Go Fly a Kite: ​UP, UP AND AWAY, FLYING A KITE

Who knew kite-flying could be such an educational activity?


I didn’t, although I’ll admit to having a certain curiosity about flying a kite, which at first glance seems simple. But I learned that this is not necessarily the case.


My interest in the activity came about innocently enough. In the summer of 2017, we decided to spend our family vacation—three generations—in the seaside village of Laguna Beach. I brought along a kite, knowing the ocean to be a great place for flying kites due to the wind drafts and undercurrents. I had my choice of shapes and designs of kites (diamond, foil, cellular, roller, and stunt to mention a few). I chose a diamond-shaped, two-stick kite because they are the easiest to fly—probably the design most of us know from our childhoods.
Kites can be made of a variety of different materials and this one had been constructed using light weight nylon with an eight-foot-long-cotton-rag tail. The tail of the kite is not simply a tacked-on decoration, but an important component, especially in a strong wind. The longer the tail, the better the drag for stabilizing the kite from rolling over. On the flip side, however, if the tail is too heavy the kite will not fly very high.

So, kite-flying, especially for amateurs, is much like conducting an experiment, trying different combinations of sizes, shapes, materials, and tails, hoping to find the right combination.


Each of us in my family took a turn at trying to get the kite up in the air, but only my daughter, Nancy was successful on her second attempt. Why did she succeed when the rest of us did not? When I reminisce about that day, I can count several factors in her favor. One advantage in launching a kite is having gross motor coordination. This involves running fast to get the kite up in the air and then being able to control its flight right away. Nancy’s years of running track in high school certainly came in handy, giving her the necessary speed. Eye-to-hand coordination is also important for the slow release of the string, even more important with this kite, which had two strings—requiring both her hands and greater coordination.

Because of her interest in science, Nancy also understood the necessary wind pressure that needs to be below the kite, which meant going against the wind would be the optimal way to launch. Her persistence and reevaluation of various factors contributed to her success, and with the launch, she gained confidence.


So, while perhaps not immediately evident, flying a kite requires several skills, along with a willingness to sticking with a task in the face of failure. The result brings about the eventual confidence that comes from trying, reevaluating and succeeding. All of these factors are important elements of learning.


Oh, did I mention that my grandsons were waiting their turn to fly the kite? Since there was only one kite they learned to share, cooperate and collaborate with the other family members to wait their turn. And they made friends as well with other children and their families who were also flying their kites!

Kite-flying is both a social and competitive activity with many kite festivals taking place around the world. In 2020 the 33rd kite festival in Europe took place on the sandy beach of Berch-sur-Mar, France and in India, the largest international kite festival had over 800 kites competing. Japan has festivals where kites are flown during New Year’s Day, Children’s Day and the Harvest Festival.


East China holds the record for the oldest kite festival. By the 12th century A.D. popularity of kite festivals expanded to the West to include such places as the national Cherry Blossom Festival on the National Mall at the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.


These festivals are spectacular events with kites that challenge the imagination: various (and sometimes fantastic) designs of animals, comic-book characters, witches, sea-life, motor-cycles and cars, and various geometric shapes, even to include revolving kites. One of the largest kites was 280 meters (918.6 feet) long. Not only are there single individuals soaring their kites, but there are teams of individuals synchronizing kites or controlling exceptionally large kites. Many are professional kite-flyers, who have both the experience and detailed knowledge of physics and mathematics to calculate exactly all the factors to optimally fly a kite

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Dubai International Kite Festival - attracts world’s best from over 25 countries.

When did kite-flying first occur? Legend has it that the kite was invented in China by two philosophers, Mo Di and Luc Ban, in the fifth century; however, others mark the date of invention by the Chinese as being 2,000 years ago. Fun fact: The first kite is believed to have been made of tree leaves.


Kites have more than just a recreational value. Farmers have used them for protection of crops, meteorologists use them for weather prediction, and shamans have used them to frighten away bad spirits. Kites can also have artistic value and are featured in many art collections.


As you might suspect...I am into kites. I was so excited about flying them, I explored this information about kites and decided to buy a colorful diamond shaped kite in shape of a parrot for when my daughter and I are in Laguna Beach next month. But wait, I might even try to make one with the seemingly “easy” directions on the internet!




Submitted by
Jo Ann Brannock, Ph.D.
MOTAL board member
 
References 
Chinese Kite History
http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese-kites-history.htm


Facts About Kites http://infomory.com/facts/facts-about-kites/


Dubai International Kite Festival 
http://wcsa.world/news/world-almanac-event-academy/top-50-annual-festivals-in-the-world-p33-dubai-international-kite-festival