"A child with a kite in windy weather tying the earth and sky together" — May Richstone

It's hard to believe but March blows in Saturday! March blows in with a lot of wind but with also a gust of neat ideas for young children as they take take advantage of the seasonal characteristics of this month.

One is reminded of Mary Poppins singing let's go fly a kite up to the highest heights and the looks of joy and glee on the childrens' faces as they dashed outside to the fun and freedom and amazement of watching their kites fly and dance in the wind.

I witness that same joy and smiles in young childrens' eyes today as they join family or class on an afternoon kite adventure.

Where did kites come from?

Kites have been around for 2,000 to 3,000 years in celebrating special events and occasions.

According to records and legends, China was the country that invented the kite.

Thailand and Japan have used kites in their celebrations. We especially notice that brightly colored kites are used in The Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan and Childrens' Day in Japan as well.

It has been used for scientific purposes as we remember. Benjamin Franklin discovered there was electricity present during a storm. It's been used to record temperatures and for military purposes.

Our environment by the bay on the Eastern Shore, as well as on the beach at Gulf Shores promote favorable conditions in flying kites for family fun.

As an early childhood teacher I have helped the children make simple paper kites in which I let them color them with crayons, makers or stickers.

We enjoy cutting pieces of colorful yarn to make a tail. With these construction paper kites I will adorn my classroom with child made kites.

I will ask the young students, where would you like to fly your kites.

This would be an interesting project for you to do with your own children. You will be pleasantly surprised at what these young minds think.

Some will say the moon, across the ocean, up in the clouds to see how it rains, visit other countries, up on high mountains, fly high with the birds.

One of my young students shared with our class that they would like to fly their kite up to heaven!

As a family you can go on the web to see how to make different kinds of kites. The library has books on kite making.

Paper kites seem to be the easiest for young hands, taking paper and dowel sticks.

Kites can made out of paper of plastic bags, foil gift wraps you could use some left over foil Christmas wrap or aluminum foil. I have used simple paper plates.

Have your child color or decorate, punch a hole at each end of the plate string a long piece of yarn through and let your little one run with the paper plate catching the wind up under the plate as they run.

This can be done with styrofoam plates as well, the wind can quickly pick up these light plates. The sky is the limit when it comes to making and flying homemade kites.

Some times it is just better to purchase a kite if you don't have time to make. This spring entertainment object is not expensive and well worth the investment for memorable family fun!

I'd like to remind my readers of just some common sense safety rules:

• Remember Benjamin Franklin's discovery, in the rain the line can carry electricity. So don't fly kites in a thunderstorm, electricity has already been discovered!

• Never fly a kite near electric lines or poles.

• With kite materials don't use metal parts or lines which will attract electricity. Fishing line or wire can cut a young child's hands.

• Fly the kite in a safe location, not near trees, ditches or steep hills.

• If a kite gets caught up in a tree or pole just leave it alone.

With your new kite whether made or bought have a grand old afternoon with the family. Don't forget the picnic. Let' go fly a kite.

Beth Pinyerd serves as director of Younger children at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort, Ala.