For some of us, celebrating the Fourth of July has always been an easy choice: It’s all about summer and eating and fireworks, so let’s do it! For others, it’s always been a complicated holiday — a reminder of the way American ideals of equality were established during a time of slavery. This year, those of us who used to nosh mindlessly on hot dogs might not feel so great about being all rah-rah for a country that’s still not treating all its citizens equally. So what do we do when our kids want to get their Independence Day on, like we always have in the past?
We think it is possible to make this July 4 holiday both fun and educational. On the educational side, this is your chance to teach kids that you don’t have to love the current federal government to feel good about your hometown. And you don’t have to approve of the Founding Fathers’ racist hypocrisy in order to think of the Declaration of Independence as an ideal we’re still working toward, not a statement of a finished goal. Plus, you can exercise your democratic rights while you do so.
On the fun side, this is still a great time to eat, play, make silly red-white-and-blue crafts, and watch some patriotic content. After all, July 4 has also always been the time to celebrate the season, family, and community. Here we’ve balanced the fun activities with the enlightening ones, so you and your family can redefine this holiday for yourselves.
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Create Your Own Fireworks Display … With Chalk
The theme of this Fourth of July, for us, is celebrating everything we love about our community. And since many of us can’t ooh and aah at the fireworks display this year, we can create our own to share with the neighbors on sidewalks and driveways everywhere. This Crayola video shows just how cool this can look.
Discuss the Declaration of Independence
This TED-Ed cartoon is a brief, simple summation of what’s great, and what’s very off, about the document that was printed on July 4, 1776. Did you know it once included a whole paragraph blaming slavery on England, even as the men writing it owned slaves?
Make Pinwheels & Flags
While delving into whatever issues we have with the current state of democracy, you and your kids might still really enjoy the whole aesthetic of this holiday. This tutorial will guide you through making your own flags and pinwheels to wave around for a socially distant or imaginary parade.
Join a Protest
July 4 was a day of rebellion, so let’s exercise that free speech, shall we? Some Black Lives Matter marches are taking place on July 4 in cities across the country. If those don’t seem kid friendly, you can still make some signs at home and show your support.
Watch ‘Hamilton’
The musical about those Founding Fathers has never been more relevant. Whenever that July heat gets to you, take shelter and log into Disney+.
Watch the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
It’s good to know that a pandemic hasn’t stopped the sloppiest, grossest Fourth of July tradition, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, from going forward — albeit without the crowds getting sprayed with wet buns. Watch it live on ESPN. And if witnessing all that gluttony makes you feel guilty, give a few bucks to No Kid Hungry when it’s over.
Let Padma Lakshmi Teach You About Hot Dogs & Other Immigrant Foods
If there is one thing that truly makes America great, it’s the food that its many generations of immigrants have brought here. That’s the premise of Padma Lakshmi’s new Hulu series, Taste the Nation, and it even includes an entire episode about how the hot dog got its start as the food of German immigrants trying to make it in this country.
Exercise the Power of the Pen
Since 2017, our family has been using the site Postcards to Voters to practice some living-room activism. The site identifies upcoming elections where voter turnout will matter and distributes lists of registered Democrats’ addresses. Sign up for however many addresses you can handle and mail a postcard encouraging them to show up (or vote by mail). We think if they receive a postcard designed by your kids, they’ll definitely vote!
Set Up a Socially Distant Lemonade Stand
What’s more American than being an independent business owner? To make this safe, we recommend pre-pouring, providing a self-service cash box, and standing back to let customers help themselves. Still, even standing 6 feet apart from them, your kids will feel good about their neighbors and themselves.
Read Up on Some Real American Heroes
We’ve gotten a bit jaded about a lot of the American history lessons we learned in school, but there have been some good, brave folks shaping this country too. Peruse this reading list to learn about some that you might never have known existed.
Have a Darn Good Picnic
Some of us aren’t ready for that big family barbecue — even if it’s outside. We can revel in summer’s other great outdoor dining pleasure on a smaller scale, with a perfectly lovely picnic — in a park or the backyard. Check out these picnic recipes to make it feel extra special for the holiday.
Learn How Fireworks Work
Whether or not you’ll be able to see a live fireworks show this year, your kids might love learning about what makes those explosions so beautiful. This Popular Mechanic article explains it all pretty well.
Read or Listen to Frederick Douglass’ Words on July 4
“What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July?” Douglass asked in a speech he gave on July 5, 1852. It’s a sentiment we shouldn’t keep in the past, so you can listen to James Earl Jones giving it new life here.
Watch ‘1776’
Though we no longer want to romanticize the founding of this country, this musical is still delightful in its own right. (And Lin-Manuel Miranda is a fan!) You can always insert your own context as you watch it with your kids.
Tour the National Parks
From the Statue of Liberty to Crater Lake, our National Parks are the rare indisputably awesome thing about this country. Visiting them is tough this year, so why not enjoy a virtual tour?
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