In Glendora and elsewhere around the country, the 4th of July is a holiday typically celebrated by the entire family, and that means activities need to be planned that are appropriate for all ages. For instance, if you have a senior loved one residing with you, it will be important to include them in all events for the day, so they can feel like they’re part of the celebration. That’s why it’s necessary to think of activities that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family, regardless of their age, gender, physical fitness level, or mental state. Even a withdrawn, depressed senior can get a lot from special family activities that include everyone and favor no particular age group. In this article, we’ll consider some fun activities you might want to consider for your own 4th of July celebration, so as to include everyone in your family.
Backyard movie night
You can have the same kind of enjoyment you’d get from taking the family to a drive-in movie – right in your own backyard. All you have to do is set up a screen, bring out some chairs, and have the popcorn ready for all your guests. You may want to plan on showing a patriotic movie that recalls the spirit that led to the birth of our nation, or you may just want to choose a popular movie that you know is well-liked by family and friends. Once it gets dark, you’ll probably hear some nearby fireworks going off in the distance, and you may also see them in the night sky. So while everyone is being entertained by the movie, there will be some extra entertainment from the neighborhood displays of fireworks.
Home campout
If you have enough tents to accommodate all family members, it could be a very rewarding activity to arrange for a campout in the backyard. You can start off the evening with a nice campfire and have participants relate scary stories or humorous ones. Then, you can add a snack to the proceedings by roasting some marshmallows, or by creating some S’mores, which practically everyone loves. Then, when everyone slips into their tent and cuddles into a sleeping bag, the real fun begins. There will probably be a running series of jokes and anecdotes shared by family members, until the last person falls asleep finally, after a day-long celebration.
Family bike ride
If you have enough bikes to accommodate everyone, a family bike ride on Independence Day can be very satisfying and enjoyable. You’ll all get some great exercise, while also viewing the natural setting in your neighborhood and beyond. It might be a chore trying to keep all participants together, especially if there are some very young ones as well as some seniors. After having burned off some calories with a relaxing bike ride, you’ll be able to enjoy the family barbecue later on without feeling guilty about what you eat. This is also a great way to get the whole family together and talking, all along the bike route, so as to promote some togetherness on this day of celebration.
Family photos
It may not be often that your whole family congregates in one place, so this is a time to remember. The best way to remember important occasions is by capturing them in photos that can be reviewed forever after. Whatever you might be doing for the day, make sure to take plenty of photos of family members and guests, so the event can be remembered. You may even want to designate an official photographer for the occasion, to ensure that someone has responsibility for taking the pictures. Looking back at these photos in the future can literally be priceless since they capture frozen moments in time when everyone was happy and enjoying a celebration.
Honor military personnel
Amid all the hoopla of fireworks, backyard barbecues, and parades, it’s easy to forget that the reason for the celebration is to honor those men and women who fought for our independence in the latter part of the 18th century. Just because the event has been obscured by the passage of 250 years, that doesn’t mean it’s not still worthy of our praises and respect. There are lots of ways that you can honor personnel belonging to military services, for instance by volunteering at a VA hospital, patronizing a veteran’s business, or writing a letter to someone still on active service. Obviously, the person you write to was not present at Yorktown when America won the war for independence, but that same patriotic spirit still pervades the military, and that’s what you should be honoring.
Traditional celebrations
Of course, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t participate in some of the more traditional forms of celebration as well. If your town has scheduled a parade, there’s no better way to capture the spirit of long ago than to watch all the floats and parade participants marching through town. For sure, a backyard barbecue can be a wonderful event for the whole family, and it promotes togetherness among all age groups. Whatever you decide to do for Independence Day, include young and old alike, and try to plan activities that are enjoyable for everyone.
