In a world of screens and cellphones, many people forget the ancient pastime of flying a kite. I am here to remind you!

(This wonderful story was submitted by a good customer of ours. Thank you, John!)

Just uttering the phrase "lets go fly a kite" for me brings to mind warm spring breezes and fond memories of kite flying fun. I flew my first kite at 8 years old and I will never forget that day. My dad was a big into RC cars and stopped at our local hobby shop to order a part for his RC car. While I waited, something hanging from the ceiling in the corner caught my eye. It was a giant red & black sport kite. It looked totally awesome. I began perusing the many different kites they had in stock. I was immediately enamored by the thought of these kites flying high into the sky while I stood on the ground controlling them from far far away.

Me: Hey dad, can we get a kite?

(this was a risky proposition as he was not a big fan of spending unplanned money) 

Dad: You want to fly a kite? I remember my father took me kite flying as a kid. It was fun!

Me: Can we get one?

Dad: How much is that one over there?

Dad: Ok, we will take it!

To my surprise, a few minutes later I walked out with my very own kite. 

It wasn't any type of fancy kite. Just a standard classic rainbow diamond kite. However, to me, it was totally awesome. It was an easy going Saturday and we didn't have much to do, so we went to the nearby beach in Long Branch, NJ.

It was early May and the beach had a wonderful warm spring breeze flowing through. After a short walk through the sand, we found our spot. My Dad & I knelt down and began opening the kite with my dad taking the lead. The first thing he took out was the directions and placed them on the sand. Big mistake! A few seconds later the wind took the directions for a ride. After a short pursuit I was able to retrieve them.

Lesson #1: Always hold on to the directions when setting up a kite. 

Following the directions fiasco, the kite was very easy to assemble and within minutes we were ready to launch. It had been about 2 hours since we bought the kite and at this point I was exploding with anticipation. The moment was finally here. My dad handed me the winder and he held the kite. He told me to let out some line. He walked a bit away held the kite out so the wind was hitting it just right. The kite was ready for its maiden journey into the sky, and so were we.

1...2...3.... LAUNCH!

The kite shot up effortlessly into the air and the long tails began to flow into the wind. The string became taught and began to pull on the winder. Initially, I was so nervous I would drop the winder or that the it would slip out of my hands and the kite would fly away. I held onto that winder so tight my knuckles were white. After a while, I became more comfortable, and began letting more and more line out. I had never seen something fly so high into the sky. And I was in control! It was an incredible feeling.

There weren't many people on the beach that day, but the kite was an instant hit with onlookers. Multiple people came over to talk to us. Always complimenting the kite and reflecting fondly on their own kite flying memories. It is truly amazing how a few sticks and some fabric can bring people together and put smiles on their faces.

It is truly amazing how a few sticks and some fabric can bring people together and put smiles on their faces.

We flew for about 2 hours while my dad and I switched back and forth. I peppered him with all types of life's questions. "How does a kite fly?" I asked. "Why is the sky blue?" was another. "Where do clouds come from?" After the 1000th question, my dad jokingly quipped, "what do i look like? An encyclopedia?" Despite the funny dad joke, I can truly say I learned a lot from him that day.

As we hit about 2 hours of flying time, the winds started to die down and we began reeling in the kite. After a few minutes, our kite was back to earth and our kite flying fun was over. (Little did I know, that was just the start for me.)

I tell you this story because it is easy to get lost in a world of technology. Screens and cellphones have taken over our lives and real human interaction is on the decline. I just want to remind people that fun & wholesome outdoor activities, like flying a kite, do still exist.

I flew that kite with my father 30 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. My father is no longer with us now, but every single time I see someone flying a kite, I always think of that day, flying a kite with my dad. 

Life is short. Don't forget to step away from the screens for a while and make amazing memories with your kids, family, friends, and loved ones. I can't stress this enough.

If you are interested in finding a kite to fly with your kids, you can not go wrong with our Best Sellers List or our Kites For Kids section. You can also message us here, and we can provide recommendations.

This story was shared by John S. of Middletown, NJ. Thanks again, John!