July 4th: Safety, Crafts, and Recipes

Safety Tips for the 4^th: 

Many families set out to celebrate the 4^th of July with fireworks, fun, and with a barbeque. This Independence Day, make sure your family follows a few simple safety tips to make the holiday enjoyable for everyone.

Fireworks and the 4^th are synonymous. If you are with children and fireworks are part of your celebration, make sure children aren’t around fireworks. Be sure that people are out of range before lighting fireworks—create a buffer between where you light them and where bystanders are. Light fireworks on a flat surface away from homes, cars, dry leaves, and other flammable materials. Don’t try to re-light a firework if it malfunctions. Keep a bucket of water close to where your fireworks display is being lit.

If grilling food on the barbeque this holiday, take special care to ensure that there is a gate or safe zone around the grill and the area where children are running free. Also make sure that the grill is always supervised by an adult. Many burns take place from children simply touching a barbeque grill, not realizing it is dangerously hot.

Many families choose to enjoy their summer holidays on the lake, at the river, or at the beach. Make sure whenever you go boating with children that each child has a lifejacket and they wear it. Harmful sunburns are magnified when on or around the water, so make sure everyone practices sun safety by lathering on the sunscreen before going out and reapplying after four hours.

A Craft for the 4^th:

Get the kids in the patriotic spirit this 4^th by helping them assemble a little red, white, and blue. Aside from the basic hand-crafted American Flag, help your child create a star wreath using these items: construction paper (red, white, and blue), scissors, star template, pencil, glue. With the star stencil, have the child draw as many stars as they think they’ll need (20-40) on different colored construction paper. Once done stenciling, help the child cut out each star. In a circular pattern, glue each star together in the shape of a wreath (or crown). Decorate the wreath with glitter or any additional final touches.

Easy Kids Recipes for the 4^th:

Get the kids in the kitchen without heating up the oven. To make a red, white, and blue treat simply gather the following: 4 cups of fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries), 1 package instant vanilla pudding (can substitute vanilla yogurt), ½ cup sugar, 2tsp. lemon juice, 1 cup whipping cream, 1tsp. vanilla extract, and 24-36 lady fingers. Make the pudding and chill it. Clean berries and slice the strawberries, add lemon juice and sugar, then set aside. Layer the lady fingers in a large serving bowl (use about 8 per layer) then layer berries on top. Remove the pudding from fridge, top berries with half of the pudding. Add another layer of lady fingers, another third of the berries and juice, and the rest of the pudding. Add a final layer of ladyfingers and berries. Top with whipped cream. Refrigerate until serving. For a healthier substitute, choose vanilla yogurt instead of vanilla pudding, and layers of granola in place of the lady fingers. Enjoy!