Paper Fourth of July Crafts

Cheap and easy Fourth of July crafty activities for kids of all ages are the focus of this article. Although designed for children, all of these activities can be adapted for people of all ages to take part. Some of these are one hundred percent free while others require a minimal purchase but none of them will break the bank. All of the activities will get the entire family in on the action and will help to make the day more enjoyable for all.

Make a flag
Item needed some construction paper, stick glue, and a few pieces of white printer paper, star stickers, and some glitter pens.

Depending on the ages of the children involved, a helpful parent will cut out strips of red paper, which are about an inch high. Make sure you turn the paper to the landscape position to cut your strips.
A parent or older child should also cut out multiple tiny stars or simply use star stickers.

Allow the children to assemble the paper flags as an activity during your celebration or beforehand to use as decorations. However if you choose to use this for a party activity it will keep the kids entertained so the adults can relax.

Paper chains
Some may think that paper chains are for Christmas, but if you use red, white and blue construction paper these become themed for the fourth of July celebrations around that nation. This is also one of those activities, which will keep the kids entertained.

A parent or older child should precut strips of red, white, and blue construction paper into inch long strips. Make sure you turn the paper to the landscape position to cut your strips.



Use a stapler to secure the strips into the chain, and see how big a child can get the chains. You can make this a mall competition by dividing the children into groups. Offer prizes for the longest length in a certain period. 


Coloring Contest
Many web sites offer themed holiday printable which you can print off and have the kids or those who are youthful color. The beauty of these pages is that you can print off simple drawings, or more detailed ones, so there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Simply supply the crayons, markers, glitter pens, stickers and allow the kids to have fun.

Hodgepodge
Cut out images from magazines of families sharing special times and have the kids paste them onto sheets of poster paper. Make these pictures have a theme such as family fun, food, and even locations.

raditions for the Fourth of July

Traditions for the Fourth of July holiday are varied between families and states. There are many similarities between the traditions of the Fourth of July holiday, but there are differences as well.


I am going to discuss what happens in northeastern Pennsylvania in our traditional Fourth of July holiday get-togethers. Perhaps it can inspire you to share some good clean healthy fun.

I come from a rather large extended family, so we usually do any holiday celebrations as a family unit but we also to include some people who are not family. Most of our fourth of July celebrations occur at our privately owned campground.

Camping is a tradition in my family. We usually camp most of the summer a few days at a time. In the month of July, my children and I remain the whole time, and the fourth is the best.

Now during this month some people stay the whole month and others to stay a few days at a time. One thing is certain we are all there for the Fourth of July. It is fun for everyone.

We have a few sparkers for the little ones but who needs them when you have bonfires on a nightly basis? You can toast marshmallows or hotdogs while listening to family members sing patriotic songs.

Fourth of July activities include a friendly cook off that would leave Gordon Ramsey licking his lips in appreciation. Each of my siblings makes a special dish, which is judged, and the best ones in each category will win a prize.

Everyone tries to make a dish with a patriotic name. It is a challenge to come up with something different each year. Points are given for creativity in the name of the dish, taste, and creativity of the ingredients used. The smells of all the different items being cooked over the campfires wafts through the air.

We also try to play old-fashioned games, and spend the day talking and bonding. We have also done a special trivia game in which the answers all have to do with the July 4 in history or events, which led up to our nation's independence.


Gather the kids to play Frisbee, softball or volleyball. One of the fun activities for the kids is to play a version of tag where you have to call out a name of someone in history. This really tests their knowledge and makes you wonder how much they pay attention in school.

Two small towns near us will have Fourth of July celebrations, and we attend both of these as one huge unit. They are on different nights, which is great. We caravan which means it is usually about a 20-car procession, so it takes us a while to get anywhere. We all enjoy the fireworks, and the carnivals, which are set up both of these celebrations. However, the thing that we all liked best easily is being with family.

Father's Day Printables

Father's Day is quickly coming upon us, and if you are looking for last minute special gifts that you can create for your dad look no further. Here are my favorite collection of links with lots of ideas how to create the perfect gift, cards and crafts for your Father, Father in law or any dad that needs a special boost this year on Father's Day.



The crafts, cards, and other activity links found on this page are perfect for children of all age. All of these activities can give you ideas to create your own gifts for Father's Day to show your dad just how much you care about him.

Free Father's Day cards to print

www.familycrafts.about.com/od/Fathersdaycards

www.fathersday-cards.com/

www.123greetings.com/events/fathers_day/

Father's Day Cards to Print at Blue Mountain they are free
www.bluemountain.com/cnp/cpsearch.pd?path=27730

Father's Day Coloring Pages to color for your special dad

www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/Father/gifts.htm

Crafts, Cards, and many activities for Father's Day Crafts geared towards preschoolers, kindergarten, and elementary school aged children.

www.crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/fathers-day/
www.dltk-holidays.com/dad/
www.lessonplanspage.com/FathersDay.htm
www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/fathersday/

The Craft Library many Father's Day gifts on this web site.
www.homeschoolzone.com/PP/Fathers-day.htm
www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/mengifts.html

We should not have just one day to show our dads how special they are to us, so remember to tell your dad everyday that you love him. This is something many of us do not do, and we really should take the time just to say I love you dad, everyday. Making Father's Day everyday is a great way to show your dad you love him.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom Myrtle and to all the moms out there.

Here are my favorite collection of links with lots of ideas how to create the perfect gift for your mother, mother in law or any mom that needs a special boost this year on Mother's Day.

The crafts, cards, and other activity links found on this page are perfect for children of all ages, from preschoolers, kindergarteners, right up through all of elementary school age. All of these activities can give you ideas to create your own gifts for Mother's Day to show your mom just how much you care about her.

We should not have just one day to show our moms how special they are to us, so remember to tell your mom everyday that you love her. This is something many of us do not do, and we really should take the time just to say I love you mom, everyday. Making Mother's Day everyday is a great way to show your mom you love her.

Free Mother's Day cards to print

www.familycrafts.about.com/od/mothersdaycards
Mother's Day Cards to Print at Blue Mountain they are free

www.bluemountain.com/cnp/cpsearch.pd?path=27730
Mother's Day Coloring Pages to color for your special mom

www.billybear4kids.com/holidays/mother/gifts.htm
Crafts, Cards, and many activities for Mother's Day

www.crafts.kaboose.com/holidays/mothers-day/
Create a Mother's Day shadow Box with a shoebox, Popsicle sticks, and flowers.

www.lessonplanspage.com/MothersDay.htm
Mother's Day Potholder Craft, easy to make

www.daniellesplace.com/html/mothersday.html
Mother's Day Crafts geared towards preschoolers, kindergarten, and elementary school aged children.

www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mothersday/
The Craft Library many Mother's Day gifts on this web site.

ww.homeschoolzone.com/PP/mothers-day.htm

Another cool idea for kids this Mother's Day is to give mom a plant that grows this way she can be reminded each day how much you love her everyday. With the help of an adult a child could prepare a special breakfast or lunch for Mother's Day, and this one if perfect for any mom.

Plan a Mother's Day Party

Planning a Mother's Day party is only as hard as you make it out to be. Do everything with your own mom in mind. The rest will come easy. Celebrate Mother's Day's with your mom, and remember it is really all about her so pamper her all day long. When you are planning a mother's day party perhaps, this can help.


First things first, the day of the celebration is an easy, unless of course if you have a working mom. There is no steadfast rule that says you need to celebrate Mother's Day then. Wait until it is her day off if she is a working mom, she will be able to enjoy the effort better if she is well rested.



Next, choose the location. This does not need to be her home, in fact it can be anywhere she enjoys being. If she enjoys the beach or a cabin in the woods, take the celebration there. This is her special time, so allow her personal taste dictate the location. My mom enjoys spending time at the family campground or on the huge deck at her house.

The food sometimes can be a real headache for some Mother's Day party planners. If your mom enjoys a barbeque, than have one. If she enjoys seafood, have a nice seafood brunch.

If you mom prefers picnic food, why not host a picnic. Fire up the grill, and grill a steak, hamburger, or whatever it is, she loves to eat. If a home cooked, dinner is more your mom's style why not a nice Italian meal or hearty pot-roast. The choice should always be exactly what the mom wants.

In our family, we usually have a huge picnic. It is a big family fun filled day. The males in the family run the barbeque while us moms sit and chat. My sisters and I all pick one of mom's favorites and that is what we make for the celebration before we even head to the celebration.

The entertainment can be as simple as a radio for background noise or the birds twittering. Of course, the joyful noise of a family laughing and talking together is always preferable to any music.

Of course, it is always fun to play a game of trivia. Base the trivia on the moms in attendance, or even famous moms in history. Have the trivia questions prepared well in advance of Mother's Day.

The entertainment can be a talent show by family members. I am sure the children in the family would love to 'show off; for mom and grandma on their special day. Make sure all children get some type of small present for their effort.