Flying a Kite

Seniors, like most people, usually enjoy going out on a sunny day. A trip to the park on a lightly windy day can be both fun and relaxing. One pleasant activity that seniors can do on a breezy day at the park is flying a kite.

The practice of flying a kite dates back almost 3,000 years to ancient China. In ancient China, kites were normally flat at first, but this changed over time. Kites have been used on various holidays and in various ceremonies for hundreds of years in China, where they are often decorated with mythical creatures, such as dragons. Despite the popularity of kites in Asian countries, the kite did not appear in Europe until well into the 16th century at least. Today, countless variations of kites are available in both Europe and America.

While kites in the past have been used for both military purposes and in science, including in Benjamin Franklin's famous proposed experiment which used a kite to prove that lightning was electricity, kites today are mostly used for recreational purposes. Flying a kite, however, can prove deadly. Fighter kites are popular around the world, but fighter kites in some Middle Eastern countries have a special string, known as manja. Manja strings are coated with powered glass to severe the string of opponents' kites. Though these kites are intended to battle each other, they have been known to cause severe injury or death to animals and people who, unfortunately, come into contact with them. Laws have been put in place in some of these countries to restrict the use of certain materials in kite strings.

The majority of the use of kites today is for safe and fun activities. Seniors might want to take grandchildren out to the park to pass on the joys of flying a kite to a new generation.

If you would like to discuss flying a kite with other seniors, please register and participate in the forums.