If you are like me, the longer than summer goes on, the less creative you become when it comes to keeping your children entertained. As the fourth of July holiday approaches, there are many fun ways for families with children to celebrate this American holiday.
1. Red, White and Blue crafts
Whether your child is a baby, toddler, school aged or even a teenager, there are so many crafts that you can do with them. You can dip your baby’s feet in blue paint to make a cute sign. You could glue colorful paper squares to a flag outline with your toddler. School aged children would enjoy making fireworks in a jar.
The internet is full of great craft ideas with instructions that range from simple to complicated. Just imagine what your kids would like to make and you will likely find directions and a supply list if you look hard enough.
2. Family movie night
Something fun to do that beats the heat is a family movie night in your own living room. Rent a kid friendly movie, make some snacks and settle in for a movie night with your kids. If you are really ambitious, you could make cardboard boxes in the shape of cars for your kids to sit in so that they can go to a “drive in” movie.
3. Make a special meal together
Nothing brings a family together better than cooking together. Find age appropriate tasks for your kids to help with and you can easily put together a meal in no time. Some easy ideas are homemade pizza, hamburgers or any of your family’s other favorites. You could even dine in your dining room with special dishes to make it even more of a special occasion.
4. Plan a neighborhood barbecue
Getting out and meeting your neighbors is what the American spirit is all about. Make some flyers, assign some dishes to bring and set out some lawn chairs in your front or back yard. Sharing a meal with your neighbors will not only get you in the holiday spirit, but it will strengthen your neighborhood camaraderie for the year to come.
5. Attend a fourth of July festival in your town
In most anywhere that you live in the US, you will be able to find a festival or holiday celebration of some kind. Often there are family friendly activities like face painting and crafts for kids of all ages. Just remember to drink lots of water while you are out in the heat and wear your sunscreen.
6. Make some red, white and blue treats
As with the crafts, holiday treats are always a fun thing to look forward to every July. Whether you do something simple, like freezing red, white and blue juice in popscicle molds or more complicated like a red, white and blue flag cake, making treats with your kids is a great way to have fun. You can easily choose things that will fit with your family’s dietary preferences.
7. Light up the night
If your child is old enough to stay up until dark, you can plan a fun family night on the patio with glow sticks or lanterns. You could even hang lights on your porch and make s’mores around the fire. Older kids might enjoy playing with sparklers. Just be sure to keep safety in mind if you are using these things around young children. For older kids that aren’t bothered by loud noises, planned professional fireworks displays are a magical way to celebrate this holiday.
8. Learn about the history of the holiday
For kids who are old enough to understand, you can check out a book from the library and learn more about the history of the fourth of July. When did it start and why do we celebrate it? These questions, in addition to other historical facts are great for children to understand.
9. Make a list of things that you are grateful for
While gratitude is usually associated with a different holiday that involves turkeys and cooler temperatures, celebrating gratitude at fourth of July can help young children understand what freedom means. Help your kids to think through the many freedoms that they enjoy because they live in America. Explain to them that not all children around the world enjoy freedom like we do. Starting a foundation of gratitude helps your children grow into adults who are conscious of the world around them.
10. Family game night
Whether it is a game that you make up or a planned out board game that you already own, playing together with your kids helps you to bond with them. In addition to bonding, taking the time away from other things to sit down and play with your kids helps them to know that they are important to you. Some of my fondest childhood memories are from sitting around a board game with my sister, parents and grandparents.
Happy fourth of July
Hopefully, this gives you some helpful ideas on how to spend quality time with your family over this fourth of July weekend. Strong families are the foundation of America and a reason why we can continue to celebrate our freedom in meaningful ways.
© 127 Pediatrics; July 2022
Dr. Andrea Wadley is the owner, pediatrician, and breastfeeding medicine specialist for 127 Pediatrics. She has an established house calls only pediatric practice in Colleyville, TX. Dr. Wadley sees patients all over Tarrant county for concierge breastfeeding medicine consults, lactation consults, fourth-trimester care, tongue tie clipping, and medical ear piercing.
