Materials

â ' 2 dowel rods: one long, one about one-third the size of the larger one, to make the kite's frame

â ' Glue (Try Gorilla Glue for a strong hold)

â ' Lightweight string or fishing line

â ' Ribbon

â ' Lightweight plastic tablecloth

â ' Markers, paint, or fabric markers

â ' Tube of kite string

Project Guidelines

There's a lot to do on the ground at the beach: building sandcastles, collecting shells, jumping over the waves. But try to get your children to look to the sky by helping them design kites they can fly. Whether you're at the beach, the park, or even in the backyard, your kids will be entertained by this wind-inspired craft.

Make the kite's frame. Cut a slit at the end of each dowel rod then mark the exact center of the shorter rod, and the longer dowel rod about one-third of the way down from the end. Cross the sticks so that they meet at the marks you made. Glue them, then reinforce with string or fishing line. Finally, put glue in the slits you made at the end of each rod and run a piece of string or fishing line through the notches. Be sure to tie them tightly. This makes the outline of the kite.

Make the kite's surface. Using lightweight plastic tablecloths is a great way to make a kite inexpensively. You can get birthday tablecloths with your child's favorite characters on them or a solid-color tablecloth that can be decorated. Cut the material you choose in the shape of your kite's frame, leaving a 2- to 3-inch border to fold over and glue on one side. After letting the glue dry for at least a few hours, decorate the front surface of the kite with markers, light sequins, paint, or fabric markers for added personalization. Be sure that you don't make it too heavy or lopsided; extra decorations may prevent the kite from being able to take flight.

Add a tail, then set sail. Use string, ribbon, or scraps of cloth to make the kite's tail. Glue the tail to the back of the kite then let it dry for at least a few hours or simply tie it to the bottom of the dowel rod. Finally, tie or glue an end of the string from your kite string tube. This is what you will use to roll out to let the kite get high in the sky. Kite string tubes can be found in the toy sections of most discount stores. Then you're ready to send it flying. If there's no breeze working in your favor, tell your kids to create their own wind by running as fast as they can. You, on the other hand, can sit back, relax, and watch them enjoy their creation.