The 4th of July is an important holiday in the United States. It is a celebration of our independence and stand for freedom as a country. Children today need to be reminded of what it took to make our country the free country it is today. Without the sacrifices of our forefathers there would be no fire crackers, not celebration picnics and no flag proudly waving in the background. This Fourth of July celebrate what it means to be an American with a patriotic party just for kids.
High Flying Flags
Items needed for each flag:
- 1 piece of white card stock
- poster paint - red, white and blue
- pencil
- golden star stickers
- thin wooden towel - approximately 12 inches
- craft glue or masking tape
Directions:
- Draw the stripes and area for the stars on the card stock. You are going to be making an American flag.
- Paint the red stripes and let them dry. Next paint the white stars, allow to dry a few seconds and pain the blue background for the stars.
- Put on the star stickers.
- Place the flag along side of the dowel and glue or tape into place. Wave your flag proudly.
Patriotic Parfaits
Items need for decorated cups:
- clear plastic disposable drinking cups
- red, white and blue poster paints
- paintbrushes
Directions:
Paint fireworks onto the cups. You will use these to put your Patriotic Parfaits
Parfait ingredients:
- Red Jell-o
- Blueberries
- whip cream
Directions:
- Fix the Jell-o according to the directions on the box. Let thoroughly set.
- Place a layer of Jell-o in the bottom of the cup. Then sprinkle some blueberries on top. next add a layer of whip cream. Repeat until the cup is full ending with whip cream on top. Serve with a bright red or blue spoon.
Pin the Flag on Uncle Sam
Items needed to make the game:
- Poster board
- markers, crayons or poster paint
- construction paper
- scissors
- tape
What you do:
- Draw or trace a picture of Uncle Sam onto the poster board. You want to have his head and chest. Use markers, crayons or poster paint to color your picture. You could also print out a picture of Uncle Sam from off the internet.
- Make several miniature flags. You want them big enough to use but small enough to be similar to a lapel pin on your Uncle Sam.
How to play:
Take turns trying to pin the flag on Uncle Sam's lapel. Blindfold each child and spin the child around slowly once or twice. Aim him in the direction of the Uncle Sam poster. He will want to get as close as he ca to the designated spot on Uncle Sam's shoulder. The person who gets his flag closest to the spot wins.
Making your own decorations along with a fun game, such as Pin the Flag on Uncle Sam, adds spark to any 4th of July celebration. The Patriotic Parfaits are the perfect holiday treat. Use these simple crafts to allow your child to express their creativity while celebrating the birth of our nation.
