Fourth of July at Home

from Atlanta Parent June 2020

Virtual Summer Camps

Beach Fun at Home

When you can’t get to the beach or the neighborhood pool, break out the water toys and bring the fun to your own backyard!

n A Dip in the Pool An inexpensive wading pool is a no-brainer for backyard fun, but with a little creativity you can take it to the next level. Set up a circuit of several pools and make each station something different. Try shaving foam in one and food coloring in another. One could be filled with bubbles and another could have a stash of water toys for mock battles. Keep a hose nearby for rinse-offs. Alternatively, consider investing in an above-ground pool – prices range from $50 and up, depending on size – and the whole family can cool off in the summer heat.

n Water Balloon Games They’re never out of style – a package of water balloons is all you need for instant fun. Have a balloon toss competition or a game of hot potato. Suspend a few from a tree branch or clothesline and have a water balloon piñata party. For a distance challenge, see who can toss their water balloon the farthest – without breaking it!

n Wiggle Your Toes in the Sand Create your own sandy beach! Check the Lowe’s website for instructions on making an 8’x8’x1’ sandbox. If you’re really feeling beachy, you can truck in sand and turn your backyard into the neighborhood beach or fossil pit (hide some treasures in the sand and let the kids play archeologist). Note: Use play sand because some other kinds of sand contain carcinogens. Also, neighborhood cats could eye your sand as their own personal litter box. Keep it covered when not in use.

n Cool Creations This activity takes a little planning and some freezer space, but it’s worth it! Freeze water in different-shaped containers: plastic cups and bowls, empty milk jugs, a muffin tin or ice cube trays. Kids can add food coloring and plastic figurines for pizzazz. When everything is good and frozen, head outside to turn the ice blocks into sculptures and towers. They’ll have fun getting wet during the building – and the melting.

n Cool off with a Sprinkler Make a DIY soda bottle sprinkler with an empty 2-liter bottle. Poke holes in the bottle with a screwdriver or drill. Put a garden hose into the mouth of the bottle and secure with electric or duct tape. Place it flat on the ground or hang it up for a shower of fun! For ready-made entertainment, buy a splash pad sprinkler, a combination kiddie pool and sprinkler. They’re available online and in stores for around $30.

n Slip-Sliding Away Sure, you can buy a slip ’n slide at the store. But if you don’t want to pay big bucks, make your own slide at home with a shower curtain or a plastic tarp, running water from the hose, and some dish soap for a little extra acceleration.

n Beach Birds It’s not a trip to the beach without a few games! The Flamingo Ring Toss set by Antsy Pants comes with three 10” flamingos and three rings; position them up close for young players or farther apart for older kids. Available for $24.99 at Target stores.

n Make a Splash Add a tropical vibe to your backyard beach! Available in trendy floral and beach-themed prints, Minnidip inflatable pools are over 5 feet wide, so older kids (and adults!) can keep cool, too. For kids 3 and older, mini pools are 4 feet wide and printed in fun, kid-friendly patterns. From $33 at minnidip.com.

n Dry Off in Style Refresh your beach towel collection with a few bright new designs. Check out the colorful options from Pottery Barn Kids – tie dye, mermaids, superheroes, ocean creatures and lots more – for swimmers of any age. Prices start at $19.50; potterybarnkids.com.

n Have a 4th of July fashion show. Who in the family can style red, white and blue the best? Or get white T-shirts and have each family member decorate them using red and blue fabric paint.

n Make a patriotic flower pot from Lolly Jane with a flower pot, painter’s tape, foam brushes, sealer and ¼” vinyl lettering stars. First, paint the whole pot white. Once dry, add painter’s tape, starting at the top, to create stripes. Paint the stripes red. Add the stars around the rim of the top then paint it blue. When dry, pick off the stars. Seal it with a fast drying sealer. Source: lollyjane.com

RED,WHITE & YOU!

by Emily Webb

Cookouts, Parades, Fireworks. These are all staples of a fun Fourth of July spent with friends and family. Just because the rules are different this year, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time celebrating America’s independence!

American Flag Trivia

Congress adopted the first official version of the flag with 13 stripes and 13 stars for the 13 original colonies in 1777. After 1818, lawmakers decided to honor each new state with a star, while leaving the stripes with the original 13. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice. In July 1969, Neil Armstrong placed the first U.S. flag on the moon. Five more Apollo moon landings resulted in five more flags being planted.

Fantastic Fireworks

n For a fun craft with the kids make Fireworks from GoGo squeeZ. You’ll need push-up cake pop molds or empty ice cream push-pop containers (which you can reuse after eating or find online), construction paper, markers, glitter, pipe cleaners, confetti, other decorative items and tape. Line the bottom of the container with a round piece of construction paper, leaving it a little larger than the bottom circle, so none of the glitter will fall out. Cover the outside of the container with construction paper, and let your kids color and decorate the paper with markers. Fill the inside with glitter, pipe cleaners and other decorative items. Finally, tape another circular piece of construction paper over the top. To activate, remove construction paper, and push the glitter or confetti out quickly. It’s recommended that you release them somewhere where the glitter won’t be a hassle to clean up afterward. Source: goodnessonthego.com

Ingredients:

¾ c. unsalted butter, softened ¾ c. granulated sugar 1 large egg 1 tbsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt ½ tsp. cream of tartar 2 c. all-purpose flour 1 c. red, white and blue M&Ms ½ c. red, white and blue

“jimmie” sprinkles

Frosting:

3 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened 1½ c. powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract ½ tsp. salt 2 tbsp. heavy whipping cream or milk

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9” round cake pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Make the cookie cake: Beat butter and sugar with a hand or a stand mixer until creamy. Beat in egg and vanilla, then mix in baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Slowly mix in flour. Stir in M&Ms and sprinkles.

Press batter into prepared pan, pressing more M&Ms onto the top as desired. Bake for 19-22 minutes or until the edges are just turning a light golden brown. It’s better to under bake this dough than over bake. The cake will continue cooking a bit as it cools, so err on the side of underdone. Let it cool completely.

Make the frosting: Beat butter until smooth, then slowly beat in powdered sugar until crumbly. Add salt and vanilla, then add 1 tsp. of heavy whipping cream. Beat until smooth, adding another tsp. of heavy whipping cream to get a spreadable texture.

Use a 1M tip and a Ziploc or piping bag to decorate the cookie cake. Top with more sprinkles and M&Ms. Source: crazyforcrust.com

Firework Facts

Static electricity in synthetic clothing can set off firecrackers. People who make firecrackers wear only cotton clothing. At first fireworks were only orange and white. New colors were created by adding different salts. The hardest color to create is blue. During the 4th of July, Americans light about 175 million pounds of fireworks, equal to about 100,000 lightning bolts.

Crafting Country

n Make a patriotic lava lamp with these Sparkle Bottles from JaMonkey. You’ll need plastic water bottles with the labels removed, red, blue and silver star confetti, glycerin, water, glitter and ribbon. Fill ¾ of the water bottle with water. Add as much glitter and confetti as you want. Fill the rest of the bottle with glycerin. Replace lid and shake to mix together. Red confetti may cause the water to turn slightly pink. You can also tie a patriotic themed ribbon to the bottle for a fun finishing touch. Source: jamonkey.com

n Light up the night with an Easy Jar Candle Craft from Fantastic Fun and Learning. Use glass jars, glue, a paint brush and festive decorations. Cover the jars with glue that’s been thinned with a little bit of water. The kids can decorate the jars with sequins, glitter, buttons and more. Let them dry before placing a tea light inside. Source: fantasticfunandlearning.com

n Host a neighborhood parade with your friends. Decorate your cars or bikes with patriotic items to travel around the neighborhood. Set a time to drive or ride around together, and play Americathemed music.

n Get festive in your yard by decorating and hanging up posters, streamers, stars and other patriotic items from your fence, porch or windows. Hang Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks from All Kids Network on the porch. You’ll use toilet paper rolls, white paint, red and blue glitter glue, paint brush, red and blue streamers, yarn or string, scissors and tape. Paint the toilet paper roll white. Once dry, use glitter glue to decorate, and set aside to dry. Cut streamers into 10-1" lengths, and then cut vertically down the center. Tape the streamers to the inside of the roll. Punch a hole to the top of the roll to string yarn through to hang it up. Source: allkidsnetwork.com

n Make a patriotic wreath for the door with The Country Chic Cottage by Angie Holden. Use a pool noodle, garland strands, popsicle sticks and paint. Make a wreath from the pool noodle by making it a circle and taping it together with duct tape. Wrap the garland around the wreath. Glue the sticks together with hot glue, and paint an American flag with red, white and blue on the sticks. Using old boxes, you can cut out a four for the center of the wreath. Source: thecountrychiccottage.net

AMERICAN HOME CLEANING No Time To Clean? since 1988

• A CHRIST-centered Home Cleaning Ministry • Licensed, Bonded, Insured, over 85,000 homes cleaned

(770) 795-8399

Sponsor of www.americanhomecleaning.org We are a non-pro t that employs low income single Moms and allows then to earn a livable wage. Proverbs 3:5,6.

#1 Cleaning Special $57.95

1 Bedroom, 1 bathroom, Kitchen and Breakfast Room, Living Room, Halls and Foyer. All work 100% guaranteed! Up to 800 sq ft

#2 Cleaning Special $87.95

3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 Bathrooms, Kitchen and Breakfast Room, Living Room, Dining Room, 1 Stairs, Halls and Foyer.

#3 Cleaning Special $167.95

Includes #2 Special PLUS we deep clean by hand all baseboards, easy-o inside oven, inside fridge and up to 3 Ceiling Fans.

#4 Cleaning Special WHOLE HOUSE ULTRA DEEP CLEAN $327.95

A two cleaner team for all day for the ultimate deep clean.

A sparkler burns at a temperature over 15 times the boiling point of water. Three sparklers burning together generate the same heat as a blowtorch.

Sparkler Safety

Test out your chosen sparklers beforehand, and try different lighting methods to see which way works best. Sparklers are usually hard to light. Lighting them with matches or in windy conditions is often impossible. Sparklers can be lit by scratching the tip on a special strip on the sparkler carton. Sparklers can be lit with butane or barbecue lighters and propane torches. Light one sparkler, and use that sparkler to light the others. Do not light more than one sparkler at a time. Supervise children while the sparklers are in use. Keep sparklers at an arm’s length and away from the face, body or clothing of yourself or others. Have a bucket filled with water or sand or a metal tray for disposal of the burned out sparklers, as they will still be hot. Once cool, you can throw them in the trash.

All American Edition of Bean Bag Bucketz Take the fun outdoors with this family-friendly game where teams try to get their bean bags in the bucketz, and it comes with a carry bag, making it easily portable. $59.99. basspro.com

Bert’s Big Adventure’s Fourth of July Your Space Virtual Race Walk, run or ride a distance of 1-mile, 5K or 10K to benefit Bert’s Big Adventure, a nonprofit that provides children with chronic and terminal illnesses an all-expenses paid trip to Disney World. $15; $5 for each additional family member. bertsbigadventure.org

FWsim Watch virtual fireworks or create your own display with music with FWsim’s software. You can get a free one hour trial. $24.95. fwsim.com/shows

4

Oliver Doodle Dandy This cute book by Todd M. Zimmerman and illustrated by Kyle Hernandez focuses on U.S. history and explains national holidays, such as Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day. A companion activity book is also available. $19.95. oliversgiftshoppe. olivertheornament.com

5 Watch a Movie

Enjoy a patriotic movie night with one of these movies celebrating the American spirit. n “Hamilton” will be released on Disney+ on July 3. In “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” watch political drama and democracy in action. n “National Treasure” imagines a world where America has hidden treasure with a map on the Declaration of Independence. n “The Sandlot” explores the national phenomenon of baseball, featuring a Fourth of July baseball game. n Watch the American hero and super soldier in “Captain America: The First Avenger.” n If your kids are older, watch the eponymous “Independence Day” for an action battle between Americans and alien forces. n For a look at history with older kids, watch “Lincoln” for an inside, although fictional, look at the Civil War.

Backyard Play Looking for non-stop summer fun? You can find it in your own backyard.

n Break Out the Yard Games Don’t underestimate the value of those classic yard games. Dust off that badminton net, bocce ball set or lawn darts – a friendly family competition can be great fun. Use the classic rules of play or invent your own, depending on your kids’ ages.

n Best Seat in the Yard Attach a sheet to the garage door and turn the outdoors into a movie theater. The Epson 760HD projector (around $400 from bestbuy.com) lets you stream content from your Mac or PC. Several online sites offer outdoor projectors and screens to rent for less cost than buying your own (try partyflix.com). Share the cost with a few neighborhood families and start making the popcorn. You’ll have the best seat in the yard!

n Fun After Dark Glow sticks are a great way to add fun to a summer night. Buy partysize packs online or at local retailers. Have a glow treasure hunt by hiding activated sticks in spots around the backyard. Go glow-bowling by filling liter soda bottles with water and a glow stick or two. Use any ball to knock over those pins! Play a game of glow-in-the-dark tag or have a session of outdoor glow dancing, using the sticks as necklaces, bracelets and accessories.

n T-riffic Tees Who knew a plain white T-shirt could be fun? Break out the tie-dye! Inexpensive kits are available online and at local craft stores, or make your own using unsweetened Kool-Aid. Combine each pack of Kool-Aid (separated into plastic bowls by color) with one ounce of vinegar. Pull and twist the T-shirt into different shapes and secure with rubber bands. Dip each section in a color. (Make sure you wear gloves or your hands will stain). Let set for 24 hours before washing, and wash separately the first time. You don’t have to stick to T-shirts. Beach towels, socks and bandanas are fun projects.

Or: Add a little chill to a hot summer day with a frozen T-shirt game. Fold damp T-shirts, place them in plastic bags, and freeze. The first person to put theirs on wins. This game requires very little prep and kids love it!

Fun Backyard Toys n 3, 2, 1, Blastoff! Have kid-powered fun with Stomp Rockets Ultra LED. Load the foam rockets in the launcher and jump on the pad to send them up to 150 feet into the air. An LED light inside the rockets is perfect for nighttime fun. The set comes with one adjustable launcher and four LED foam rockets; $19.99 at amazon.com.

n Test Your Aim Set up a family competition with the Ladder Ball Toss set from GSE Games. Take turns tossing the bolas at the frames to score points – it’s harder than it looks! The durable PVC frames are easy to assemble and the set includes a nylon bag for storage. $37.99 at amazon.com.

–Ann Hardie and Mary Williams contributed to this story