Fourth of July Activities for Kids

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Fourth of July is a holiday celebrating America’s independence--it commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress, that declared the 13 American colonies as a new nation free from the British Empire. The birth of the United States of America is usually celebrated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, fairs, and concerts, it’s also a great time of year to spend with your family, especially your kids. If you're hosting a BBQ or other July 4th bash, check out these fun-filled activities to do with your children this Independence Day!

You can’t have the Fourth of July without fireworks! A great way to make fireworks interactive is to have your children count all the fireworks they see in the sky. For example, they can keep track of how many red, white, and blue fireworks they see. Before the real fireworks start, have your kids create some firework artwork of their own, using markers, colored pencils, and crayons. You can also create fireworks by making designs with glue and glitter.

You can find a variety of Fourth of July themed food items online, pick a few easy recipes and have your children choose dishes they would like to make. They will feel like they helped with the barbecue! An easy DIY July 4th recipe for your kids to create is a red, white, and blue layered (non-alcoholic) drink. To make the drink, fill a glass completely with ice, and find red, white, and blue drinks of varying sugar levels. The difference in sugar content causes the drinks to layer nicely. 

A great activity that will be fun throughout the day is a Fourth of July themed scavenger hunt! Your little ones will love trying to collect all the items on your list. Include July 4th barbecue staples such as burgers, hot dogs, flag decorations, something red, white and blue--you get the idea. You can simply download our pre-designed template at the top of this page and hand them out to all your younger party guests! If you want to add a competitive edge, promise a prize to the hunter that returns with all the items first.

Another fun way to celebrate the holiday with your children is to make safe fireworks. Simply fill a blue balloon with confetti--star confetti that is red and blue would be perfect--and blow it up. Then carefully pop the balloons with a needle--it'll make a loud pop, like a firework, delighting your little ones. It may get a little messy so be sure to clean up the confetti afterwards--even if you enjoy your balloon fireworks outdoors, confetti could be dangerous to animals if ingested.

Celebrate Fourth of July with your children with a little colorful face painting! Create July 4th designs on their faces, such as fireworks or American flags. Children love face painting and it's a fun and easy way to show their American pride. It’s also an affordable (and only slightly messy) activity for all of your younger Fourth of July party guests!