A Family Fourth: Kid-Friendly 4th of July Party Ideas

Fireworks, cookouts, fun summer treats, and good old fashioned outdoor fun are what July 4th celebrations are all about. Whether you're organizing a neighborhood get together, or just celebrating with your family, check out our list of kid-approved 4th of July eats, decorations and activities.

Photo: 4th of July Breakfast Flag Holes by Jac o'lyn Murphy Designs

Kick off the Fourth on a festive note with these 4th of July Breakfast Flag Holes from Jac o'lyn Murphy Designs. A great activity for your little early morning risers (which is like all kids under the age of tweenager, am I right?!), this is a super simple and yummy way to get the party started early. All you need are store bought powered sugar donut holes and red and blue colored sugar. That's it!

Photo: Patriotic Popcorn by Two Sisters

What kid (or adult, for that matter) doesn't love popcorn with some sweet treats thrown in? This Patriotic Popcorn recipe from Two Sisters is made with melted mini marshmallows as the binding agent with Red and Blue Regular M&M's, Pretzel M&M's, sprinkles, and (more!) mini marshmallows thrown in to the mix. YUM!

Photo: Patriotic Oreo Pops by Happiness is Homemade

Keep the sugar high rolling with these festive and delicious Patriotic Oreo Pops by Happiness is Homemade. These may look fancy, but they are super easy to make. Kids will have a blast dunking the Oreos in red, white and blue melted chocolate and going to town decorating with sprinkles and chocolate drizzles. You could also buy clear cellophane bags and ribbon and wrap these up as party favors for the neighborhood kids to take home.

Photo: Fruit Sparklers by Tastes Better From Scratch

When they've had enough of the sweets (who am I kidding? As if!), squeeze a little healthy into the celebration with these Fruit Sparklers from Tastes Better From Scratch. All you need are some skewers, a star cookie cutter, seedless watermelon, and blueberries to whip these up with your kids (just be sure to pay close attention to little hands around the pointy skewers).

Photo: July 4th Layered Drinks by In Katrina's Kitchen

Every great celebration needs a signature drink! Kids will get a total kick out of these July 4th Layered Drinks from In Katrina's Kitchen. The secret to the layering is in the sugar content of the drinks (the heaviest sugar content goes on the bottom) and using plenty of ice. This recipe uses Blue G2 Gatorade, White Sobe Pina Coloada flavored drink, and Red CranApple Juice (tip: you could also add some alcohol to the mix for the grown-ups in your group). 

Photo: Painted Lawn Stars by The Concrete Cottage

These Painted Lawn Stars from The Concrete Cottage are one our favorite 4th of July decorating ideas. This is super easy to do (it took us about 20 minutes last year to cover our entire front lawn), makes a big statement, and the kids love it. Make sure you purchase construction marking paint that is specifically made for grass so you don't kill your lawn!

Photo: Patriotic Lollipop Topiary by Gluesticks by Brandy Nelson

These Patriotic Lollipop Topiaries from Gluesticks by Brandy Nelson are guaranteed to be a hit with the kids. They do take quite a bit of lollipops to make though (about 40 to fill a 5"-6" diameter bucket), so be sure to buy in bulk!

Photo: American Flag Mason Jar Candles from Thrifty Decor Chick

I'm a big fan of decorating with candles.These adorable American Flag Mason Jar Candles from Thrifty Decor Chick scream old fashioned Americana summer and are inexpensive and easy to make. Kids will love helping scoop the sand into the jars and plopping in the LED votive candles. 

Photo: 4th of July Balloon Dart Game by Giggles Galore

Put some extra POP into your celebration with this 4th of July Flag Balloon Dart Game from Giggles Galore that doubles as fun party decor! Since this one involves hurling sharp projectiles through the air, it's best left to the slightly older kids. Stuff the balloons with prizes like candy and money before blowing them up for a fun surprise with every pop!

Photo: D.I.Y. Party Poppers: 4th of July Edition by Love Vividly

These 4th of July D.I.Y. Party Poppers from Love Vividly are a safer alternative to fireworks and sparklers for your littlest littles. Use Love Vividly's free printables and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to inject a little confetti into your July 4th celebration. 

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Tags: 4th of july kids family friendly america independence patriotic crafts food activities decorations