Discovery Point Blog

June 29, 2020

Make Your Fourth of July Special with These Star Spangled Tips

Are you looking forward to getting your kids involved in 4th of July celebrations? This holiday can be a fun event for children of all ages, especially when you have a few creative crafts and treat ideas in store. 

Whether your family enjoys having a backyard barbecue, makes a trip to a local park, or goes out to find a prime spot for a fireworks show, you can help get everyone in the festive spirit with these tips.

Try Some Classic Backyard Games

Gunny sack races, bottle ring tosses, and the good ol’ egg-in-spoon relay race may be totally familiar to you, but completely new for your kids. Introducing them to games like these, which have been loved for generations, can help give them a peek of how a little creativity can bring about a lot of fun. 

You can even give these games some extra patriotic flair by turning them into craft projects a few days before the big event. Kids can decorate their gunny sacks with red, white, and blue ribbons, paint, and patches. Bottles for the bottle ring toss can also be easily customized to fit the theme using paint and glitter glue.

Check out these fun 4th of July themed backyard games.

Make Eye-Catching Edibles

Tired of the same old hot dogs and cupcakes? With a bit of imagination, you can bring almost any food into the Fourth of July theme (including some more nutritious options!). 

Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

  • Easy American Flag Fruit Platter
    This time of year is truly a bounty of fresh, colorful fruits that are as satisfying as any sugary dessert. By arranging juicy bites into an American flag shape, you can create a visual masterpiece that will become an instant hit.

    Strawberries, cherries, or raspberries are an easy pick for the red stripes, while a bowl of blueberries can fill in the upper left corner. For the remaining stripes, try yogurt-frosted pretzels or even some fresh whipped cream for dipping.
  • Watermelon Star Pops
    Is it really the Fourth of July without watermelon? Make this staple a little less messy this year by sliding slices onto popsicle sticks. Finally, all the flavor with fewer sticky fingers! 

    To really make these fruity pops stand out, try using a star-shaped cookie cutter to shape the watermelon slices.
  • Rocket Dogs
    Don’t have time to do a full-on grill this year? Try this oven-baked rocket dog idea instead, and you’ll have dinner ready before anyone can say “3-2-1 blast off!” 

    First, cut canned rolls or croissant dough into strips. Then, wrap one strip around each hot dog before baking on a sheet pan per the can’s instructions. When the dogs are ready, skewer them corndog-style and add a triangle-shaped chunk of cheese on top to form the rocket’s point.

Get Crafty

Whether you’re having a get-together and are looking for ideas to keep the kids entertained, or you just want to ensure your own children aren’t underfoot while you’re making preparations, a simple craft is the way to go. 

  • Sand Art
    One of our favorites is sand art because the process allows for engaging sensory play and creativity, while the final product is easy to keep and display. You can purchase cute mason jars specifically for this project or just reuse cleaned jam or olive jars with the labels peeled off. The only other items required are some colored sand—red, white, and blue, of course!—and some skewers to add fun zigzag shapes to the bands of color.
  • Confetti Poppers
    Looking for a craft with even more of a “wow” factor? Confetti poppers get kids of all ages into the spirit thanks to that firework-like “pop!” For a DIY version, you’ll just need to grab push-up pops, tissue paper, cardstock, and confetti from a craft store. You can either put these together in advance or have your children participate in their creation. Either way offers plenty of festive fun!

Prepare Goody Bags for the Fireworks Show

There’s always a bit of waiting involved before the fireworks get started. If you’re looking for a way to keep your kids busy pre-show, try throwing together some goody bags. These could include party-favor sized bubbles to provide entertainment as the sun sets or even an American-flag themed beach ball they can blow up and toss around. 

If you’ll be out for a while and think a snack may be needed, you could throw in a small treat such as a cute patriotic cookie or a small bag of crackers. It’s also a good idea to pack an item that kids can enjoy after it gets dark, such as glow-in-the-dark bracelets or light-up wands.

We hope these tips can help make the Fourth of July a day your children will look back on fondly. With a little luck, it may even be the beginning of some fun and festive family traditions!