Kite flying is a great outdoor activity to do with your family and friends.  Whether it is at your neighborhood park or backyard, this activity will be fun for hours, guaranteed!  Kites can be made out of silk, paper and bamboo, and kites have been around for more than 3,000 years.  Kids from all over the world love flying kites, and many times have tournaments and contests to see how long and how high they can fly a kite.  Next time you are flying a kite, try and set a new record!

What kind of kite should you get?
Deltas, Diamonds and Dragon kites fly well in light to medium winds (approximately 6-15 mph), and Box kites and Parafoil kites fly better when the winds get a little stronger (approximately 8-25 mph).  You can choose your favorite color or design, too.

How to fly a kite:

1. Stand with your back to the wind. Hold your kite up by the middle point and let the line out. If there is a lot of wind, your kite will go right up. Let the kite fly away from you a little, then pull in on the line as the kite points up so it will climb. Repeat this until your kite is high in the sky!
2. 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 technique.
3. If the kite sinks tail first, there may not be enough wind. If it comes down head first or spins, there might be too much wind. Different kites fly in different winds.
4. Tails: Adding tails to your kite helps it remain stable in stronger winds. Use lightweight materials so you can use lots! You can even make your own tails at home.