My oldest boy also wants a kite to play with. So I'm looking for a very easy to use play kite for him. It should be as small and easy to use as possible, still it has to be possible to use in low winds as we usually don't get too much wind around here. Any suggestions? I've been looking at
HQ Symhony 1.2 m
HQ Beach 1.3 m
Gin Zig 1 m
Edel parastunt (1.3 m)
Although small, any kite is dangerous in too much wind.
The kite is to be used only under proper supervision, but still it has to be safe. Or are there even smaller kites, maybe one line kites?

I want:
Possible to manouver in some way
Fly in low winds.
Easy to use (with supervision).
Fun

My kid is about 5, and he's a bit small for a 2 line kite. Of course, all kids are different but it's all just a bit much to keep track of. That said, he really likes to fly his HQ symphony, but all he really does is launch it and fly for a few seconds before he flies it into the ground. Then I have to run and launch it for him again. and again. and again.

The kite he really likes and wants to fly first every time, is a single line kite like these:

http://www.invento-hq.com/index.php?option=com_content&t...

This kite is universally loved by every kid that tries it, i think they really like the long lines and the feeling of power from flying this kite that is so high in the air. Once it is flying, there isn't much they can do to mess it up, short of dropping the winder and letting the kite go free. To stop that from happening, I loop some thin rope through the winder and around the kid's back.

Once we were all hanging out on the beach and then looked over and noticed that my boy was flying this kite. My wife and I looked at each other and realized that neither of us had helped him launch it. He was only about 3! He knew enough to find the wind direction and launch it correctly.

The only problem you will find is with light winds, in my experience most kid's kites need a bit of breeze to get them going. You might want to seek advice from a kite store to find the one that will fly the best in light winds.

Hope this helps

my kids have been flying a symphony 1.4 for years.

Something I did long ago when the kids were learning to fly 2 line kites was to put a short piece of line from winder to winder or wrist strap to wrist strap. This helps them to not over steer the kite. On the smaller 2-line foils you only have to move your hands about 4 to 8 inches or so, anything more and you put the foil into a death spiral.
Besides, dads job is to stand under the kite so he can turn it over and send it sky ward after the crash, and after the crash, and after the crash..................

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Besides, dads job is to stand under the kite so he can turn it over and send it sky ward after the crash, and after the crash, and after the crash..................

Oh man. Been there --tired of that! :ticking: Thank God they got old enough to manage a four line on their own. Gotta love that re-launch-ability.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Besides, dads job is to stand under the kite so he can turn it over and send it sky ward after the crash, and after the crash, and after the crash..................