Family, Flags, Fireworks, and Fun

By Bethany Wilkes | July 1, 2013

It’s getting closer! How are you going to celebrate our independence with your family? First of all you should look at last Friday’s post to share some facts of our history with your family. But what are some fun and patriotic things to do? Here are a few:

Fly your Flag (rules and regulations of flag: http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagcode.htm)

  • Make sure you follow the rules of how to take care of your flag
  • See last Friday’s post to learn about the meaning of the colors

Learn the Pledge of Allegiance (http://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm)

  • It is important to know the foundation of our country

Donate to a charity (http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0074-giving-charity)

  • Give blood, Financial gifts to nonprofit organizations, relief fundraisers, education

Support Troops (http://www.ourmilitary.mil/resources/community-support-for-our-military)

  • Write letters, send packages, help the wounded, support military families

Go see a local Parade 

  • Find your closest local parade, find all the parking info, and go enjoy
  • Take a flag to wave at the parade
  • Don’t forget water to stay hydrated

Invite Friends Over, Have a BBQ

  • Grill up some burgers, hot dogs, corn, and veggies
  • Make some fruit salad and a green salad 
  • Make some dips to go with chips, chex mix, and popcorn
  • Bake some red white and blue cupcakes, cookies, anything patriotic tastes better 🙂
  • Make homemade ice cream
  • Make a lemonade or punch with strawberries and blueberries for red and blue accent

Play Games

  • Corn Hole, Ladder golf, Washer toss, Bob for apples
  • Competitions like water balloon toss, Three legged race, potato sack races
  • Play in the pool, if you don’t have one turn the sprinklers on
  • Play a game of America’s favorite pastime, or wiffleball

Sing Songs (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/html/patriotic/patriotic-home.html)

  • Star Spangled Banner
  • It’s a Grand Old Flag

Go see the Fireworks

  • Go early to get a good spot to watch. Set out a blanket with snacks and games. Take a football to toss around.
  • If you can’t get to any fireworks, buy SPARKLERS to do at home
  • Buy poppers for the kids
  • If you can’t have home fireworks make red white and blue ribbon wands

Wear your RED WHITE and BLUE Clothes

  • Be spirited. If you don’t have a specific outfit, wear it all. 
  • If you have time make a shirt- spray paint, fabric markers, or iron on
  • Paint your nails red white and blue

PLEASE BE SAFE

What are your 4th of July traditions??

Bethany Signature48

Posted in Family