Holidays

Stay-at-Home 4th of July Guide

TIME FOR NEW FAMILY TRADITIONS

By Maria Sansone • •

NBCUniversal, Inc.

July 4th will look different this year. Need some ideas to pump up the patriotism, and fun? Maria Sansone is showing us what we can do.

This 4th of July many of us are staying at home given the COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines. BostonMoms.com CEO Meghan Block says we can all use this time as an opportunity to pump up the patriotism and make new family and neighborhood traditions. We caught up with Block for her 4th of July Stay-at-Home Guide.

CRAFTS

If you want to decorate the day in red, white and blue let the kids get busy.

A star thumbprint is a simple hang-up decoration. You simply tape a star cutout onto a blank piece of paper and allow your kids to outline the star with their thumbprint in patriotic paint colors. When finished, remove the star and you will have a piece of art made by your kids.

Or straw fireworks are a fun craft for the family. Make firework shapes out of straws and then dip the design into paint and stamp onto paper to create a firework painting.

Slime anyone? Even for those parents who aren't normally into getting slime-y, the 4th of July may be the perfect time to make some homemade goo and turn it red, white, and blue. Get the simple recipe in the video above.

STAR THUMBPRINT CRAFT: Cut out a star and tape it onto paper. Then have your children outline the star with their thumb in red and blue paint, remove the star and you've got a piece of patriotic art!
STAR THUMBPRINT CRAFT: Cut out a star and tape it onto paper. Then have your children outline the star with their thumb in red and blue paint, remove the star and you've got a piece of patriotic art!
STAR THUMBPRINT CRAFT: Cut out a star and tape it onto paper. Then have your children outline the star with their thumb in red and blue paint, remove the star and you've got a piece of patriotic art!
Simply attach straws together into a fireworks design and then dip in paint to form fireworks designs on paper. How fun!
Simply attach straws together into a fireworks design and then dip in paint to form fireworks designs on paper. How fun!
Red, white and blue slime just in time for the holiday!
Here are the simple ingredients...all found in the craft aisle at any department store.
Start with the glue and then add the activator, adding more activator until you achieve the desired consistency.
The glue will start to turn into a slime consistency.
Once it's more stretchy than sticky, you're good to go!
Watermelon eating---What kid doesn't want to get messy?!
Set up a backyard obstacle course and vary the degree of difficulty according to the ages of those involved.
Tape glow sticks to your kids in the form of stick figures. Once it's dark, your kids will love dancing while lighting up the night sky.
Tape glow sticks to your kids in the form of stick figures. Once it's dark, your kids will love dancing while lighting up the night sky.
Have your kids color these printable fireworks. Then, put them in your windows for your neighbors to find. Pass them out to your neighbors to turn the project into a neighborhood firework find!
Have your kids color these printable fireworks. Then, put them in your windows for your neighbors to find. Pass them out to your neighbors to turn the project into a neighborhood firework find!
Have your kids color these printable fireworks. Then, put them in your windows for your neighbors to find. Pass them out to your neighbors to turn the project into a neighborhood firework find!

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ACTIVITIES

When it comes to kids, the key is to keep them occupied. Block says a watermelon-eating contest is an easy way to let the kids dig in and have fun. Plus, she says, "What kid doesn't love getting messy on purpose?"

An obstacle course is also a good bet because it lets kids expend energy and you can tweak the course according to the ages of those involved.

And if you really want to see your kids light up, turn them into glow stick figures. As you can see in the video above, once you tape the sticks onto the young ones in the form of a stick figure, the kids can go wild at night dancing around in the dark while they light up the night sky.

NEIGHBORHOOD FIREWORKS FIND

If you're feeling a little isolated, 'make' fireworks and put them in your window. Get your neighbors to do the same and then kids can go out, while following social distancing protocols, and hunt for fireworks in their neighbors' windows. You can print the fireworks at BostonMoms.

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HolidaysMaria Sansonemom2mom
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