By the Fourth of July, most kids are used to being up late and enjoying a carefree lifestyle. School is still weeks away, and the holiday is a great time to get together with others for fun in the sun.

Menu
Watermelon and lemonade are two staples of summer, and a great kid friendly beverage. For this sweet drink, you will need 8 cups cubed, seedless watermelon, 2 (12 ounce) cans frozen lemonade concentrate and 4 cups of water. To prepare, place the watermelon in a blender or food processor, cover and blend until smooth. Next, place lemonade concentrate and water in larger pitcher or punch bowl. Last, add the watermelon, and mix well. Garnish the kids' glasses with watermelon or lemon. Easy and tasty!

Foods that are quick to prepare are perfect for kids on a hot summer day. Grilled corn-on-the cob is easy for kids to eat and tastes great. Prepare grilled corn using your favorite recipe, and let the kids pull back the husks and delight in enjoying sweet summer corn.

What Fourth of July celebration is complete without hot dogs? Prepare hot dogs on the grill and set out chili, baked beans, shredded cheese, relish, mustard, ketchup, onions, peppers, avocado slices, lettuce and tomatoes. Let the kids add their own unique combination of toppings to their hot dog.

For dessert, sandwich pops are a fun twist on an old classic. You will need to purchase mini ice cream sandwiches, popsicle sticks and sprinkles in red, white and blue. Skewer the mini ice cream sandwiches on popsicle sticks and press the exposed filling into a plate of sprinkles. To keep mess to a minimum, serve the pops in holiday theme cupcake liners. A red, white and blue yummy treat any kid will enjoy!

Games
Setting up games and activities in advance will keep little ones busy, while waiting for night to fall. The anticipation of bright, colorful, and loud fireworks is just too much! Keep kids entertained with Fourth of July coloring sheets. These can be found with a simple Internet search. Set crayons out in bins of red, white and blue, and watch the kids color away. Consider hosting a coloring contest and give prizes to kids for categories in creativity, most colorful and so on.

Older kids can help entertain by setting up a patriotic face painting station. Use non-toxic red, white and blue face paint, and a small makeup brush to draw stars, stripes, and American flags on kid’s cheeks. Washable Fourth of July tattoos are also a hit with kids. This activity is a great way to show their patriotic spirit!

When the weather is hot outdoors, traditional lawn games are always fun. Divide kids into teams and consider playing games such as badminton, ring toss, and mini golf. A volleyball game with beach balls or water balloons is a fun idea that adults and kids can both participate in.

Fireworks
As we know, fireworks are fun to look at from afar, but also dangerous for little hands. Aside from traditional sparklers, try these firework confetti balloons. These confetti-filled balloons are a fun alternative to fireworks. To make, pull a balloon over a funnel. Pour in confetti until balloon is a quarter full; inflate with a hand pump. Use a sharpened pencil for popping. Be sure there are adults nearby to supervise this activity. When its time to pop the balloons, opt for a location where the confetti can be easily cleaned up. Give each kid a confetti-filled balloon and have a blast letting off their "fireworks".
Be sure there are no kids with latex allergies prior to using balloons. Kids under 8 years of age should never handle un-inflated balloons or broken balloon pieces.

Any party where there is food, games and fireworks is sure to be a big hit with kids. Keeping kids entertained and safe is a priority. Be sure to try these kid friendly Fourth of July ideas for your next celebration.