The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays! What comes to my mind is a warm summer day with friends and family, a cookout, the beach, and ending the day with a fireworks show. Independence Day is just less than 2 weeks away, which means now is a great time to start preparing to celebrate with your kids! Here are some patriotic activities you can do at home (including speech and language skills to incorporate at the same time!):
Books
Reading about a holiday the weeks before it comes is a great way to introduce it to your child. It can help children understand what to look forward to and what to expect on the big day. Some children may be fearful of loud fireworks, and reading about them ahead of time is a great jumping off point for a discussion about them. One of our Join The Story Box books from March is the perfect one to read for the Fourth! See the parent guide from that month for more activities.
Crafts
This Q-tip Firework Craft is so easy and fun! I love that it involves materials you probably already have at home. It’s easy to incorporate working on speech skills, too. For toddlers, focus on words like “in”, “out”, “on”, and “off” as you make the craft. Older children can practice sequencing skills. Give your child multi-step directions, like putting on a q-tip dipped in red, then one in blue, then white.
Festive Food
These 4th of July Fruit Kabobs are always a hit with my 2 1/2 year-old! At that age, children should follow 2-step directions. Involve your child at that age by asking them to hand you 2 objects at a time, like a banana and then a strawberry. Or, give your child choices of what he or she wants to put on next – a blueberry or strawberry for example. Giving choices will encourage your child to say more words as they help you prepare the snack! Older children can make the snack and then write down the recipe, which requires them to use memory and sequencing skills!
Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
Amy Yacoub, MS, CCC-SLP | Speech Pathologist
Proud Member of The Story Box Family
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