The Fourth of July is one of the most iconic and widely celebrated holidays in the U.S.; however, many of the celebrations are geared towards adults with the presence of alcohol and fireworks that could cause a safety concern for the younger kids. Although you may end up not celebrating the holiday with your friends, you can still have a lot of fun with your kids. These ten tips will allow you to have a safe and frugal Independence Day that the kids will absolutely adore. So, you won’t have to stress out about spending a fortune to entertain or keeping an extra careful eye on your kids, because your Fourth of July celebrations are sure to be a hit that will be emergency free.
1. Make Dessert
Nothing says holiday fun quite like pigging out on delicious foods. Luckily, the Fourth of July has a whole lot of amazing desserts that will allow the kids to show off their patriotism while teaching them a fine lesson in cooking. When it comes to making red, white and blue foods, you can work around your child’s age and skill level. A great starter dish is making a simple parfait using yoghurt, strawberries and blueberries. You may also want to start the kids out on a simple Jello parfait, which is a lot of fun and will allow them to have a blast while they eat too. Arranging a platter of red, white and blue food items is great too and will help your children prep for any party you may host. Older children might enjoy making cookies in the three colors or decorating a cake in red, white and blue. Popsicles are another option, but this will take greater cooking skills and patience. There’s plenty of recipes online too, so go wild with your red, white and blue desserts.
2. Pass Out Flags
Promoting community love to your children is a great way to celebrate Independence Day. One way to do this is to have the kids sit down and show off their crafting skills. Kids can color in pictures of the flag or even make their own with construction paper. Once the craft element of the task is complete then sit down with your kids and make a game plan. You may want the kids to pass the flags out to friends, family and neighbors in order to boost the spirit of the holiday. However, if you’d like to go a step further then the kids may want to pass them out at nursing homes, hospitals or even a Vet center. This will show the children to include all in their holiday fun while also cheering up those in need.
3. Make T-Shirts
One great way to keep kids entertained for cheap is to create their very own t-shirt. The Fourth of July offers many options which can work for various age levels. For instance, if you want to really add some fun to the event then you can use red and blue tie dye on a white shirt. This will create a patriotic look that will wow even the youngest of kids. You might also give the kids colorful fabric markers. They can create flags, fireworks and other holiday inspired designs to show off their creativity. If you want to get really creative, then you can transform the kids hands into adorable flags. If you keep the shirts in a similar design then you will be able to stand out as a group, which will also make it easier for you to keep traction of each other if you wind up going to a crowded event or even just the pool.
4. Go Historical
The Fourth of July is a great time to spend with friends and family, but it is also a time to celebrate history and those who fought for the freedoms we have today. Thus, it might be a good idea to plan something historical for your children to experience for the holiday. Museums are a great idea to explore for children that are old enough to understand what’s going on. Of course, you may have a hard time finding a museum that is open on the holiday. So, you may have to do a bit of planning to enjoy the experience prior to the big day. There are also a lot of great programs you can watch that are suitable for a wide range of ages. You can also find plenty of coloring or work sheets to help show your children all about the wonderful history behind the holiday.
5. Movie Marathon
There’s one thing that is pretty predictable when it comes to the Fourth of July. That is, it’s going to be hot. Rather than spending all day out in the sun at barbecues or other gatherings, you may want to enjoy having a movie marathon instead. This will allow you to keep cool and will let the kids nap as needed so they can stay up and watch the fireworks when it gets dark. Luckily, there’s plenty of movies to choose from when it comes to Fourth of July movies. Whether you want a simple patriotic movie or one that actually focuses on the Fourth of July, you’re sure to find something to add to the lineup. There’s even patriotic movies designed particularly for children. This should help make your choices easier than ever, so you can make sure everyone has a great time. Of course, you won’t want to forget your snacks for the marathon either, which will make the kids feel like they’re at the theater.
6. Games
One of the best ways to entertain kids is to play games. Kids can really get into games, no matter what they are, so feel free to use your creativity here. One easy way to do this is to take a classic game, like capture the flag and give it a patriotic twist. Of course, you can always come up with games like Memory, Guess Who and trivia games based on the holiday. There’s lots of fun options online, including things like pin the hat on the Uncle Sam, so a little research can go a long way when it comes to playing games with your kids. The kids may even want to show off their creativity and come up with their own games to play, which will make the day even more fun. As long as you make the most out of your time together, you’re sure to have a blast.
7. Get Crafty
Kids really respond to arts and crafts, so use your creativity to show them all about the holiday and how much fun they can have. Kids can do a wide variety of DIY crafts like making their own flags or creating decorative firecrackers out of toilet rolls and other crafting supplies. If you’re not feeling up to working on a big project on your own, then look online to find some free coloring sheets that will teach kids all about the holiday. This is especially great for younger kids and you can always hang the results up as holiday décor. Another option is to take to the sidewalk. Chalk will allow your child to make all sorts of patriotic designs that the neighbors will love checking out.
8. Educate
Many children go years without actually knowing what the Fourth of July is all about. You might want to take time during the big day to explain the history behind the holiday. Of course, you can base your lesson around the child’s age, so they will learn an appropriate amount that will give them more respect for the holiday. This is also a great time to start teaching your children about the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights. Older kids can learn a summary of the Bill of Rights, so they will grow up to know their legal rights in the country. This is also a great time to teach kids about firecracker safety. Even if your child won’t be around fireworks, you never know if a friend will have fireworks after the holiday. Knowing how to keep themselves and others safe in the presence of firecrackers is an asset that will help you set your mind to ease.
9. Firework Alternatives
Fireworks are actually banned in many cities and towns these days, but even if they’re not you may not want your child messing around them for safety reasons. Luckily, there’s plenty of great alternatives to choose from. For instance, you can easily fill up balloons with confetti and blow them up. Kids can pop the balloons or let them hang around on the ceiling for some time. Most kids love glow sticks too and they’re perfect to take outside to watch the fireworks later on. This is a safer option than sparklers and they won’t leave the kids feeling disappointed. Apart from that, you can always buy poppers for a low price at dollar stores, or use leftover poppers from New Year’s.
10. Go to an Event
If you don’t have any plans for the big day, then you may want to look around to see if there’s any activities offered in your community. Many locations will offer festivals, parades, food and games in a community area to help celebrate the holiday. Often, if the city is putting on the event, it will be free of charge, so you won’t have to worry about a thing. You can even pack your own food and drinks to help save even more money. If it isn’t a community event, then you may want to check to make sure the price is reasonable for the whole family before you commit. If there’s nothing in your area, then you could always look around to see if a nearby community will be hosting an event. Most areas will host a firework show too, which is sure to make the kids feel amazed by the holiday.
Celebrating the Fourth of July doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your fun for your kids. In fact, after you check out these tips you may have the best holiday of your life with your family. With a few simple plans and the smiles of your kids to light the way, this holiday is sure to become a favorite in your household. So, pack on the sunscreen, pull out your craft supplies and let the kids explore their history while having a blast.
