This is a big hit in my house!  I hope it is similarly enjoyed in your home, too!

 

Here's what you do:

Grab some crayons, blank paper, and as many kids and adults as you can round up.  (You need at least two people to play; three or four are also great!) Oh, and you'll need a timer, too.. . .

 

Okay, this one was invented by my kids.  And my kids are boys.  But like little girls their age, my boys too are fascinated by the concept of marriage.  So they invented this game:  "who will they marry?". . .

 

This is a great one for younger kids -- first grade and below, I'd say.

It's very simple.  Here's what you do:  name a profession, and your child tells you what people in that profession do all day.. . .

 

Here's what to do with the kids this wonderful holiday weekend:

 

Serve hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie.  Sure, you say. Of course, you say.  But do you actually do it?  We think apple pie should be as linked to the Fourth as pumpkin pie is to Thanksgiving!

Bunting.  Do your kids know what bunting is?  Well, this holiday is a perfect opportunity to teach the word!  If you want extra points, have your kids make their own bunting with red, white, and blue streamers.  (Of course, for that you'd have to actually buy red, white, and blue streamers -- and you know how we feel about you having to buy things!)

Kerchief the dog.  This one is our friends' family's tradition, and we think it's a great one.  First thing in the morning, the whole family gathers round to put a red, white, and blue kercheif around the dog's neck.  The dog looks festive -- and basks in the extra attention all day long.

We have friends who serve their kids strawberries, blueberries, and vanilla yogurt for breakfast every Fourth.  Sounds good (and patriotic) to me!

Talk about freedom.  Do some voting.  Our ideas on family freedom and voting can be found here.

Have the kids do some red, white, and blue artwork.  (We suggested this in detail yesterday.)

Talk about the "story of the Fourth of July."  Our popular re-telling of this important tale -- in words easily understandable by young children -- is here.

Tell the kids that your family is lucky to live in America!  (We all are.)

Happy 234th Birthday, America!

 

It's July today, and that means the Fourth of July is coming right up.

Today we'd like your kids to celebrate the coming national holiday with a little artwork. 

Now, some kids might not be inspired to create patriotic artwork.  If your kids are like mine, they'd rather draw zombies and dragons than American flags, fireworks and Uncle Sam.. . .