13 Fun July 4th Activities to Do with Kids

13 Fun July 4th Activities to Do with Kids

Almost nothing screams “summer!” like the July 4th holiday, and it’s an amazing opportunity to spend some serious quality time with friends and family. And while you’re prepping for a neighborhood cookout or out-of-town adventure, it’s also a blast to introduce some July 4th themed activities for your kiddos. From patriotic DIYs to fun family competitions, these are our favorite fun and easy activities to do with kids on Independence Day.

• Attend a parade. If your city or town organizes parades on Independence Day, check them out—free fun? Yes, please! Gather your family and camp out for floats, drum along with marching bands, and discover new local small businesses. 

• Make s’mores. Get that campfire going and create a s’more buffet: set out options for your “sandwich” component (graham crackers, Ritz, chocolate chip cookies—get creative!), marshmallows, spreadables (like Nutella or peanut butter), and different chocolate candy for melting. Let your kiddos experiment with building their own outrageous s’mores (and make them brush their teeth extra well before bed).

• Plan a picnic. Fill your picnic basket with snacks, sandwiches, refreshing drinks, or charcuterie (if you’re fancy). Find a local park or beach and enjoy a family outdoor meal, and don’t forget to pack a Frisbee or other outdoor game to play together.

• Teach your kids patriotic songs. Channel your inner stage parent and help your children learn simple kid-friendly patriotic classics, like:
  • Yankee Doodle Dandy
  • This Land Is Your Land
  • The Star Spangled Banner
  • America the Beautiful
  • This Is My Country
  • You’re a Grand Old Flag

• Host a cookout. Fire up the grill and invite friends, family, and neighbors over for a festive barbecue. Serve classic Americana dishes, like hamburgers, hotdogs, corn on the cob, and macaroni salad (most of these are pretty kid-friendly, too). Set up games like horseshoes, cornhole, or bocce ball to keep all your guests entertained.

• Decorate your bikes, strollers, or wagons. Encourage your kids to decorate their bikes, trikes, or wagons with patriotic decorations and let them cruise the neighborhood (or start their own parade). The kids will love showing off their masterpieces, and decorating is something the whole family can do together.

• Do a July 4th scavenger hunt. If the thought of creating a themed scavenger hunt for your kiddos feels overwhelming, don’t worry: there are incredible creative parents doing the heavy lifting for you. This free printable is an easy activity that will keep your kids occupied on a patriotic adventure.

• Have a sidewalk chalk competition. Bust out the sidewalk chalk and challenge the kids to a July 4th drawing competition. Who can draw the best fireworks, stars and stripes, or Mount Rushmore (if you’re feeling really ambitious)?

• Make red, white, and blue food. Let your kids decorate cakes, pies, cupcakes and other treats with red, white, and blue sprinkles, or encourage them to create an American flag with blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, or raspberries—whatever they like (bonus: daily vitamin C goals achieved).

• Visit a museum or national park. Take advantage of the holiday and plan a visit to a nearby national park or museum. Explore the exhibits, brush up on your American history, and appreciate the natural beauty of our country with your family. Just be prepared for crowds.

• Set up an outdoor movie night. Set up a projector and screen in your backyard, set up blankets and chairs, grab the popcorn and snacks, and enjoy a patriotic movie under the stars. A few movie suggestions for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens:
  • An American Tail
  • The Sandlot
  • Apollo 13
  • Yankee Doodle Dandy
  • Hidden Figures
  • Hamilton
  • A League of Their Own
  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

• Write a thank you note. A Million Thanks collects and distributes thank you notes directly to active, reserve, and veteran members of the military. Helping your child write a note of gratitude to the men and women serving our country is the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day.

• Go see fireworks. Check local listings for firework shows in your area. Get there early to score a good viewing spot, lay out a blanket, and enjoy the show with your family (and may pack noise canceling headphones for little ones).

Finding What’s Right for You

Albee Baby is the oldest family-owned specialty baby shop in the US, and we pride ourselves on providing our customers with the best assortment of baby products anywhere, at fair prices, always. We’re committed to being an inclusive resource for parents, and hope you’re feeling empowered to find the right baby gear for your family. Still have questions? Feel free to contact our baby gear experts at 877.692.5233 or by email at [email protected].