Creative Ways to Entertain Kids During July 4th Gatherings

Independence Day is a time we all want to come together and celebrate. That also means getting our kids off screen time to enjoy the day with friends and family. If you have kids of your own, you know all about the struggle to constantly entertain them. If you don’t have kids and will be hosting children at your Fourth of July gathering, trust us when we tell you all about these easy entertainment ideas. They will be the fun highlight of your party!

Let’s Get Wet

The Fourth of July is typically one of the hottest days of the summer, and everyone, especially little ones, will want a cool way to beat the heat. You don’t need to be lakeside or have an in-ground pool to cool down. Inflatable pools in various sizes are an affordable option for everyone. And let’s not stop at just a pool of water. You need water toys! Think bunches of water balloons, easy dunk and fill water guns, and magnetic fishing toys. Just be sure to have enough to go around for every kid. Sharing can be a hard concept for young children.

Lawn Games

While adults love lawn games like horseshoes, the thought of kids hurling heavy metal objects around is nerve-racking for any parent. Luckily, you can buy a kid version of this game that uses sturdy, but less dangerous, plastic horseshoes. Other lawn games that both kids and adults can enjoy together include lawn darts, cornhole, cricket, KanJam, pickleball, and frisbee.

Make an Obstacle Course

Anything that gets kids running around and burning energy is a hit with the parents because we all hope they fall asleep quickly and early. Then the Fourth of July celebration can continue with more adult-style activities. With a few things you have lying around the house, and maybe a few dollar store items, you can make an obstacle course that will have kids racing each other again and again.

To get started, place a narrow board on the ground as a balance beam walk. Next, throw down some hula hoops to hop in. Use pool noodles and tent stakes to create a tunnel system to crawl through. A couple of stakes and a string can make something to jump over. Add in any kid equipment you have, like pop-up tunnels and small slides. To add a cooling water element, use sprinklers and baby pools to splash through.

Backyard Movie

While we did say to ditch the screen time, enjoying a movie with your little friends can be a great experience. You’ll need a small, affordable projector and a white sheet to hang as the screen. Now, set the scene by laying out plenty of blankets and pillows. Provide snack baskets with popcorn and movie-style candy. Fill small coolers with ice, soda cans, and juice boxes. Choose the perfect movie for your kid’s age group, and you’ll have a great activity for the transition into the evening. As night falls, provide subtle string lighting or glow sticks for added ambience.

Backyard Campout

For this entertainment idea, you’ll need kids who are past the unpredictable toddler stage, where you never know if they will randomly want to run into a fire and pick up a flaming log. Most older kids can be trusted around a campfire with adult supervision, so a backyard campout will be a fun thing to do, even if guests aren’t sleeping over. Set up a tent and make it cozy with blankets, pillows, and lanterns. Provide s'mores supplies and invite people to tell their scariest stories around the campfire!

Flamingo Ring Toss

For this game, you’ll need to purchase some flamingo yard decorations and rings that will fit over their heads. Make teams and take turns seeing who can get the most rings on the flamingos’ necks. Be sure to have fun prizes and party favors for the winning kiddos.

Bean Bag Ladder Toss

Kids love carnival-style games, especially when there are prizes to be won. This is an easy idea, and you probably already have a ladder. Use an A-frame ladder or lean a regular ladder against a wall. Mark 10, 20, and 30 points on index cards and tape them to hang on different rungs. Let younger kids get closer to toss their bean bags. Pretty simple yet entertaining, right?

Water Cup Race

How about an idea to redirect your kids from shooting you and other people with their water guns? To set up this game, cut holes in the bottom of plastic solo cups. Put some string through the hole and tie it on point A to point B. Kids use their water guns to shoot inside the cup and race it to the finish line. Have a large tub of water nearby for when kids need to reload.

Celebrate With Style

With a little bit of planning, your Fourth of July celebration can be the talk of the block. Good food, great friends, and fun games will make this year’s Independence Day one to remember. Don’t forget to grab sparklers for some classic entertainment all kids love!