While this is a competition, the biggest benefit may be as a craft activity that allows the kids to relax, calm down and take a break from the more actives games at your 4th of July party.
The Set Up: On a large table provide construction paper(red, white and blue), safety scissors, glue, cotton, balls, glitter, and any other kid friendly craft materials you have available. For younger kids it is also a good idea to provide a few pictures of Uncle Sam’s hat since they might not be familiar with it. You will then need to select a panel of judges who will select the winner(s) of the Uncle Sam’s Hat Making Competition.
The Rules: Give the kids around twenty minutes to make their Uncle Sam hats, but if they are having fun and not yet finished letting them work until they are done is a good option. Once everyone has completed their hat, have them line up wearing their hats and parade past the panel of hat judges. There should be plenty of clapping and cheers from the adults during the parade. The judges select an overall winner as well as winners for most creative, most colorful, most 4th of July spirit, and whatever other categories you would like to include. The winners get a prize and all of the kids get are awarded a participation prize as well great praise from the adults.
Photo-Op: The parade of hats is an excellent opportunity to take fabulous 4th of July photographs of the kids.