Multi-sensory Fun on the 4th of July

A Meaningful and Multisensory 4^th of July

Backyard BBQs, parades, fireworks… What does the 4^th of July mean to you? Whether traveling to visit family and friends or staying close by to celebrate together, there are so many ways to make this holiday meaningful and memorable for your kids. What a perfect time to instill gratefulness for the freedoms we enjoy while bringing history to life! Here are some multi-sensory ways my family has loved learning and celebrating together throughout the years!

Sing! Music is a powerful (and often forgotten!) way to learn and enjoy history! Good music is also a healthy way to release dopamine, creating positive emotions, behavior, and memories. How funny that my family’s favorite 4^th of July memories aren’t the big parades or fireworks displays, but the hour-long drives back and forth to my sisters. Why? Because we cranked up the patriotic music, singing together all the way there and back! Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA still brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Such a simple tradition created precious memories! America’s 250-year-old history is packed with beautiful songs to tell its story! You might pick some symbolic ones such as God Bless America, When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, or the Star-Spangled Banner, learning their origin and meaning as you sing them. Or create a playlist of patriotic songs you love and sing along as a family for a mood booster!

Learn a little science and make your own Milk Fireworks right there in the kitchen with a few simple ingredients! All you need is milk, a few drops of dawn dish soap, and food coloring. Take a plate of milk and put several drops of food coloring into the middle (as many colors as you want). Take a Q-tip covered in dish soap, dip it right into the center, and watch the color explosions. Kids will want to watch these silent “fireworks” again and again! This sheet explains the chemistry behind it.

Get creative with food! Our family’s favorite tradition is simple fruit pizza with sugar cookie crust, white cream cheese frosting, and red and blue fruit. It’s easy to make into a flag (9 x 13 pan) with strawberry stripes and blueberries as stars in the corner. Or decorate pre-made sugar cookies, yogurt parfaits, or ice cream with tasty blasts of red, white, and blue fruit!

Reflect on the significance of the day. You might read the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights out loud, or re-enact the Boston Tea Party and talk about it. Enjoy books like  The 4^th of July Story or the engaging Rush Revere and the Star Spangled Banner. For a simple lesson, pick an American symbol such as the flag or the eagle, and learn all about it. How and when did these come to symbolize our country? You can even take a 360 °virtual field trip to the Statue of Liberty, moving around the interior and exterior as if you’re really there (the view from the top of the torch is awesome!). Or head to Colonial Williamsburg virtually, visiting numerous historic sites and learning from tour guide videos along the way. Children who grow up understanding our country’s history will cherish this day all the more.

Wherever you are, may you enjoy time to connect, reflect, and celebrate our country’s freedoms this Independence Day!