If you’re like us, kite-flying adventures tend to be short lived. The kites break. The string gets caught in a tree. There are tears.

But Greg Lamoureux, an avid kite flyer, owner of Seaside Kites, a kite shop on the South Shore, and area director of the American Kitefliers Association (aka.kite.org) asks us to be open to the possibility that kite flying can be fun – and painless.

He recommends buying a single-string, diamond-shaped kite made of nylon – not plastic. A good beginner kite costs as little as $10 to $15.

“We call the plastic kind the one-hour kites,” he says. “A nylon one will last forever.”

His group also recommends flying kites in empty school playgrounds and parks, far from trees, telephones and power lines. A popular spot for kite flying in the Boston area is the Pope John Paul II Park in Dorchester. Chances are you’ve noticed the kites when driving by on Route 93. Members of local kite-flying groups are routinely there flying and eager to offer tips and answer questions.

Julie Tittler and her husband got involved in the hobby after they bought a kite in a Quincy Market shop on a whim because they thought it looked fun. They drove to Nahant Beach, to a spot which they determined from a map would have good winds. They were lucky to stumble upon a monthly kite-fly day organized by Kites Over New England (kone.org).

“We immediately were hooked,” says Tittler, a Dedham resident. Now they take their son along. He loves chasing the tails of the fancier stunt kites. Even if he loses interest, Tittler notes they are out on a beach where he can run, build sandcastles and search for shells.

For families interested in learning more, she highly recommends attending one of the area’s kite festivals. Kiters, she says, like to share their toys. They are more than happy to let kids and their parents have a turn.

Like a walk through the woods, watching kites dance across the sky can produce a calming effect, Tittler says. “I love the color in the sky and the movement of the fabric in the sky,” she says. “When I’m out there, I find myself not thinking about anything else. I’m not thinking about work. I’m not thinking about the bills or the mortgage. Being out there next to the ocean is very peaceful.”

Teach your child how to fly a kite with these tips 

For where to buy and fly a kite in Massachusetts