The 4th of July is a great time to get kids involved and have them find out more about being an American.
You can have them do craft projects, help them prepare for a 4th of July cookout, or even just give them a disposable camera and have them take photos of the parade, fireworks or other celebrations.
Also, you might want to sit down and talk to your children about things that show they appreciate their freedoms.
Here is a list of things you might want to consider talking to your children about:
1. Sit down with the children and discuss why we celebrate the 4th of July.
2. Find ways for them to show how thankful they are for living in a free country.
3. Come up with a list of services that the family can do for the community this year.
Other ways to get Kids involved in the 4th of July Celebrations
You can have your kids help plan for the 4th of July picnic, have them help pick out the food, choose some of the games, and pack the blanket to take for the fireworks display!
Below is a extra fun 4th of July activity for kids this holiday. See the following article for more ideas!
You might want to think about giving them disposable camera to let them capture some of the fun this 4th of July! See this article below:
Creative, Cost-Efficient Photo Ideas for Kids this 4th of July!
by Cheri Barlow
On the 4th of July you probably will have a cookout, go to the park, or catch a fireworks show! You will probably snap lots of nice photos today that you can use in future digital scrapbooking projects. But why should you be alone in having all the “digital fun”?!! What I mean is, why not let the kids get involved in taking some of the 4th of July photos for your holiday digital scrapbooking projects?
Depending on your kids age, digital cameras might not be in the budget and totally out of the question. Especially if your kids are really young, they might drop a nice digital camera and damage it, or just, plain lose the camera! But perhaps instead of spending big bucks on nice, new digital cameras, try something a little more cost-efficient for little kids that want to join in on the photo-fun and take some holiday pics. Try getting the kids a disposable camera that you can buy at any local grocery or drug store! These cameras are not too expensive and if one gets lost or broken it is definitely not the end of the world.
Why give the kids a camera today? Well, it is the 4th of July and as a parent, I’m sure you have lots to do to prepare for the holiday festivities! While the day still will be fun, you might be busy cooking and baking food for the cookout, packing for the picnic or fireworks show, and need an extra hand when it comes to taking the holiday photos! With summer here, and many kids out of school, they have plenty of free time to help you out and take a few pics! Not to mention, giving them the responsibility to be in charge of the disposable camera and getting lots of family and holiday shots will help them keep busy and stay away from being wild, crazy, and bored!
Here some 4th of July photo and kid ideas:
1. Get a holiday-themed, cost-efficient disposable camera. Around the holidays, you can usually find disposable cameras that are holiday-themed. If you find a disposable camera that is decorated for the 4th of July, you might want to get that one to add to the holiday-fun! Using a disposable camera that has the American flag can get kids excited about the holiday and about being in charge of taking special photos!
2. Make a list of 4th of July photo-ops that the child should look for. You know if you give a small child a camera and ask them to take photos without any instruction then 5 minutes later they will have used up the whole camera on silly things and will be bored again! Take a few moments and prepare them for their “important responsibility” ! Make a list of photo-ops that they should look for, and spread these pics throughout the day, like: getting ready for the 4th of July BBQ, the actual Independence Day celebration, the fireworks show, etc (for younger children, you may need to draw pictures of the shots they should look for like flags, food, people – yes, stick figures are perfectly fine!) Also, you might want to add some hints or suggestions for the photos. This way they have to think about what they are looking for. You might explain that a good photographer really looks around and thinks about the photos before they take the picture. You may even want to offer some hints or suggestions that might help them look for good photos! For example, you might add to their list “Take 2 photos at the BBQ, or Cookout” then you might give them these a few hints, “Look for the yummiest looking dish of food at the BBQ buffet,” or ”Find something funny, like a person doing something crazy or a pet being cute!” Take a few minutes to create a photo-checklist and keep your kids busy, feeling special, and excited to play photographer!
3. Leave a few extra of the photos on the camera for “creativity shots.” Ask your children to find surprises and take photos of anything that interests them too! It will be exciting to see what “creativity shots” your kids can come up with, when they know they have a few “wild card” pics that are special and should be saved for something unique! I always think that it is nice to give children structure because it helps to fend off boredom and gives them purpose. However, I do think that adding some room for them to pick their own photo surprises also helps them to develop their own creativity! I think creativity is as important as structure, it really is nice to have both – don’t you think?
4. After the celebration, help them to digitally scrap the photos into digital scrapbooking pages, albums, and projects. For help on this, check out these blog articles: Helping Kids Start Digital Scrapbooking ~ Part 1 and also this blog article: Helping Kids Start Digital Scrapbooking ~ Part 2 . Helping your children preserve the memories of this 4th of July celebration and the day you let them take the photos could be a very special holiday memory!
If you want some Digital Scrapbooking Page ideas to help your children digitally scrap the photos they shot, then visit Digital Scrapbooks and More’s 4th of July Idea Page! This web page shows digital scrapbooking kits and supplies and how they were made into Digital Scrapbooking Pages! Take a look, it might give you some digital scrapbooking inspiration for all of your digital scrapbooking Independence Day scrapbooking projects!
Have a very happy 4th of July and make wonderful memories today!
Happy Scrapping,
Cheri
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Get 4th of July Digital Scrapbooking Supplies
Try the Freedom Digital Scrapbooking Kit! Filled with patriotic red, white, and blue papers, you can scrap all of your 4th of July fun! Whether you see a fireworks show, or enjoy some yummy BBQ at a cookout, enjoy your freedom and scrap all the wonderful holiday’s activities.
BONUS: When you buy the Freedom Digital Scrapbooking Kit, you get an ENTIRE Overlay Kit for FREE! Use these FREE coordinating border Overlays to add some extra holiday personalization!
If you’re not sure how to use Overlays, not to worry, we have training! Overlays are essentially Transparencies that have texture, designs, or patterns that can enhance your Digital Scrapbooking Papers and Pages. Add them to Digital Scrapbooking Papers to add a pattern, enhance texture, or create a 3-D design. You also have the ability to color or apply special techniques to Overlays to enhance your projects and even apply different looks!
Blue Ice Polka Dot Scrapbooking Kit is sprinkled with beautiful, blue polka dots! Decorate your favorite moments like 4th of July events, fireworks and more! This kit is filled full of digital papers, frames, tags, and embellishments all perfect for any time you need a blue themed kit!
Celebrate the 4th of July, Fireworks, Cookouts and use this kit when you need blue themed digital scrapbooking supplies!
Learn Digital Scrapbooking
Why not learn about all about digital scrapbooking? Take the whole Getting Started Series Lesson 1-6 for Elements and Lesson 1-5 for Photoshop!
The Getting Started Series in Digital Scrapbooking using Photoshop Elements 8 is the ultimate training! CD-set includes: 
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See the Photo Edit Training too, or Intermediate and Advanced Digital Scrapbook training as well!
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Try 4th of July Overlays!
If you want to see other great overlays – like the 4th of July ones we have in our Scrap Shop please check into the Overlay Section!
For example buy the July 4th Digital Overlay Kit , which is a festive collection of 4th of July-inspired Overlays! This is the perfect kit for adding additional holiday design and personalization to Digital Scrapbooking Pages! Overlays are perfect for customizing Digital Papers! Add adorable detail to your 4th of July Digital Scrapbooking Pages and Projects. Use the July 4th Overlays as digital embellishments, or to create interesting digital paper borders.
Try Overlay Training for Photoshop or Overlay Training for Photoshop Elements
“Introduction to Overlay Basics in Photoshop Elements” teaches about 3 common Overlay types and how to use them. Make your Digital Scrapbooking Pages and Project have character and personality by using Overlays!
By adding an Overlay to a solid (or patterned) Digital Paper, you can create a different type of effect, one that makes flat papers look real; adding an artistic flare to what would otherwise be a standard-looking page.
Understanding how to use Overlays and incorporating them into Digital Scrapbooking Projects is the next-step for Intermediate Digital Scrapbookers. After graduating from the Digital Scrapbooks and More Getting Started Series (Digital Scrapbooking Training for Beginners), this is the next, best place to start!
Overlays are essentially Transparencies that have texture, designs, or patterns that can enhance your Digital Scrapbooking Papers and Pages. Add them to Digital Scrapbooking Papers to add a pattern, enhance texture, or create a 3-D design. You also have the ability to color or apply special techniques to Overlays to enhance your projects and even apply different 
looks!
This Lesson Set, Introduction to Overlay Basics in Photoshop Elements contains 3 downloadable videos tutorials, 3 Cheat Sheets for a quick re-cap of the lesson’s steps, and also includes 4 FREE Overlays as an added BONUS! Plus as an EXTRA BONUS this set also includes 2 FREE Digital Scrapbooking Supplies Too!
Try Overlay Training for Photoshop too!
