Firecracker Party Favors

by Jill Dvornik

Age: 3 and up
Time: 40 minutes
Type of Activity: Arts and Crafts

Everyone loves the Fourth of July! Fireworks, sparklers, and festivities make it a night to stay up past bedtime. Here's how your kids can participate in the "firecracker" fun - safely.

Materials needed:
Toilet-paper roll
Paint or crayons (red, white, and blue)
Yarn (using more then one color will make it more festive)
Construction paper
Rubber bands
Scissors

What to do:

Step One: Your child can paint the toilet-paper roll as colorfully as she likes.

Step Two: Let the roll dry.

Step Three: Cut out 2 circles about 3 or 4 inches wide out of the construction paper.

Step Four: Your child should paint the circles so they match the toilet-paper roll. Let them dry.

Step Five: Using the scissors, poke a small hole through the center of one of the circles.

Step Six: Thread a 6-inch piece of yarn through the hole in the paper circle. The longer end should hang from the side that your child has decorated.

Step Seven: Leave about 1 inch of yarn on the other side of the circle. Tape it down to the paper to hold in place.

Step Eight: Attach the two circles to the toilet-paper roll, making sure the decorated side is facing up. Line up each circle on either side of the toilet-paper roll. Wrap a rubber band around the roll lengthwise to hold the circles in place. Now your firecracker party favor is ready for the Fourth!

Tip: Here's a great way to add firepower to your firecracker. Before you attach the last circle to the toilet-paper roll, fill the roll with candy. Then have your guests "pop" them open to find the surprise!