me.Actually we had already presented the bow kite once. But it is even easier to make a kite with children? So I went to a kite store and he explained me step by step how to make a sled kite.
Kite making with children: Flying bag!
Before we make the kite, the children and parents gather the materials: We need a sturdy plastic bag preferably with a nice motif, tape, two thin round sticks, scissors, pocket knife, and kite string.
Kite making with children. Here is the material for it.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
I got the bag for our kite in a toy store and tomatoes once grew up on the round rods. First we remove the handles of the plastic bag.
Making kites with children: First get rid of the bag’s handles, which improve flight characteristics less.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
When making kites with the kids, we now carefully snip the bottom of the plastic bag with scissors.
The children can make the kite themselves with this handicraft instruction. Here we cut off the bottom of the plastic bag.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Now we cut one side of the plastic bag in the middle from top to bottom.
Kite crafting with children is cutting work: now we cut one side of the plastic bag in half.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Kite making with kids: In ten minutes, the kite is ready!
Now we unfold the foil of the former plastic bag and cut off a triangle of the same size at each corner.
Corner! When making a kite with the children, we cut something off the four corners.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
When making kites with the children, your foil should now look like on the photo.
We make a kite with the kids and this is how it should look like now.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
We now stick the two round sticks to the sides of the plastic bag with adhesive tape.
We glue the two round sticks to the sides of our kite.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
This is what your kite should look like now, which you make with the children.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
Now we apply adhesive tape to the center of the outer side edges.
Apply tape to the side again.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
With the awl of the pocket knife we drill a hole through the tape.
Making kites with children: Drill twice, please!
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Cut a piece of the kite string long enough to reach from one side of the kite to the other. Now we thread the string through the two holes, which we have reinforced with tape, and tie the string in a knot.
We thread the string through the two holes on the side of the kite. Then tie a knot.
photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Finally, we take this string in the middle and knot it to the kite string.
Finally, attach the kite string. Ready!
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.de
We are done with the kite making and the children will surely want to try out the flying object as soon as the wind blows.
Ready is our sled kite.
Photo (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Children outdoor knowledge: Make a bow kite
Making a kite yourself is something special for outdoor kids. That’s why we have also chosen an unusual dragon shape. Everyone knows the classic with two crossed poles and diamond shape, but a bow kite, which stands out in the sky. With little effort, the kite is easy to make and you don’t need any special tools or exotic materials. Everything you need can be found in nature and in the home. Promise!
Now the first autumn storms are setting in. In the fields and parks children and adults fly kites. Most of them are bought, but it is unbelievable fun to make a kite by yourself. Today we introduce you to the coat hanger or bow kite. Where he gets his name from is obvious: The distinctive bow makes this kite an eye-catcher in the sky. Let’s move on to our list of materials you will need:
- 1 finder thick piece of elder ca. 50 cm long
- 2 thin (about 0.5 cm) hazelnut branches about 75 cm long
- 1 large plastic bag or paper bag (a paper organic garbage bag is also ideal)
- Glue
- Tape
- Scissors
- Nylon thread
- Pocket knife with a thorn
- Foil pens
At each end of the elder wood you drill a hole with the thorn of the pocket knife. Then carefully insert a hazelnut branch through it. Ready is our bow!
We have the hang of kite making. This is how the distinctive part of the kite looks like.
Photo: (c) kinderoutdoor.en
Now drill a hole exactly in the middle of the elder wood. Carefully stick the second thin hazelnut branch through and attach it to the top of the bow with tape.
Let’s move on to kite making: Now we carefully install the second hazelnut branch.
Photo. (c) Children’s Outdoors.de
Now tie the nylon thread to one end of the bow and connect the end of the hazelnut branch with it. Now tighten the string at the other end of the bow and knot it well.
Exciting! With the nylon thread you connect the bow and the hazelnut branch.
Photo: (c) Kinderoutdoor.de
Now cut the plastic bag on the left and right side. Put it on the table and on the bag you put the dragon frame. Fixes it with tape and roughly cuts out the shape of the dragon on the side. Leave a margin of five to eight centimeters on the plastic bag.
On the bag! First cut open the plat bag or paper bag, left and right. The kite frame is then placed on top.
Photo: (c) Kinderoutdoor.de
Now watch out! It is important for the bow kite that the surface is well stretched. Now put the plastic bag around the frame and the string. Tape the whole thing together and you can also tape it down.
Now glue the kite skin to the frame.
Photo.(c) kinderoutdoor.en
Now comes the balance. To do this, stretch a nylon thread from the two ends of the crossbar made of elder and from the upper end to the lower one. Link the two threads together. Now the kite should hang neatly level in the air in front of you. Ties the kite line tightly at this point. Finally you paint with foil pen
Respect! You have made your own bow kite. Have fun flying the kite.
Photo: (c) Kinderoutdoor.en