Looking for a pastime to engage in with the child(ren)? Hobbies come in a number of varieties, and we know choosing one can be a tough decision to make. Kite-flying is one of the most enjoyable classic hobbies and there are plenty of reasons why. Despite it being absolutely fun to engage in, flying a kite provides a number of health benefits that you will find rather surprising. Let us take a look at some of them below.

1. Bonding and socializing

With kite-flying, three can never be a crowd. As children play simultaneously and compete to see whose kite flies the highest, they end up forming a strong bond with each other. In the process, they also learn the moral value of sharing when exchanging the kites or take turns.

In addition, the area is usually occupied by other kite hobbyists, or they join after you are already there. With all the fun in the air, you end up making new friends without even realizing it. It becomes a healthy socializing ground for the children, and others involved, the website babygadgetlab mentions. 

2. Enhances creativity

As children make their kites, they’ll think about the design that they love. They get to play around with various colors or paint, and other aspects of the kite. Moreover, the child improves on their earlier mistakes and strengthens his/her imagination further. 

Consequently, slowly but definitively, they get to bring to life the mental visualization of their ideal kite. This generally goes a long way in stimulating and improving the creative right side of their minds.

3. Reduces stress and anxiety

Close your eyes and picture this; a cool breeze sweeping through the air, the sunlight on your skin, the clear blue-sky gazing back at you, and the heartfelt giggles and laughter all around. Who wouldn’t be relaxed by that? 

The serene environment accompanied by the breaths of fresh air helps release tension, reduce stress, fight depression; a general calming effect. 

4. Physical exercise

Flying a kite requires a lot of physical movement. For the kite itself to rise, you or your kid will have to run so that it can be picked up by the wind. As the pilot, you’ll also spend lots of time walking back and forth trying to control the kite’s flight. 

The activity also forces you to look up. In doing so, you get to stretch your neck muscles and, simultaneously, broaden your shoulder muscles. This, in turn, encourages your ligament’s and joint’s flexibility. It also uplifts bone metabolism.

Kite-flying ends up being a fun way to get children to exercise without the hustle that comes with planning an actual workout routine.

5. Improves eyesight

Day in, day out, we find ourselves constantly at the mercy of technology. From our mobile phones to the television set, to the tablets and others, we tend to subject our eyes to constant strain. This is especially true for kids as they are more prone to getting attached to fancy technology.

Kite flying engages numerous eye muscles and nerves since you are forced to observe it closely as it sways unpredictably in the sky. In turn, this fights eye fatigue and also helps prevent myopia as you constantly focus on the distant kite.

6. Critical Thinking

Kite flying is not as simple as it seems; there are many hurdles in the way. For this reason, you are forced to critically think about the situation you are in and come up with a solution for it. For example, it may get stuck on a tree or intertwine with another kite mid-air. 

There is also the challenge that comes with many people in the vicinity causing a lot of interference. From the minor issues like changes in wind direction to major ones, kids improve on their problem-solving skills in a sound manner.

7. Heightens awareness and mindfulness

While flying a kite, you are forced to pay attention to detail. As mentioned above, there are further activities by other people taking place in the same field. For instance, try to steer clear of the Frisbee coming at you at the same time also avoiding the hole in the front, all while keeping an eye on the kite above. 

That elevated concentration promotes mindfulness which, in turn, benefits the brain. This is because it is associated with anatomic changes such as learning, emotion, and memory. It also decreases stress, anxiety, and improves pain management. 

8. Obedience and following instructions

For youngsters to be able to fly a kite, they have no choice but to follow the instructions of a more experienced person in the matter. Simple dictates like “Let’s use the scissors to cut the sides”, or “Let’s paint it like this” slowly instills obedience into children. 

Under normal circumstances, children display a negative attitude towards orders. This endeavor makes instructions fun and in the long run, provides a good foundation for obedience. 

9. Confidence boost

A sense of pride comes with doing something yourself. Through instructions, the children are able to come up with their own kites, their own creations. Now imagine the pleasant feelings of accomplishment that washes over them as their eyes watch their creation soar in the sky; a major confidence boost. 

Children with high self-confidence are more likely to take risks in different aspects of their lives. They are more likely to be outgoing and more efficient in tackling problems with self-belief.

10. General fun learning experience for kids

Kite flying incorporates many lessons in it. For instance, they are able to learn about wind dynamics, ideal weather conditions, and much more. They also get to observe the ecology in the location in question, among other things.

Lessons are easily learnt through practical applications, even more so when it’s fun!

CONCLUSION

There is much more to discover about kites including safety and regulation, so be sure to find the most reliable information. Now, what are you waiting for? Get out there and encourage the children to engage in an exhilaratingly fun yet healthy journey of flying kites.