The Aquafresh brand has compensated me in connection with the statements made in this post.
Independence Day in the United States is a unique holiday in that it occurs during the lazy months of summer.
While holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas often feel rushed and frantic because they fall right in the middle of the busy school year, 4th of July celebrations are usually more relaxed to match the slower pace of the season.
With that in mind, these seven simple ideas for July 4th fun will help make your family’s Independence Day special while still keeping with the laid back, no-fuss vibe the holiday usually has.
7 Simple Ideas for July 4th Fun
1. Enjoy a red, white, and blue breakfast.
Start the day off on a patriotic note with a red, white, and blue morning meal. Try a parfait made with layers of vanilla yogurt, blueberries, and strawberries. Or for something more decadent, top a stack of pancakes with blueberries, strawberries, and whipped cream or powdered sugar.
2. Play some patriotic-themed games.
A round of Independence Day Bingo is fun even for preschool-age kids. You can create your own customized bingo cards or use this free printable for Patriotic Bingo from Blooming Homestead.
Or get the kids moving with a round of Red, White, and Blue Tag. Just give each child a token or chip that’s either red, white, or blue. When someone is tagged, they must give their chip to the person who tagged them. The first one to collect a red, white, and blue chip wins!
3. Make a super simple flag craft with your kids.
Help your kids construct an American flag out of anything from drinking straws to paper chains. Kids Activities Blog has a great list of 30 American flag crafts, including this easy Popsicle stick flag from Glued to My Craftsโperfect for toddlers!
4. Create care packages for the troops.
Creating care packages for those in the military is a great way to open up a conversation with your kids about the role those in the military play in keeping people safe, both here and abroad. And of course it’s a perfect service project in the spirit of Independence Day. Check out this helpful list of what deployed troops really want in their care packages.
5. Host a neighborhood bike parade.
Round up all the kiddos on your block for a classic Independence Day bike and trike parade. The kids can adorn their bikes (and their helmets!) with red, white, and blue stars and streamers (making sure they can’t get caught in the bike spokes, of course). Then they pedal away to show off their decked-out, patriotic rides to all the neighbors.
6. Be flexible about fireworks.
If you grew up watching fireworks every 4th of July, you probably can’t wait for your kids to enjoy them as well. But sometimes we forget that fireworks can be downright terrifying for little ones! So prepare your children as best you canโexplaining what fireworks are, why we enjoy watching them, and why they’re perfectly safe. Then consider choosing a low-key spot for viewing them, one that isn’t too close or too loud.
And always remain flexible. If your child is obviously not enjoying the show, shrug it off and try again next year.
7. Don’t fret over extra indulgences.
As with most holidays, the 4th of July is a time for enjoying special sweets and treatsโbut we well-meaning parents get frantic when we see our kids reaching for an extra cupcake. It’s our job to keep them healthy, and the last thing we want is for our kids to get cavities from too much sugar.
Fortunately, new Aquafreshยฎ Multi Action Whitening toothpaste comes with Sugar Acid Protection (provided by active fluoride) to strengthen and shield teeth against the key cause of cavities*: sugar acid from everyday foods and drinks.
What that means is that Aquafreshยฎ is basically a safety net for parents โproviding essential cavity protection so you can relax and let your kids (and yourself!) indulge a bit this 4th of July.
How do you celebrate the 4th of July with your kids? Tell me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!
Be sure to stay connected with Aquafreshยฎ on Facebook and Twitter!
*With twice daily brushing
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
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154 responses to “7 Simple Ideas for July 4th Fun”
we like to have a pool party in our house
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/738204896541835265
We go watch the local fireworks together
groogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
tweet- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/738231231574384640
We will watch the fireworks on our boat! They are even more incredible when you are on the water. We also love to have a 4th of July cooking contest among my family!
tweet https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/738331651575414785
We usually celebrate the 4th with a day near water whether it’s the pool, the beach, or the lake and 9 times out of 10 the day ends with some fireworks. My kids are older now so they enjoy the show, but when they were babies it was definitely too loud for them!
We celebrate the 4th of July by going to a big lake close to where I live and having a big picnic with the family. We swim. play volley ball and eat and have fun all day!
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/738347036957806592
We have a family cookout for the fourth. then as a family we go down to the lake to watch fireworks.
We like fireworks with our kids. They’re older now so we can do some fun ones with them in our backyard where we live. Not too crazy or too big, though!
What an amazing list of fun fourth of july fun. I really like the pancakes.
We usually visit my parents for a BBQ on the 4th. My dad lights some fireworks.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/738393666193100800
There are so many great things to do for the 4th of July!! Fireworks are always a hit.
We always watch the fireworks together and let the kids light up the little burners. Plus we enjoy swimming at either the lake or in a pool
We like to get sparklers and fireworks and set them off in the back yard.
I often steer clear of fireworks for my little ones. So much better not to push it at that age!
These are GREAT ideas, the pancake pic is so yummy looking! We always visit my brother and his family on a lake in SC!
We usually either have a BBQ or go to a BBQ and then go see fireworks in whatever town we are in assuming we can’t see them from the person’s backyard.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/PrettyHotPink6/status/738734368919814144
We hang out at home and have a BBQ with fireworks later on.
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/738753128212758529
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
We have our family over so the kids can swim with their cousins and at night we ride our bikes downtown to watch the fireworks display.
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/738754395094016000.
We have a cookout and go see the fireworks.
We will be going to the Plaza to watch the Fireworks !
shebebes@yahoo.com
tweeted https://twitter.com/JAIVIANSMOMMY/status/738771042643116032
Depends. We either spend it at my aunts how doing a bbq and fireworks or we take the kids somewhere to watch fireworks.
We always dress in red white and blue, then we go to the local fireworks and meet up with friends
https://twitter.com/mlklingen/status/73878287926260531
https://twitter.com/mlklingen/status/738782879262605312, tweeted
We usually have a family barbecue in our backyard.
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/738923399595069441
We watch fireworks on campus. We ride or walk there!
We usually have a cookout with family. We then go see fireworks; ) thanks for the chance!
Jmatek AT wi DOT rr DOT com
We kick off our celebration by going to a local 4th of July parade. Guess you can say its a family tradition.
We have a really big bridge, and everyone gets on it to watch fireworks. We also cook out.
https://twitter.com/AudreyS23511436/status/739040701363716096
I will stay at home watch TV
Fireworks viewing from backyard
https://twitter.com/star2moons/status/739078829189238784
For the 4th of July, we watch fireworks at our local minor league stadium
https://twitter.com/VicVac7/status/739088035254525952
right now I think we will have an outdoor celebration to watch the fireworks
The care package for the troops is just a fantastic idea, so gonna do that one!
we usually swim with the family, celebrate at a local park and end the night with fireworks!
tweet
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/739158209231884290
We have a family bbq.
We either go tot he river or have fireworks and barbecue at home with friends.
Our family loves to watch the fireworks together! ๐
Tweeted – https://twitter.com/lauralynnrose/status/739181977782259712
We have a 4th of July parade at our cottage community, all of the kids decorate themselves and bikes.
We usually go to a family bbq.
We do different things every year. Sometimes we go to a baseball game, go camping, see fireworks, attend the rodeo…it varies from year to year.
We usually go to the park and bbq and fly kites.
https://twitter.com/sweeper785/status/739231124174471169
tweeted
We may have a cook out and watch the fireworks.
https://twitter.com/RenaldDeb/status/739239801061277697
We always go to a local golf course with our neighbors. They have a fabulous fire works display and we all bring yummy treats to share.
Shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/status/739264362389606401
We gather with friends and family and bbq and watch fireworks.
We usually go to my cousin’s house and have a family get-together. They have a nice pool and we set off fireworks in the street after having a nice barque.
We usually take a trip to the park to watch the fireworks show!
https://twitter.com/littodinoz/status/739352904654565380
Lots of stars and stripes baking and arts and crafts! It’s such a fun craft “holiday”
We celebrate by going to the fireworks display together!
We go to the park for our town’s local fireworks event. They have games, carnival rides, food vendors and a fireworks show.
https://twitter.com/cochran_maryann/status/739551732036829185
We have family over and play games such as bocce ball.
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/739556293552152576
we celebrate July 4th with great food, usually BBQ and watch fireworks from the city.
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/739561215140073472
amy [at] uTry [dot] it
We like to have a family BBQ on the 4th of July every year.
We have backyard BBQ party with friends and family.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/739640348033458177
We have a BBQ and go to see fireworks if they are nearby.
https://twitter.com/XArea51/status/739651151595855873
We like to celebrate with a family cook-out!
We spend the day with the grandparents at our house, have a bbq, and watch the fireworks at night from the yard.
I am working on The Fourth of July. I work with developmentally disabled individuals, and I get to take one of them to see the fireworks It will be fun!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/tracylr233/status/739993146247909376
We have a cook out and then go watch firework shows
Fireworks! I loved them as a kid and still love them now. The kids love them too.
https://twitter.com/bagelburrito/status/740028339298013184
I don’t have any kids of my own but usually for the 4th of July my family and I head up to northern Wisconsin to my Aunt and Uncle’s cabin and celebrate in the Northwoods. We love it up there!
We’ll have a family cookout and grill everyone’s favorites.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/740214189700964353
We celebrate by bbqing and swimming at my sisters house.
Every year we go to a friend of the family’s house and have a cookout, swim and watch fireworks!
Our 4th of July weekend is always fun! For 29 years now, we host a big crab feast for all our friends & family! It has really changed from a big singles party to a family event with kids & parents everywhere! Always a great time!
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/amweeks/status/740915566685388800
It’s my brother’s birthday, so we celebrate with a cookout and cake!
chambanachik(at)gmail(dot)com
I always take my two little ones up camping and fishing at the lake,we roast hot dogs and make s’mores.they get to take a friend of their choice also.We always have a great time on the 4th of july
We celebrate with a neighborhood cookout and fireworks.
We just got to the park to have a picnic and to watch the fireworks.
we have a BBQ party with friends and family and go watch fireworks show at downtown!
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/743617042713026560
We always enjoy a big barbecue with family and friends followed by a local fireworks show.
tweet – https://twitter.com/littlebird_xo/status/743715862616563712
We love to go and watch the fireworks together.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/743905528024301568
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
We celebrate in the mornings by taking the kids to the parade and then we have friends and family over for a bbq and lots of water activities to keep them cool and happy and then we go to the fireworks show at the lake!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/744307249829548032
https://twitter.com/Natashalamoreu1/status/745026312230834176
I enjoy celebrating fin our backyard with friends and family. Great time of year to swim and bbq.
We love to have a picnic with family and play games outside. truckredford(at)gmail(dot)com
https://twitter.com/eliza_elliott/status/745996354795667456 truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com
We go to the familyโs cabin on the lake with the whole family!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/746834115807297536
We enjoy a big family bbq.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
tweeted https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/746854581154414592
cshell090869 at aol dot com
We do crafts and play games and they get to do sparklers.
Tweet https://twitter.com/Lindiac/status/746891044961169408
We enjoy watching a parade and the fireworks!
https://mobile.twitter.com/arress83/status/746900991350538240
We go to the concert and big fireworks show our town has every year.
the family wears red, white and blue and watches the fireworks together!
when my nephew comes over we eat bbq and and watch fireworks
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/747576073836179456
We celebrate the fourth by having a BBQ in our backyard.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/747611978231754752
I am going to celebrate by watching the fireworks show with my kids
https://twitter.com/spillerkustoms/status/747619608841060353
The day is usually spent at the pool. We’ll probably grill something for dinner and then fireworks after the sun goes down ๐ Sounds like a perfect summer day to me!
We celebrate by having a barbecue and decorating the house in red, white, & blue.
My Tweet :
https://twitter.com/fleurprincessa/status/748198187752521729
We always spend the day at the lake and then watch the fireworks.
https://twitter.com/usnamom2014/status/748246245261590531
we go to a family party.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/748249558744981505
We like to celebrate with the kids at the beach on vacation
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/748340900489748480
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
We like to have a barbecue and then finish the evening watching the huge fireworks display at the local ball park.
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/748377023932960768
surprisingly they enjoy watching the fireworks from the boat with us! =)
2nd entry https://mobile.twitter.com/Esham4life/status/748413950321168384
We BBQ and watch the fireworks.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/rubylorikeet/status/748415054127730688
I posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/purplepanda1966/status/748517272050753536
we just cook outside on our grill and enjoy our swimming pool
No children here but, when I was a kid, we always had a cookout at our house with friends and then went to the fireworks locally.
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/748518427145437184
Our local Indian casino has fireworks on the 3rd, so we start there. On the 4th it’s a pool party at the inlaws during the day, then off to my brothers at dusk because his house has a great view of the local rec center fireworks.
tweeted: https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/748610151247011841
No kids. We have a BBQ and then go watch the fireworks.
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/748630591487172612
I celebrate the 4th of July with my nephew by decorating a nice cake with all the red, white and blue frosting on top.
I publicly Tweeted this giveaway: https://twitter.com/versatileer/status/748635453914439681
We love to go to the fireworks and have a bbq / family get together when we can ๐ Also, watching the fireworks that the neighbors light off too!
anastasiafalling@gmail.com
Tweeted ๐ – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/748660821924843520
anastasiafalling@gmail.com
Tweeted-https://twitter.com/birdiebee52/status/748693370613080064
I actually celebrate the 4th of July alone as all of my kids are busy with their families.
Our kids were out of the country this year over the 4th so we celebrated just the two of us.