kidlauncher from connors934 on Vimeo.
Kidlaunching is a variation on the slip and slide model of backyard/park fun. What we did this day was lay out a hundred feet or so of plastic sheet on the grass, tied a gigantic elastic band to a tree and poured water from a park fountain over the plastic to reduce friction. Once the kid is on a pool toy or other suitable vehicle, hold by the ankles, pull, count and...RELEASE!
This was an activity at Camp Kaleidoscope a few years ago.
Posted by Chris Connors |
Jun 20, 2009 02:00 PM
DIY Projects, Kids, Toys and Games |
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It looks fun, but was there a moment when you thought you might lose your child and spend the rest of your life behind bars?
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@Anonymous:
Wait...
... ... o_O ... @_@; ...
What?
@OP
looks like fun. unfortunately, slip and slides are illegal in my town... yeah, you read that right. You can sell them and buy them, but you can't use them; anywhere.
I seriously need to move... gee thanks, now I'm thinking of all the things that are seriously screwed up in my town...
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The thrill of this activity is the bit where you think you are going to plow into a massive tree headfirst and die.
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@me... where are slip and slides illegal? I dont doubt it, just curious.
And yes... there is that little voice that says DONT launch a child headfirst towards a tree...Maybe making a yoke, or 'V' between two trees and anchoring the elastic to that would be an idea. Or even putting a stake down below ground level, so if it was overrun there would be no injury.
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@Volkeman
Turlock, California. I'm sure there are other places in the area that have similar ordinances. It has to do with "water conservation." So, instead of playing with your kids on a slip and slide that uses a minuscule amount of water that flows onto your lawn and waters it, you only get to use pools that need to use more water to make them useful. It's really backward.
The second oddest thing is that it's illegal to carry a cane or walking stick of any kind without a prescription as they are considered a club type weapon.
moggles the bind...
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Hmmm...
I think i'd rather have the kid hit the tree than a metal stake launched at my family after being pulled out of the ground by the force of the rubber band...
Just pad the tree, and don't pull the kid too far back :)
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I was slightly worried when i saw this on my google homepage as I had the image of a kid being fired out of a cannon! but as ever im wrong and tht looks soooooo fun!
you know the car advert where they mad a huge slip 'n' slid on a street...imagine using this at the top :P
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The poor kid is covered in hippie juice!!!
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so easy a caveman can do it!
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People need to settle down. As a kid I was dragged behind a truck down a gravel road while sitting in a bath tub. I built bike ramps off of shed roofs into ponds. I had BB gun fights without eye protection. I had a real chemistry set with real chemicals ordered from catalogs. I built my own rocket engines. I made my own fireworks. I took my life into my own hands at least once a week, and I am a better person for it. If I ever have kids I can assure you that they will be lined up fighting to be first when there is something fun to do, even, especially, if there is some danger involved.
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