The Fourth of July is just a few days away. Below are some fun ideas to help make the holiday more fun with the kids. Have fun celebrating!
Celebratory Crafts
Fireworks T-shirt: You will need a plain shirt (red, white, or blue), fabric paints in the opposite colors, pipe cleaners, and paper plates. Put a piece of cardboard inside the shirt to prevent the paint from sticking to the back of the shirt. Create your stamp by folding 4-5 pipe cleaners in half, twisting the bent side so they stay together, and then fanning apart the ends to form a circle. Squeeze some paint on the paper plate and dip your stamp. Then press firmly on the shirt. Allow your shirt to dry completely before wearing. Fireworks T-shirt image source
Bead and Straw Necklace: You will need straws and beads in red, white, and blue, string or thread, and scissors. Cut the straws in small sections and cut the string to the appropriate length. Add the beads and straws in any order you like and tie together when you are done. Bead and Straw Necklace image source
Star Wands: You will need wood dowels, ribbon, and either foam or felt, in red, white, and blue, scissors, and glue. Cut the foam or felt in star shapes of slightly different sizes. Glue 2 or 3 different sized stars together, glue it to the dowel, and then glue 2 or 3 stars to the back (making sure the biggest one is a mirror image). Tie festive ribbon below the star. Star Wands image source
Commemorative Songs
Fireworks, Fireworks (to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")
Fireworks, fireworks
Fill the sky, shining on the fourth of July
See them shoot up, see them flare,
See them light up everywhere,
Fireworks, fireworks fill the sky,
Shining on the Fourth of July.
Fireworks Light the Sky (to the tune of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat")
Bang! Snap! Whistle! Pop!
Fireworks fill the air.
See them lighting up the sky
On the Fourth of July.
Yankee Doodle
Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony
He stuck a feather in his hat
And called it macaroni.
Yankee Doodle, keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls be handy.
Festive Recipes
Rocket Dogs: Wrap hot dogs in prepared dough (the Pillsbury crescent or seamless dough sheets work well). Bake them in the oven to the according to the package directions. When they are done, poke each with a skewer and add a triangle shaped piece of cheese at the top. Add a piece of ribbon and ketchup stripes for added fun. Rocket Dogs image source
Red White and Blue Skewers: Make festive appetizers by combining red, white, and blue foods on a skewer. Blueberries, white cheese, and tomatoes are pictures, and you can be creative in thinking of other colorful foods. Red White and Blue Skewers image source
Watermelon Stars: Cut the watermelon in slices and then cut pieces using a star shaped cookie cutter. Poke with skewers or set on a platter. Watermelon Stars image source
Patriotic Strawberries: Dip dry strawberries in melted white chocolate chips and then dip in blue sugar. Let them harden on wax paper. Patriotic Strawberries image source 
Holiday Books
Fourth of July Mice, by Bethany Roberts and Doug Cushman:
Join the holiday mice as they take part in all of the July 4th holiday fun, with a fireworks show at the end. Fourth of July Mice image source
Biscuit’s Fourth of July, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Pat Schories and Mary O'Keefe Young:
Learn about how we celebrate America’s birthday along with Biscuit. Biscuit’s Fourth of July image source
About Sarah Mittendorff
Sarah is mother to Noah and Kyle. She lives with her husband in Plymouth, Minnesota.