Family Fun Games for Fourth of July

July 4th is a holiday to teach children about their country through enjoyable games.

Fourth of July celebrations are opportunities for family and friends to come together for a backyard barbecue. The day typically consists of adults talking while hordes of kids run around by themselves, with the day ending in a fireworks display. Family games involving adults and children -- with a strong Fourth of July theme -- are an opportunity to interact with kids while teaching them what the holiday means and instilling in them a pride of country.

National Pastime

Baseball has long been considered the nations pastime. It's an opportunity for kids to demonstrate their skill and strength and have a good time while learning something about the nation's history. Set up a series of poles in a straight line placed 5 feet apart, marked with the years beginning with 1770 and the furthest pole marked 1776. The baseball toss will be more competitive when the length of each toss is measured by a year leading up to 1776. Kids of the same age group stand on a starting line 5 feet from the beginning pole and throw a baseball as far as possible toward the last pole, Independence Day 1776. A prize of a T-shirt with the American flag on it is awarded to the winner.

Flag Tag

Each member of a group of kids is given a paper ribbon that is tied around his waist and dangles behind him to his knees. The ribbon is red, white or blue and is prominently marked with the names George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. The significance of the founding fathers is explained to the children. The kids then stand in a large, loose circle of adults and are given one of the names as the one they are to collect from the other players. The kids then chase one another. The first child to pull all of the ribbons from the waists of the others bearing the name he was assigned wins the contest.

Water Balloon Tea Party

Ask the kids if they know about the Boston Tea Party. Give them a brief but informative history of what occurred and why. Divide the group into two teams, labeling one of them the "Harbor" and the other team the "Tea" by pinning a paper label to the backs of their shirts. The object is for each team to throw water balloons at each other until the paper signs of all of the shirts on one team are soaked.

Stick-Horse Race

Use two brooms to act as stick horses. The adults and kids will race each other in a tag-team horse race around a track. They will have to touch certain trees or go around a certain bush twice. When one member of one of the teams completes the track, he tags another team membe,r who rides off again. This continues until all of one team's members is the first to reach the finish line.

References

• Daily Strength: Ideas, Games, and Tips for a Fun and Safe Fourth of July!
• Disney FamilyFun: More Sporty Fun