Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue!

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The 4th of July, or Independence Day, celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. With a little planning and a lot of red, white, and blue, any family can organize a fabulous "patriotic party" to honor the founding of our country.

From cul-de-sac parades to potluck suppers, neighbors are brought closer together on this special day and weekend. So circle the lawn chairs, slip on an Uncle Sam hat, and get ready to enjoy a Fourth of July blast with your children and your neighbors' kids, too.

Decorations

Penny Pendant

Cut out three stars for each pendant, each one a little bigger. Use red, white, and blue construction paper. The white star looks the best in the center. Glue each star together, lastly gluing the shiny penny (Lincoln side up) in the middle of the smallest star. Punch a hole near the top of the stars. Thread yarn through the pendant and knot it at the top. Do you know much about President Lincoln? This might be a good time to read a book about him. Wear this pendant with pride.

Fire Works Art

Place a white, blue, or black sheet of poster board on the sidewalk outside. Next, dip "Koosh Balls" into poster paint to coat them. Have your child take a ball and drop it down onto the poster board. This looks just like fireworks, and the kids love the part of throwing them! Just make sure to wear old clothes and have a hose nearby to easily clean up any paint on the sidewalk. When the paint dries on your board, enhance the fireworks display with glitter paints.

Patriotic Suncatchers

To make cute window hangings, invite your kids to brush liquid starch on a clear plastic plate (clear lids from large coffee cans work well too). Provide them with a variety of red, white, and blue tissue paper, pieces of crepe paper streamers, stars, sequins, and glitter. The starch soaks through the thin pieces and adheres these to the plate. Brush on a second coat to keep things in place. Let dry thoroughly, punch a hole at the top and hang in a sunny place with a ribbon loop.

Popsicle Stick Flag

Have the children paint six craft sticks red and five sticks white. Glue these in place alternating colors on a piece of cardboard. Brush a block of blue in the upper left corner. Invite the children to place sticker stars in this block. To hang, punch two holes into the top part of the cardboard and thread a piece of yarn for the hanger. This flag is not truly authentic, but the children will learn about the colors and formation of the American flag.

Smiley Face Uncle Sam

Use a lunch-size paper plate or a circle of the same size. Paint this with yellow poster paint. While this is drying, invite the kids to create a top hat out of cardboard. Either paint it with red, white, and blue stripes or glue felt pieces in place. Decorate with sticker stars. Glue or staple the hat onto the yellow circle. Draw in a GREAT BIG SMILE.