It really is true that children make all holidays more exciting, and the Fourth of July is no exception. While watching fireworks at the end of the day is usually the the most traditional and most anticipated aspect of this holiday for children, there are so many fun things to do before the show starts. The Fourth of July festivities don’t have to wait until dark to commence, and there are a lot of great ways to celebrate with your kids earlier in the day. If you’re wondering what activities to plan, read these 4 ways to celebrate the Fourth with your kids.

Make red white and blue treats

Whipping up some sweet treats are an easy way to entertain your children while enjoying quality bonding time. Look up a good sugar cookie recipe, or even more American, an apple pie, and teach your children how to make it. Baking is a simple, fun activity and provides a finished product that acts as the perfect canvas for children to decorate with red, white, and blue icing and star-shaped sprinkles. Decorating treats are also perfect for bigger groups of kids of all ages, but be sure to make plenty because they go fast! Visit our Pinterest board for some good Fourth of July recipes.

Plan fun crafts on hand

Patriotic crafts are a great way to get in the holiday spirit with your children, and are fun for both you and them. Crafts keep kids engaged while developing a family tradition that everyone is sure to cherish. The best crafts for children involve letting them be creative and take reign of their work. Have your child pick out a few rocks from the yard that they can paint with red, white, and blue designs, or create firework artwork using red, white, and blue paint and some straws. View our Fourth of July Pinterest board for more ideas for fun crafts:

Play sports together

Backyard sports are a great way to get your children active on the Fourth, and are also a good way to bond as a family. Set up a volleyball net in the backyard for your family to hit the ball back and forth, or maybe start up a competitive tournament. The more the merrier! Badminton is another backyard sports favorite that is super easy to set up and play. If you want to stray away from the conventional sports, you can even get creative and hold a relay race or water balloon war if it gets really warm.  

Participate in a neighborhood parade

Have your kids decorate their bicycle or golf cart with patriotic decorations to ride in the local Fourth of July parade. Many neighborhoods and cities have small parades in which kids and their parents can join in and display their American pride. Decorating their bicycle and dressing up in red, white, and blue to parade around the neighborhood is a great way to get your kids excited about the day, and is a fun social activity as well.