As an adult, the thought of the 4th of July may have an aura of nostalgia. Memories of grilling hot dogs, eating popsicles, chasing lighting bugs and watching late-night fireworks likely still fill your brain as you think of the many summers you spent as a kid celebrating Independence Day.

If you are hoping to give your own children some great memories to recall some day as they reminisce on the holiday, don’t let stressors like unexpected noises or late-night sugar lead to a meltdown or an unexpected firework injury ruin the holiday for both of you. Keep these tips in mind to help your child to have a safe and positive experience during the holiday that you both will cherish for years to come.

 

Prepare Children for the Sounds of the Celebration

If there is one thing the 4^th of July is known for, it is the big booms that come from exploding fireworks in the night sky. While this can be a fun and exciting experience for children and adults alike, some children (and adults as well) can be sensitive to the loud and intense sounds of fireworks. This sensitivity can be as simple as feeling concerned about where the sound is coming from, to as severe as a child becoming frightened by the noise and trying to run away to safety.

To help your child to feel safe and secure during this loud holiday, discuss with them ahead of time what sounds your child will hear. Tell them about the sounds of the exploding fireworks, what happens when a firework ignites and what they will see when the sounds happen. Remind them that while these sounds can seem scary, they are not going to hurt them. Remind your child of where you will be to help comfort them, and stay near any child who is more sensitive to sounds to help intervene more quickly if a challenge arises.

If you plan to attend other loud events, like a 4^th of July parade, also consider preparing the child for the sounds of drum lines, motorcycles and loud vehicles that may create unexpected noises throughout the parade. This video will help you to prepare your child for a parade. For more information on how to prepare a child for the noises and other sensations of attending a parade, check out this video on Preparing Children For Parades , with Emily Learing, a Registered Play Therapist^TM and Nicole Fluth, and Occupational Therapist.

If you know that your child is sensitive to noise, bring noise dampening headphones along to the celebration to use if needed. It is best not to force the child to wear them, but encouraging them to wear them ahead of the loud noise can be helpful in protecting from the stress of the loud noise. If your child is resistant, let them know that you have them and stay close by when the loud noises come to offer quick relief from the sounds.

 

Schedule Activities Accordingly

As exciting as your Independence Day plans may be, young children cannot handle sun-up to past sun-down activities, especially in the high temperatures that are a natural part of this holiday. Holidays are prime moments for meltdowns due to poor planning. As you look ahead to your holiday, find quiet times in the day to rest, get out of the sun and try to get in a nap, if your child will cooperate. Don’t forget about drinking lots of water and allowing for plenty of opportunities to get in a snack in between meals.

I know that you are really excited about the grill out and you know that your child will love eating hot dogs, chips and watermelon, but asking your child to wait 2 hours until the picnic begins is a recipe for disaster. Give them what their body needs when they need it so that both you and your child can have a more enjoyable and relaxed holiday.

 

Talk About Safety

If you really think about it, the 4^th of July has a chance of being a pretty dangerous and life-changing holiday. One wrong move with a lit punk or lighter, or a firework that goes rogue can change someone’s life forever. One quick YouTube search can show you what can absolutely go wrong on the 4^th of July. Don’t be like those people!

Ahead of the holiday, talk with your kids about safety. Remind them that fireworks and the tools used to light them can lead to burns. Give them strategies for using these items safely, like always walking with the lit punk facing down, remembering to walk briskly but not run when moving away from a lit firework and leaving lit fireworks or “dud fireworks” alone.

Keep a water source nearby and remind children to use vessels for holding the fireworks instead of holding them in their hands. And don’t forget about bonfires and campfires. These can be dangerous for excited firework lighters! Keep paths clear so that children can easily walk to safety after lighting a firework

When talking to your kids about safety, phrase the guidance in what to do, not what not to do. For example, “Remember to walk with the punk pointing down” instead of “Don’t point the punk up.,” or  “Point fireworks away from people” versus “Don’t point the firework at someone.”

Keeping kids safe during the 4^th of July is a stressful endeavor for parents that includes both preventative and in-the-moment guidance, especially for young children. Stay nearby to encourage a safe holiday.