Hand Print Flag:
You Will Need
Large piece of mural or butcher paper
Non-Toxic, washable paints in red, white and blue
Directions: Lay out the piece of paper on a large flat surface such as a picnic table or sidewalk. Paint a large blue square in the upper left corner and allow to dry.
When dry, gently place children's hands in white paint and allow them to make handprint stars in the blue section. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, dry hands. Next allow children to take turns making red and white handprints in vertical lines to represent the stripes on the flag (don't forget, there are 50 stars and 13 stripes!). Allow mural to dry and then hang to display. (Children can also offer their "artist signatures" on the back or bottom right corner, add the date and you have a wonderful memory to cherish).
Fun with construction paper
To keep kids busy while Mom and Dad are busy grilling or for a quiet time break after swimming, break out the glue sticks and construction paper and let them go to work on this fun craft idea:
Red, White & Blue Windsock
You Will need:
Red, white and blue construction Paper
Glue Sticks
Red, and white crepe paper streamers
Star cookie cutter
Have child bend piece of blue construction paper into a circular tube and glue along the side to stick together. Trace stars using the cookie cutter shape onto white paper. Cut Star Shapes out and glue onto blue tube. Tear lengths of red and white crepe paper streamers and glue to inside bottom of the blue tube. Use a longer piece of streamer as a hanger (glue to inside top). Allow to dry and then enjoy!
Fun & Games
Patriotic Parade
Have a bike parade! Allow kids to decorate their bikes with red, white, and blue streamers and other patriotic decorations and then play some march music on a boom box and voila! you've got your own kiddie parade. Think about giving a prize for the most creatively decorated!
Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest
Place a piece of duct tape on the sidewalk and have kids stand in line with their watermelon in hand. When they approach the line, have them take a big bite and keep one seed in their mouth. Have a couple of adults at varying points on the sidewalk to watch how far the seed goes when spit. Measure with a tape measure. Give prizes for the longest, shortest and funniest seed spitter!
Ice Cream Eating Contest
Go to your local hardware or garden center and buy a new, plastic flower window box (about 2 1/2 feet long), Wash and dry carefully. Next fill with LOTS of ice cream and sundae making treats such as whipped cream, caramel, hot fudge, and cherries. Have two teams of kids (or families) and have contestants stand with their hands behind their backs. Blow a whistle to begin and watch the sloppy but delicous contest begin! The first team done wins. (Pepto Bismol might be a good idea following this one!)
Did you enjoy these ideas?
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