easy fourth of july ideas for kids

Fireworks, barbecue, and day-long pool adventures.

Summer is officially here… and I don’t know about y’all but we’re kind of suckers for all things red white and blue. It’s one of our favorite holidays, and there’s just something so fun about celebrating each year in creative, but simple ways. It adds a little sentimental nostalgia to the festivities.

This week, we thought we’d share some easy fourth of july ideas for kids… for those little gatherings you may be enjoying in the next few weeks.

First up: Easy 4th of July treats

We rounded up some fresh fruit {in appropriate colors, of course} along with some vanilla ice cream for a sweet summertime treat. Guests can just top it off with granola, strawberries and blueberries for a patriotic partay in your mizouth.

Yes, I just wrote that.

We included these tags: super versatile if anyone wanted to use their own little labels: {usa printables 1 / usa printables 2} Simply click and print!

We rounded up some spoons, these little cups {here} + napkins/runner {here} and little fruit holders {here} for an easy, instant festive set up.

Great little pieces for a patriotic party!

For what it’s worth: The cokes aren’t really for the kids, so much as the adults, unless you want to hype them up and then release them into the great ~~beyond~~ outdoors… {because even though I’ll totally get a tummy ache later, there’s something so fun about a glass bottled coke every once in a while. Emphasis on the every once in a while}.

You can even combine those with some of that vanilla ice cream for a good old fashioned coke float. You’re basically a metaphor for all things fabulous summer.

A few straws {from the dollar spot a-la Target} and we were set.

I’m a sucker for garlands, and every holiday/get together/fun shindig we have, the kids ask us where they are. So this year, I just recycled a little Christmas love for these that felt oh so appropriate. They’re great little mindless projects perfect for rainy afternoons or late night TV.

How tos for the star garlands:

Gold star garland, here.

Yarn garland, here.

And you can break them out for multiple holidasical fun!

{See how we made our USA map here}

And on to their favorite part… during the day before those glow bracelets and sparkler fun, of course… homemade bubbles and bubble wands!

We just put some of these together for a fun old fashioned treat.

For handmade bubble wands:

• star template, {this size works with wide mouthed jars – if you have really young kids, we recommend the plastic variety, or transferring the bubble mixture into a pan once opened} • jewelry wire {we like the copper kind} • wire cutters, twigs {as straight as possible and of a similar length} • twine {of any kind} • a hot glue gun.

We started by wrapping some of the wire around the base. Don’t worry yet about sharp ends for little fingers, the twine helps cover it- more on that below.

Using the star printable as your template, move it around your star. You may need two sets of hands for the thinner wire, but any wire you have laying around will do.

Simply bend it as you go, checking your star to keep the shape even.

When you’re finished, wrap the other end back around the stick…

Tada! You have a handmade bubble wand… perfect for the fourth!

Then add a little dab of hot glue, and some twine to cover the exposed ends so that they don’t poke little fingers.

Helpful hints: • We added some circle shapes as well, that were super easy to make if you’re doing them in bulk • One pack of the wire above, made about 5-6 wands at this size.

For the homemade bubbles:

We used 1/4 cup Dawn blue dishwashing liquid, 1 cup water + tablespoon glycerine. We mixed them together, and poured them into the jars. Let them stand for 24 hours for best results.