Family Fun on the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is a time to bring family and friends together, to share in summer activities, while enjoying the fireworks, food, and festivities. Family cook-outs and backyard bbq's are a tradition in all areas of the United States, as people come together to celebrate this summer holiday. It's a great time to celebrate with children. Many families begin the day early, attending the local parade, then getting together with family and friends in the afternoon, and finally ending the celebration with a late night trip to the fireworks display. While all of these activities are fun and exciting for children, youngsters can tend to get bored in the late afternoon. Sometime between the backyard bbq and the first burst of radiant color at the fireworks, families often find themselves with little to do- besides waiting for the sun to set, that is. This year you may want to consider planning a few fun crafts for the kids, and even consider adding some wholesome and entertaining family activities to keep the holiday spirit going strong, all day long.

Paper Bag Party Hats
Kids will make a real fashion statement this Fourth of July, wearing one of these outrageous and fun Fourth of July party hats. These hats are an inexpensive craft that any child can easily make. Kids have a blast with this clever craft idea which will add a touch of color and sparkle to any Independence Day gathering. No mess, no fuss, and loads of fun, little ones will love wearing their one of a kind "Fourth of July" creation to the parade, the fireworks, or just around the house. Simply set the supplies out on a picnic or card table, with a sample hat or two, so crafters get the idea. Then let everyone come up with their own original design. After the hats are made, encourage everyone to "march" around the yard, or up and down the street, waving flags in their own "holiday parade".

For each hat you will need:
-A full size paper grocery bag (ask your local supermarket to supply these)
-Flag, shiny star and other brightly colored stickers
-Sparkly pipe cleaners (red white and blue)
-Glitter glue- red, blue, silver, and gold
-Markers, crayons or other materials for decorating

Instructions:
1. Turn paper bags inside out, so that the advertisements do not show on the outside of the bags.
2. Roll or fold paper bags from the open end downward, forming a "brim" for the hat. Have children try their hat on for proper fit.
3. Use glitter glue to imitate "fireworks" on the top of each hat.
4. Add flag and star stickers around the brim, or use in various patterns on the top of the hat.
5. Attach sparkling pipe cleaners to the top of the hat, attaching shiny star stickers to simulate fireworks.
6. Add any other decorations you choose, using crayons, markers and glitter to complete your fun fashion .

Home Made Kites
Kite flying is a great summer activity that children and adults appreciate. Your guests will enjoy being able to create and fly their own "original" designer kites.
Have fun after by seeing whose kite can fly the highest, stay up the longest, or see how many kites you can get into the air at one time.

For each kite you will need:
- 6 plastic straws
- 2 squares of tissue paper in patriotic colors
- one or more twelve inch lengths of crepe paper for the tail
- Scotch tape
- String or small spool of ribbon (should be long to thread through the straws, leaving enough to enable the kite to get off the ground, atleast 8 to 10 feet.)
- Flag or star stickers

Instructions:
1. Thread string or ribbon through first straw, continuing to the second, third and so on,until all six straws have been threaded. Once the straws are threaded together they will form a kite shape, The shorter point is the top of the kite. Tie a knot at the bottom of the diamond, leaving a length of 7 to 8 foot of string or ribbon below the knot.
2. Cover the diamond with tissue paper, using one sheet for the front of the kite and a second sheet for the back. Secure with scotch tape.
3. Tape the crepe paper to the bottom of the kite base.
4. Decorate with stickers, as you choose.

Tissue Paper Streamers
Simple to make and great fun for kids in the sun, these paper streamers will be a hit at your Fourth of July gathering. Once the streamers are made children will have a great time running and spinning around to see them blowing in the wind. Kids can even wear these paper streamers on their heads or wrists, and can hang them up at home, after the party's over.

For each streamer you will need:
-a paper plate with the inner circle cut out of the center.
-crepe paper in red, white and blue, cut into 24 inch pieces. (These 2 steps should be done ahead of time to avoid the need for small children to use scissors.)
-stapler
-festive Fourth of July stickers, such as flags, stars and fireworks

Instructions:
1. Staple lengths of crepe paper around the outside of the paper plate.
2. Decorate with stickers as you prefer.

These safe and simple craft activities can be done by children of almost any age, with little adult supervision. Just be sure to do any cutting ahead of time, to save yourself the worry of needing to have scissors on your craft table. They can be done at almost any location, the beach, park or at your own backyard barbecue, keeping your youngsters in a festive mood from the morning parade to the late night fireworks display.