How to Make a Simple Kite for Kids

The diamond kite is one of the most popular and enduring designs for a kite because it is simple and adaptable. It can be built out of sturdy, moderately thick dowels and strong fabric for high-wind conditions or out of tissue paper and slivers of bamboo for a gentle breeze. The materials used in this article were chosen for convenience. You may have to go out and buy dowels, but you can probably find everything else around the house.

Things You'll Need

• Dowels
• Kite string
• Trash bag
• Scissors
• Pin
• Tape
• Ribbon

Instructions

1. Get 2 1/8-inch dowels. One should be about 30 inches and the other should be 24 inches.

2. Place the dowels perpendicular to each other to form a cross shape. The shorter one should be about 2/3 of the way to the top of the longer one. Tape them together in the middle by wrapping several strips of masking tape diagonally around the point where they cross.

3. Cut along the seams of a trash bag so that you end up with a flat sheet. Lay it flat on a table.

4. Place the dowels on top of the trash bag. Use several small strips of masking tape to tape them onto the trash bag every few inches. Tape the end of each dowel to the trash bag.

5. 

   Cut the trash bag straight from the tip of each dowel to the tip of the next one to get a diamond shape.

6. 

   Cut a 5-foot long piece of ribbon and several shorter pieces of ribbon, each about 4 inches long. Tie about 5 pieces of ribbon to the tail, spacing them evenly. Tape the tail on to the back of the kite.

7. Poke a small hole in the trashbag right in front of the point where the sticks cross. Thread kite string through it and tie it around the sticks. Be sure to double knot it.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the extra pieces of ribbon to balance the kite. If it tilts too far forward when it is flying, tie a few extra pieces of ribbon to the tail and try again.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Another Kite for Kids