Summer is here and one of my favorite traditions is to have a barbecue/picnic with friends and family on the Fourth of July.
Here are some ideas to include your kids in on the fun and get them in the patriotic mood.
Have a barbecue in just their size with everything miniature. Use a tiny picnic table, kid sized plates, and individual portions. Slider burgers are perfect for little hands.
Make everything accessible so they can prepare their food to their liking with a condiment bar and unmistakable ketchup and mustard bottles.
Give the kids individual servings of veggies with dip at the bottom. Less mess and saves time when it really counts.
If you're having a fourth of July theme, make sure your party really takes off with these rocket hot dogs. All you need is raw dough (you can use the dough from canned croissants) cut in strips and wrapped around the dog. Bake in the oven as instructed. Cut cheese triangles for the top and add a festive cupcake wrapper to the bottom to finish off the look. Yum!
Everything on sticks! The best way to avoid a mess with little kids is to keep their hands as far away from everything sticky as possible. These treats will bring a little sweetness to your holiday bash.
- Rice Krispie Treats colored with red and blue food coloring.
- The traditional summer go to, watermelon! Keep the slices small for small hands. They can always go back for more and it's not as big a lose should one fall on the ground.
- Fruit kebobs in the form of the flag. These are made with strawberries, blueberries and pieces of shortcake. I've also seen versions with marshmallows, angle food cake, donut holes or bananas for the white and raspberries or watermelon for the red stripes. Blueberries seem to be the main option for any fruity blue color. But use your imagination...
If you're kids are really into barbecuing, here's a way for them to feel like they're helping mom or dad on the grill.
And this play picnic set will have them ready to go all summer long and even into the off season without all the prep work.