Fourth of July

By freshbliss on Oct 29, 2008 | Reply

Hm. Thats a toughy.
I’m still a big believer in BBQ burgers though…..yup, fireworks and BBQ go together like salt and pepper, but lets face it, we can use one without the other

By Zarathustra on Oct 29, 2008 | Reply

Read them the constitution before it is irrovokably changed.

By Beth W on Nov 1, 2008 | Reply

The 4th is a great time to get together with friends and family and just goof off. Fireworks and young children equals screaming terrified children and exasperated parents. Enjoy the day by decorating, eating food from the grill, and having friends to share it with. If you have a military instilation near by you could send cards to the base as a thank you for what the soldiers do on a daily basis. They dont like the war any more than anyone else but they have chosen to protect this great land so thank them for what they do. If you arent near a base find the local VFW and thank the veterans. I know they would enjoy the company of the children and the thanks for the time they served. Enjoy your holiday!

By couchP56 on Nov 5, 2008 | Reply

You could always rent a bubble machine that makes bubbles. kids seem to like chasing them. All of my children did.
Children at that age can usually find plenty to play with. Let them bring one or two toys from home with them.
When it gets dark after the picnic spread out a blanket to lay on so you all can lay down and watch the fireworks display from somewhere.

By Randy M on Nov 5, 2008 | Reply

Just throw a ball around or set up the sprinkler for the kids to run through. They’ll love that. Maybe get an inflatable pool.

By Freshmaker on Nov 6, 2008 | Reply

welll water is fun its the total and safe oppisite of fire =] try maybe water ballons and water guns… i need to do the same thing at my family picnics entertain safely. Magic is wat i do its sooo simple and entertaing and oragami is fun too u could teach them that. also i suggest a slip and slide my most cherished memories on 4th of july invole it aahahha its fun. Baking powder and vinegar will hold there attention like fire works but are safer and easyier i say have them help u make a volcano and paint it and decorate it that way u have some time to bond and then u make it flow on the 4th

i hope u have fun and i hope i helped

By happy2luvk9s on Nov 6, 2008 | Reply

Go to Wal~Mart or Target or or some discount department store and get some back yard games that are in the age range of your children, also get (if you haven’t already) buy a kiddie pool, they will have a blast! or if you have a sprinkler that hooks to the hose, turn that on and let them play in that (my parents used to do that when I was a kid and I had a blast!). There are plenty of things that you can do with your children in the backyard without doing fireworks but I also suggest that if you can and are willing to, take them to the local fireworks display and then they can still enjoy seeing them.

By Alan G on Nov 9, 2008 | Reply

Hi there!

I give this great question a star!

Weather permitting, I think a little wading pool can’t be beat! Let the boys play in the water and play with water toys and float on floating toys! If you have a slide, let them slide into the pool!

When I was a kid, there was a thing called Slip and Slide. The Slip ‘n Slide is a toy manufactured by Wham-O for use on lawns in the summer.

The toy is a long sheet of thin plastic, flanked lengthwise on one side by a heat-sealed tubular fold. The tube can be attached to any ordinary garden hose. Water runs through the tube and out small perforations, spraying onto the sliding surface. The Slip ‘n Slide then becomes very slippery, the kids dive onto the plastic and slide the length of the sheet. Household materials such as dish soap or oil can also be used to reduce friction on the sheet.

Wham-O makes it. Other people make similar things too. Wal-Mart probably has it!

It is a blast! And the kids will love playing on it all summer!

Great memories will be had! Surprise them with it! Have them put on their swim suits and take them outside and show them the slide that you already set up for them!

Have fun! I wish I could be there too!

By DENISE on Nov 9, 2008 | Reply

it’s the USA birthday and you haft to ask,
make like it’s your child’s birthday party and make a cake and have it out side and hot dogs and hamburgers and grilling and water fun and party favors and just through the ball around and fun fun fun.
make it a big deal you don’t haft to have fire works it have a party.

By twirlywhirly on Nov 11, 2008 | Reply

There are many firework displays in most towns. You could always watch them without setting them off personally. Barbeques are great thing. Look and see if your city has any festivals. Usually there will be some type of fair with face-painting and fun games for children. If none of these work. The Boston fireworks with the Boston Pops are usually aired on tv. Check your local listings

By pumpkin on Nov 12, 2008 | Reply

Get a ton of those glow in the dark necklaces & bracelets, (dollar store!!) let them run around with those on - they’ll be silly & cute & glowing in the dar & you can get lots of photos……

I know safety is important, but fireworks are as American as apple pie! Have the boys sit on the back porch & then light a sparkler for each one, let them hold the sparklers with you - that way they get a thrill but You get to keep them safe!!!!! That’s what I did with my little ones when they were tiny. (8 & 12 now!!) They loved it!! Enjoy - whatever you do!!!

By one of the tallents now on Nov 15, 2008 | Reply

If you don’t want to buy or use them you should check to see if your city does fireworks, and take them there. In Michigan most medium sized cities do fireworks, and if they dont’ there is someone nearby that does. Check to see if your nearby cities do fireworks. Then you get the safety of not using them yourself, as well as the full fourth of july experience.

Continue with the backyard picnic. Also maybe catch a parade in the morning, or have the kids decorate their bikes red white and blue and do a little parade themselves around the neighborhood.