Make a Big Production of the First Flight

Pick a nearby field, or perhaps the school athletic field when it isn't being used for the first flight of your child's model airplane.

If you have more than one child or a neighbor child that would like to come along, fine. The more the merrier. A picnic lunch is always nice, especially if the plane crashes on takeoff and can't be revived to fly again.

Take a camera and get pictures. (Later, if the new hobby catches on, you may want to start a separate model airplane album and label and date each picture as your young model builder makes progress over the years.)

Most of us have some special memories of our childhood. Often these are linked to positive feedback from our parents, grandparents, or peers for something we accomplished. Your kids are no different.

You need to be prepared with something supportive to say, even if the plane only stays in the air for a few seconds before crashing. You can tell him you liked the lift when it first took off, or the way it headed straight ahead without wavering from side to side. Whatever happens, make the first flight a fun adventure.

You've heard the old saying about getting back on after being thrown by a horse. If the first flight is a disaster, talk about how soon you can get another model into the air.

And, you never know, that first flight might surprise you and be a terriffic success.