Well, Mama, the 4th of July is just around the corner. It’s an exciting holiday filled with classic childhood memories for many of us who grew up the U.S. But if you’re like me and have young children who need to be in bed long before it’s time for fireworks, you need some ideas for how to celebrate this 4th of July from home.
It may not sound like much fun to skip the fireworks and patriotic parties, but there are still ways your family can celebrate and have a good time. So if you are wondering how to fill your day with family-friendly patriotism from home, you are in the right place.
And don’t worry – I know how busy you are, so we will keep this short and to-the-point. Here are 10 ways you can celebrate the 4th of July from home.
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10 Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July at Home
1. Make 4th of July Decorations
My daughter is currently making 4th of July decorations as I write this. In the midst of a boring afternoon during which Mommy had to work on the computer, some unstructured 4th of July crafting was just the thing to keep her busy for a while. All you need is some red, white, blue and silver colored paper, crepe paper, glitter, popsicle sticks, pom poms, ribbon and whatever else you have on hand or can buy at the Dollar Tree or Walmart.
Lay out the crafting supplies and let your kid go to town making decorations for your 4th of July celebration at home!
2. Roast Marshmallows
You don’t have to go to a bonfire – or even the firepit in your backyard if it’s raining – to roast marshmallows. You can roast marshmallows over the flame of a grill, a fireplace or a gas stove. If all else fails, you can melt them in the oven or microwave so that your family does not miss out on s’mores for the 4th of July.
And don’t forget the chocolate bars and graham crackers! You might also want to grab some skewers if you will be roasting inside.
3. Watch Fireworks on TV
I have been doing this since my first daughter was a toddler. Since we have never been able to go out for fireworks due to interference with young children’s bedtimes, we usually turn on a fireworks show on YouTube before their bedtime.
It may not be quite as exciting as seeing fireworks live, but it’s a way to celebrate even when you have to stay home. Also, a plus of watching fireworks on TV is that you don’t have to worry about the noise scaring young children.
4. Listen to Patriotic Kids Audio Shows
When I was a kid, I loved listening to episodes of various kids Christian radio shows. I loved being able to imagine the story as it developed. Listening to audio shows might sound outdated, but it’s a great option for educational and imaginative entertainment without a screen.
For the 4th of July, you can turn on some historical kids audio shows for your kids to listen to as they go about their other tasks for the day or during quiet times. Your Story Hour has some historical shows that would be great for this patriotic holiday.
5. Do 4th of July Activity Pages
One of the easiest ways you can engage your kids in celebration this 4th of July is to print out some activity pages for them to do, like these free 4th of July activity sheets over at Kids Activities. I am a big fan of free printable activity sheets for kids. I love that they are an easy way to provide my child with something that requires some brain work but is also fun enough that she eagerly does it.
And, fortunately, there are a lot of free printable activity sheets online to choose from for every occasion.
6. Make 4th of July Snacks
If your child(ren) is anything like mine, a celebration is only as good as the snacks involved. So if you want to have a fun 4th of July at home, you are going to need some fun snacks!
Try this patriotic popcorn snack mix recipe from It’s Always Autumn, these cute patriotic fruit kabobs from Two Healthy Kitchens, or these patriotic Jello cream cups from Simple Living Recipes for some super easy 4th of July snack options.
7. Use Patriotic Disposable Dishes
What kid – or adult – does not love holiday-themed disposable dinnerware? I picked up some 4th of July paper plates and plasticware from Walmart for a grand total of less than $4. You could probably find some options at the Dollar Tree as well.
It’s a cheap, simple way to make the day a little bit more fun (and easier to clean up!).
8. Play Patriotic Games
Games are another one of those things you can easily print off or find ideas for online. The Benson Street has a great printable with several fun, easy games for families to play together on the 4th of July. Even if you can’t go out for the fourth, you can make the most of the holiday by focusing on spending time together as a family doing fun things that everyone might not have time for on the average day.
9. Do Sparklers
This one is self-explanatory. Who doesn’t have great childhood memories of the awe-inspiring magic of sparkly fire? Sparklers are mandatory for the 4th of July at my house.
Just be sure to teach your kids how to safely hold them away from their bodies and keep them off of dry grass. And keep the sparklers away from the littlest children, of course.
10. Camp Out in the Living Room
Even if your kids can’t stay up late enough to do the fun 4th of July activities outside the house, they can still have a fun evening at home before their bedtime. Make it a “camp out” night in the living room. Lay out the sleeping bags, bring your flashlights, read some books, watch the fireworks display on the TV and munch on those snacks you made earlier. Make this 4th of July memorable.
Keep this Holiday Simple
It really doesn’t take much to get kids excited and having fun for a holiday. Any occasion to celebrate, play some games and eat some yummy food is usually enough to make a solid memory in the heart of a child. Go easy on yourself and keep the 4th of July a simple holiday. After all, you need to have fun too, Mama.
Happy fourth!
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Also, if you found this post helpful, you might also like to read my ideas for mother-daughter dates here!
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