Fun Fourth of July Activities for Kids

The Fourth of July is a day traditionally full of fireworks, cookouts and family fun, and it’s a great day to do activities and on-theme experiments with kids. Check out these easy ideas for fun Fourth of July activities for kids that adults will enjoy, too!

This one is listed as a Flag Day activity, but I think going on a flag hunt would be great for any patriotic holiday. (We have a few people in our neighborhood who line their yards with tiny flags on patriotic holidays, and when my daughter was little we’d go on walks and count all the flags.) No Time for Flashcards made a flag hunt into a race against the clock, but if you have several kids you could also see who can find the most flags in a period of time.

Make the classic baking soda and vinegar explosion reaction into red, white and blue fun with this fun activity from Kindergarten Worksheets and Games. Or make oil and water “fireworks” with this quick experiment from Preschool Play and Learn. You probably have everything you need for both of these in the house already if you keep food coloring around.

And while we’re making fun out of stuff in the pantry, grab an empty paper towel roll and make some fun marshmallow shooters. The decorations on the shooter are what makes this a Fourth of July activity, but if you don’t have red, white and blue supplies on hand kids can also decorate the tubes with a holiday twist before turning them into shooters. Get the instructions from Hunny I’m Home.

Looking for more July 4th activities to do with kids? Check out my list of flag crafts that kids can make, as well as some printables with a Fourth of July theme. And if you’ve got young ones these red, white and blue sensory activities are great for the fourth or any time of year!

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already.

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts.

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy.

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did.

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios.

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures.

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things).

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime.

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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