Unique Ways To Celebrate The 4th Of July

I love the Fourth of July. It is one of my favorite days of the year. I enjoy the feeling of patriotism that sweeps over me as I see the flags fluttering in the breeze, veterans dressed in uniform marching in the parades, and the beautiful blasts of colors shooting across the sky.

Nearly every year we go out for breakfast, watch the local parade and then spend the day playing games or swimming before heading out for the fireworks. It is a fun tradition that we love to share with the kids. If parades are not your thing, below are a few great ideas to celebrate the nation’s birthday.

Unique ways to celebrate the 4th of July

Read about the founding fathers: Younger kids will not have a long attention span, but taking a few minutes to remember everything that is great about our country is a good way to teach your kids to honor our history. Check out the local library for one of these great books great books for a quick read. One of my personal favorites is “The Great Little Madison.” It is a fun, easy read about one of the original creators of the constitution.

Have a patriotic breakfast: You can make a healthy, tasty breakfast using red, white and blue to bring a little extra patriotism to the table on July 4. Consider using strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream to decorate pancakes. You could also create a yummy parfait with vanilla yogurt, blueberries and raspberries, topped with granola and a little honey.

Write thank-you notes to military members: I have several friends who have served in the military, my brother served a tour in Iraq (as part of several years as a member of the United States Marine Corp), my husband’s father and grandfather both served in the military and grandparents on my side also served in the military. We are a grateful family and I know they appreciate getting letters when they are far from home. Consider putting together a small care package or even sending simple thank you cards to a local military base.

Get Crafty: Make patriotic crafts including these cute patriotic mason jars. Your little ones can decorate their bikes with streamers and other patriotic decorations and you can even have them draw their own American Flags to display on the windows. While they are drawing the flag, take a few minutes to teach them what each color symbolizes. It is a great time to learn about Betsy Ross and the national anthem as well.