Windy Play

Springtime always brings windy days and warmer days. You may want to plan a Spring Break fun day, a family Easter play day, or just a fun Saturday Spring Fling. Here are some kites and other things you (or kids) could make for windy day play.

Cardstock Kite – Cut diamond shapes from cardstock or heavy paper. Draw, paint, or otherwise decorate. Place a 1-inch circle sticker at each corner of the diamond; you may want to place a sticker on each side at each corner. Punch a hole through the stickers at each corner. (The stickers help reinforce the hole; you can make the kites without the stickers.) Tie a length of string through each hole and gather the four strings together, tying the other ends together in the center of the diamond. Add a long string to the four tied strings to create a kite. Hold the string and run to make kite fly (or catch the wind just right).

Paper Plate Kite – Punch a hole in one side of a paper plate. (You may want to reinforce the hole with a sticker like above.) Decorate with paint or markers. Staple a few ribbons or crepe paper streamers to the plate opposite the hole. Tie a string through the hole; add a short stick or craft stick to the other end of the string. Take out into the wind to see it fly. (You could also punch several holes and tie yarn like the cardstock kite above.)

Plastic Bag Kite – Tie the handles of a plastic grocery bag together with a long piece of yarn or string. Staple a few ribbon or paper streamers to the bottom of the bag. Hold the string and run with the kite.

Windsock – Cut heavy paper into 6-by-18-inch pieces. Decorate the paper with markers, stickers, or paint. Staple ribbons or paper streamers to one long side. Meet the short sides and staple into a cylinder. Punch holes in the side opposite the streamers and tie lengths of string through the holes. Tie strings together and hang the windsock outside. (Or you could tie a longer string to the other strings and run with the windsock.)

Other things to do for windy play–

• Staple or tape ribbons to dowel sticks to make streamers to hold in the wind.
• Blow bubbles and watch them move in the wind.
• Use flags, pinwheels, or weather vanes.
• Hang windchimes or mobiles. Listen to the sounds and watch them move.

Kids of all ages can enjoy these windy activities. Think of ways to make them easier (for preschoolers) or more creative (for preteens). Enjoy the windy spring days ahead!