Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in cincinnati, OH

Happy Fourth of July Weekend!

by Amy Mumper

July 01, 2009

It seems each week I'm surprised another has gone by.  But, this time I'm truly stumped:  it's July!!! Wow!  I really can't believe it.  I always think of the fourth of July as the middle of summer.  Right or wrong, it just keeps chugging along.  What's in store for this weekend?  You may easily have quite a full weekend.  If not, read on.  Even if you do have a full weekend already, keep reading.

Isn't this weekend a great time for all things red, white and blue?  Making flags, practice cutting by making stripes, making drums from anything, doing your own parade... it's ripe for fun.  As a preschool teacher, I enjoyed a book called F is for Flag.  It is a fairly simple introduction to the flag.  Regardless of your political persuasion, the book Yes We Can is a really great, easy picture book that introduces Barack Obama as an important person, the President of the United States.  I tell my kids that we celebrate America on the Fourth of July.

Now, call me crazy, but I'm a girl who - at the age of 9 - plastered copies of the Declaration of Independence all over our house when we hosted the Fourth of July party.  So, why not really take a look at:  1) how many flags you can count while you drive 2) play I Spy with only red, white and blue things 3) bake a dessert with red strawberries, blue blueberries and white Cool Whip 4) visit (in person or on the WWW) Ulysses S. Grant's birthplace (less than an hour drive from Cincy!) 5) visit a replica of Abraham Lincoln's  birthplace (too much you say?  My three kids,  7 and under, know that he's on money and he was the 16^th president) 6)  William Howard Taft's birthplace is just in Mount Auburn! (and open all the time).  Ohio is the Mother of Presidents.

Okay, okay.  Something less... "geeky"?  Maybe you would enjoy a simple parade?  Or, how about fireworks (don't forget the ear muffs for the little ones)?  Need more options?

Regardless of your choices, have fun everyone!