The whips described here are much safer than traditional leather whips. But if your kids are younger than 10 or 12, they'll need your help and supervision to make these, and you'll also need to show them play safely with them, as well.
Instructions
1. Invite the kids for a walk through the woods or a park, or even through your own yard if you have trees. Instruct them to find a tree branch that feels good in their hands, because these will become the whip handles. As long as the branches are over 6 inches in length, they will be perfect for the project.
2. Inspect the chosen branches by having each child grip one firmly. It will be the right size for the project if it actually looks a little too thin, because you will be adding another 1/4-inch bulk to it by wrapping the handle with 1/8-inch twine.
3. Make the handle by using the loppers or a saw to cut the branches down to about 6 inches long, if necessary. Have the kids smooth both ends with sandpaper.
4. Tie a knot near the end of the 1/4-inch twine. This will keep it from becoming ragged from wear and tear. Staple the twine just below the knot to the branch, about 1/4 inch from one end of it.
5. Cut a 6-foot length of the ½-inch rope. You can adjust the length to up to 8 feet for older children and young teens. If you have chosen nylon, use the lighter or matches to singe both ends to prevent them from fraying.
6. Staple about an inch of the length of rope to the other end of the branch.
7. Cover the handle with the twine by wrapping it around the branch, leaving no space between the wraps. Older children enjoy performing this step, which will create a much more comfortable handle for the child and improve the grip. Continue wrapping the entire handle, covering it and the rope stapled to the other end, up to about 1/4 inch from the bottom of the handle. Cut the twine, tie a knot in the end of it and staple it to the handle just below the knot.
8. Add staples to secure the wrapping at 90-degree angles about every inch down the handle's length
9. Add a popper to the end of the whip by tying an 8-inch piece of twine to the end of the rope. Fray the loose end of the twine.
10. Offer fabric paints to the kids to use for decorating and personalizing their new whips.
Tags: about inch, about inch from, below knot, both ends, handle with, inch from
