July 4th unquestionably marks the pinnacle of summer as we celebrate the nation’s independence with cookouts and fireworks. But, if you are looking for something unique to add to your holiday celebration, here are fun ways to celebrate the 4th of July with the kids!
1. Decorate all over and hang a flag
Let the kids go wild with red, white, and blue decorations inside and outside of the house. This year, if you don’t already, hang a flag outside of your home to thank the thousands of soldiers, past and present, who have fought for our nation. This can be a teaching moment as well as hanging a flag involves American flag etiquette as there is a proper way to both hand and take down the flag.
2. Watch a Patriotic movie together as a family
Break out the popcorn and watch a patriotic movie together as a family! There are many patriotic movies that recant the contributions of African American soldiers to this country. Some of those phenomenal movies include: Glory, Buffalo Soldiers, Men of Honor, A Soldier’s Story, The Tuskegee Airmen, Miracle at St. Anna, among many many others. Even if you have seen these some or all of these titles before, they are definitely worth a watch over and over again.
3. Have the kids get creative
Have the kids get creative and create a care package for our service people on active duty. If you aren’t sure what to put in your care package, the UPS offers free kits and you can get a list of things to include through organizations such Soldier’s Angels. Encourage the kids to make it colorful and include a letter for sure!
4. Play games like the kids did in 1776
Many of the games children have today, children played in colonial times. Let the kids play jackstraws, marbles, checkers, hide-and-seek, leap frog, or tag. If none of these get their attention, here are even more fun colonial games for kids! It is kind of cool to know that kids back in 1776 were not so much different from those in 2023.
5. Camp under the stars
Whether you are RVing it or going old school with a tent and sleeping bags set up in your own backyard, get out and enjoy the stars as a family. To make the time in the great outdoors a blast, break out the S’mores, tell ghosts stories, all while you wait on the big finale of the night. If you cannot see fireworks from your campsite, then you may just have to either find a local spot that is offering a spectacular show, livestream, watch them on TV, or pop some of your own.
However, whatever you do this July 4th, make sure to celebrate safely. If you need a refresher on firework safety, click here!
Happy July 4th!
