Consider the ages and abilities of the children that will be present when planning yard games for your party. You don’t want anyone to feel left out. You may also want to have a list prepared and allow your guests to choose which game to play first. It would also be good to set your rules before the games begin, and be sure everyone understands them so there are no arguments. Here are some great games to try:

Tag: This is one game that children have played for centuries and it’s very simple. Someone is chosen to be “It” and then has to cover their eyes while everyone else hides. Be sure to choose a place for base so everyone can try to get there before being tagged. That person then becomes “It” and the game continues with that person trying to catch others.

Tug-of-War: Set up an area with a small wading pool and a rope long enough for everyone that wants to play. Mark the center of the rope with a bandana or tape and then have even-sided teams grab either end of the rope. They pull until one team has pulled the flag over a particular line, in this case it could be the edge of the pool. Don’t be surprised, however, if one side ends up getting wet, so be prepared with towels.

Scavenger Hunt: Before the party, make a list of ten things that should be able to be found in your yard. This could include a certain type of flower, rocks, feathers, or items that you specifically place in your yard. Give each player a list and let them go scavenging. Whoever returns with the most items, wins!

Croquet: This game has been around for a long time. You may want to have the game set up prior to guests arriving. The purpose is to guide a colored ball with a mallet of the same color through a series of pickets until you reach the end post. This game takes a little bit of skill, so it may not be suitable for younger children.

Water Balloon Toss: Expect someone to get wet, if not soaked, in this game – which may be a good thing if it’s extremely hot outside. Break the children up into pairs and give each of them a water balloon. Have the pairs start off close together tossing the balloon back and forth, stepping back one step after each successful catch. The person who wins is the last person to toss the balloon before it bursts.

These Fourth of July yard games for children aren’t only for this holiday. In fact, they can be played at any time of the year. They are tried and true games that children have enjoyed for years. Why not make them a part of your patriotic celebration. They’re sure to entertain until the firework show begins.

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Instead of spending the entire day running from place to place, consider throwing your own Fourth of July party. It gives you an excuse to really spruce up and decorate your yard.

Start planning early to be sure you’re ready on the day of the party. Since the party will be on the Fourth of July, you have a ready-made theme or starting place. Begin by making a list of things you’ll need and what you’ll need to do.

Of course, you’ll want your lawn to be cleaned up, so now is the time to start picking up the yard toys, furniture, and other things that have made their way to the lawn. Give it a good mowing and remove the dead grass. Maintaining a well-manicured lawn takes some time, but the beauty of it will be a thing to behold.

If you have lawn furniture, make sure to clean it well before the day of the party. You would probably do this at the beginning of summer, but you may want to re-clean it as the party draws nearer. This also gives you an opportunity to check to be sure the furniture is safe or if anything needs to be replaced.

Check your lawn for fire ant colonies. If you find them, now is the time to spread out any poison to get rid of them. You may also want to have a professional exterminator come and spray a couple of days before the party to get rid any other unwanted pests. Find or buy citronella candles to help keep mosquitoes from ruining the party.

Make sure you have enough seating for all your guests, and then arrange your lawn furniture and other seating in conversational groups. This will encourage your guests to chitchat while they’re waiting for the food to be prepared and served. Be sure there’s a small table within the group for guests to set their glasses.

Prepare an area of the lawn that will be just for the kids. Set out some yard games such as croquet, water balloon toss, horse shoes, or tug-of-war. Of course, you’ll want to have games for all age children and someone to monitor the games so the kids don’t get out of hand.

The day before the party, set up the cooking area. You know the kitchen is often the busiest place in the house during the holidays, so set up a cooking area complete with a preparation table, barbecue grill, and a place for guests to relax while you cook. If you have a small refrigerator, that’s great. But you can also set out your coolers with food the day of the party so everything is within reach.

These quick and easy tips for preparing your yard for a Fourth of July party may be all you need to start thinking about your own summer party plans. The benefit of preparing early is that you won’t be rushed as the day approaches. It also allows you time to ensure that your guests will enjoy the time they spend with you and your family.

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Patios are often considered to be a nuisance because they can be hot. This doesn’t have to be the case on July 4th. In fact, you can treat your patio as another room to your house, it’s just outside. There are so many things you can do with your patio to make it a place you’ll love to share with friends and neighbors.

Begin by cooling your patio down. This can be accomplished by either providing a covering or by installing a misting system. With a cover made of aluminum or heavy canvas, the sun is blocked, which helps reduce the temperature. A misting system cools you by spraying a light mist which evaporates, thus cooling the air by as much as 35 degrees.

After you’ve had your patio cooled, it’s time to think about lighting. For July 4th, think about decorating with candles in red, white, and blue votives. Star-shaped accent lights can also be hung in the trees to provide a festive mood. Hurricane lamps are also popular lighting for patios.

Make sure you have plenty of seating available. Clean lawn chairs and patio furniture should be placed to encourage conversation. Place a small table within each conversation group as a place for guests to put their drinks. Plush cushions will help make the seating more comfortable.

If you’re having a barbecue, be sure to have a table and chairs for your guests to eat at. A colorful, patriotic tablecloth and cloth napkins are perfect for the evening. Red, white, or blue dishes top off the table and keep with the Fourth of July theme. With a few candles strategically placed, your table will be as beautiful as the fireworks.

Balloons may be appropriate if you expect to entertain children. Set aside an area in the yard, close by the patio so adults can keep an eye on the children, for the children to play in. Plan some yard games to keep children happy and busy until it’s time for the fireworks.

You still have time think about how to decorate for the summer. These tips for preparing your patio for a Fourth of July get-together should give you some ideas to consider. Of course, decorating to match your style is important, but hopefully these tips will help.

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A Fourth of July party can be so much fun, especially for little ones. But how do you prepare a party that children, as well as adults, will enjoy? Start early making plans and ask for your child’s input. You may be surprised to find that they have some great ideas for decorations, games, and food.

Let your child help make decorations for the party. Table toppers with a red, white, and blue glittered chenille stems, foil streamers, and balloons will be festive. Paint a small coffee can and fill it with sand to help the decorations stand. You may even want to place some sparklers in the can for later in the evening.

Plan a parade around your neighborhood or wherever you’re hosting your party. Let the children bring their bikes, wagons, tricycles, or scooters and decorate them with patriotic themes. Not only will the children have fun showing off their rides, they’ll also be showing off their artistic ability. Consider having a prize for each age group.

Don’t forget the food! Barbecue is the normal fare for the Fourth of July. Hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, potato salad, and homemade ice cream are always a hit. Have a watermelon, pie, or hot dog eating contest that everyone can join in.

What activities can children enjoy that only require adult supervision? Perhaps you can allow the children to make decorated t-shirts with fabric paint. See who can blow the biggest bubbles, have a water balloon war, and play patriotic music.

If the children in your life are water babies, consider having a pool party. Be sure to have a small wading pool so even the youngest children can have fun in the water. To keep children safe while in the pools, assign or hire someone to watch the children. Use sunscreen to keep them from becoming sunburned.

Finish off your party by allowing the children to stay up late so they can enjoy the fireworks show. Pack a light jacket just in case the night is cool, and arrive early to find the best seats. Don’t forget to bring your own chairs, a blanket to sit on, and maybe even a snack. Be prepared, however, for the children to nod off very quickly after the show is over.

Fourth of July party ideas for children don’t really need to be elaborate for them to be fun. Decorations, party games, and food are always a safe bet to get children into the party mood. Top the evening off with a night of fireworks, and the children will say your party was the best ever.

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Early in the day you’re likely to find, instead of the smoke from fireworks, the telltale signs of barbecues in home after home around town. The smell of charcoal lighter fluid and barbecue sauce are common on this day. But what are some of the normal foods you’ll find on the Fourth of July?

Barbecues will be lit, making the way for summer’s bounty. Hamburgers, hot dogs, ribs, chicken, bratwurst, and steaks are all common food enjoyed on this day. Don’t just rely on the old standbys, though – try grilling some fish, fruits, or vegetables. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy a change of pace for the entrée.

Corn on the cob, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, and deviled eggs compliment almost any meat dish. You may also want to serve dishes that may not be your typical Fourth of July, such as ethnic foods. To top off the meal, why not make homemade ice cream, a cake decorated with fresh strawberries or blueberries, fresh baked apple pie, or ice cold watermelon.

Be sure to keep perishable foods cold until its time to eat to make sure food doesn’t begin to spoil. Serve foods as soon as possible after they come off the grill for the same reason. If the weather’s hot outside, foods can begin to develop harmful bacteria in as little as thirty minutes.

As the evening draws to a close and darkness descends, it’s time for the big show to begin. Most larger cities around the country have fireworks so that their citizens can be safe. While fireworks are not legal within most city limits, this doesn’t stop some people from buying and firing them.

Children and teens may purchase fireworks with the intent to use them on the Fourth of July. Unfortunately, children and teens aren’t always careful with fireworks and injuries happen. If they are legal in your area, make sure there is a responsible adult to light the fireworks.

Children of all ages love fireworks and good food. Fourth of July’s winning combination is something to look forward to even while it’s still springtime. Why not begin making plans now for your family’s celebration. You’ll need to plan early if you’d like to rent an area in a local park. It’s never too early to plan; the Fourth of July will be here before you know it.

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What exactly is music therapy? Music therapy is an activity in which a qualified person uses music, whether listening or learning to play, as a means to bring about positive changes in a person’s cognitive, physical, psychological, or social functioning.

The ultimate goal of music therapy is to improve a patient’s or client’s quality of life. This is done through encouraging them to participate and interact with others taking music therapy, by providing individual treatment, and by influencing their well-being.

How can music therapy benefit seniors? The therapist uses music therapy to address a myriad of personal goals. These include developing musical skill in the client, enabling them to change their behavior, allowing them to express emotion and expect a resolution to them, as well as providing a sense of connectedness, comfort, and personal affirmation.

Music therapy can also be used to reduce stress and encourage relaxation, give structure to exercise and movement, and enhance personal relationships and social skills. Finally, music therapy is beneficial because music reinforces learning, improves focus, and improves a person’s self-esteem.

Music therapy easily captures your attention and it’s no different for those with diminished mental capacity due to illness or injury. In fact, music stimulates many parts of the brain, which can be extremely beneficial for those with dementia. Music can be used no matter what a person’s ability or disability. It is an effective memory aid and encourages movement. Music taps into our memories and plucks on our heart strings.

Making music together, no matter which instrument is being used, allows those taking music therapy classes to relax and enjoy themselves. Because it evokes emotion and brings back memories, even if a person is merely listening you can see the smile appear on their face.

Music therapy may include singing together, playing instruments, improvising, moving to the rhythm of the music, or simply listening. You can find music therapy sessions being offered in rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, day care treatment centers, mental health centers, and psychiatric hospitals. Some correctional facilities, hospice programs, and private practices also use music therapy to benefit their clients and patients.

Conditions which can be improved by using music therapy include but are not limited to:

* Alzheimer’s disease
* Brain injuries
* Developmental disabilities
* Phantom limb pain
* Paralysis to an arm or leg following a stroke

As you can see, there are many benefits to using music therapy with seniors. Once treatment has begun, you can expect to see improvements in their ability to maintain focus, pay attention to detail, and maybe even in their ability to remain stable on their feet. All-in-all, music therapy has so much potential it’s no wonder the medical community is beginning to use it to treat seniors.

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Even though most seniors already know it, you may want to help them remember that managing stress is simply taking charge of the things in your life that you can control. This may mean managing a schedule that seems to have gotten out of control. It could also mean being sure to strive for balance in life rather than letting life run you ragged.

Help them identify what the stressors are in their life. Are they concerned about having enough money to live off of in their golden years? Can you go with them to speak with a financial advisor? They may be able to subdue some of the fears which are causing so much stress.

Are the seniors in your life stressed about their health? Go with them to their next doctor’s appointment and discuss their concerns with the doctor. They will likely be able to address those concerns or recommend they visit a specialist who can better help them. Their doctor may suggest they spend time with a psychologist to help them deal with the stressors they experience.

Suggest they take yoga classes to help them manage their stress. Yoga will teach them to improve their posture, learn to breathe properly, and may help them become more limber. Another benefit to learning yoga is that it helps the body relax, which means they’ll learn to manage the stress they feel.

Meditation is another stress management technique seniors may want to try. Once they learn to meditate, they will find their heart rate slows, their blood pressure lowers, and they’ll be taking in more oxygen. All of these things lead seniors to manage their stress in a more effective way.

Have you always liked to put together jigsaw puzzles? There’s something very relaxing about putting puzzles together. They can concentrate on the puzzle alone which may make the stress seniors feel less of a problem.

Suggest they stay away from people who cause them stress. Perhaps they have a neighbor that bothers them and wants to borrow tools all the time. They can learn to say ‘no’ when a request is made, or simply refuse to answer the door. If they’re able to avoid the stressor they won’t be affected by it.

They may want to downsize their home. Even though your parents may have lived in the same home their entire married life, if they’re in a two-story home and neither can climb stairs very well, it might be time to move to a one-floor home. The thoughts of moving may cause stress, especially if they have years of accumulated things, but they may feel a sense of freedom once they’re in a new, smaller home.

No one wants to be affected by stress, particularly when they’re supposed to be headed to their golden years. There are many stress management techniques for seniors to try. Encourage them to try several methods until they find the one that’s best for them.

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Perhaps you have a good reason to cut back on your alcohol intake. Drinking too much can wreak havoc on your heart, raise your blood pressure, and could lead to your having a stroke. In addition, certain medications must not be mixed with alcohol, so it’s important to know how to reduce your alcohol intake. Here are some of the ways you can achieve this.

Rather than ordering a full-size glass of wine with dinner, order a small glass or a wine spritzer. This will reduce the amount of alcohol you consume quite a bit. You could also ask to get a glass of ice water with your wine so you can drink that along with the wine.

Avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. Having food in your stomach when you drink will give the alcohol something to be absorbed into. This means less of the alcohol will go directly into your blood stream and the effects won’t be as bad.

You may also want to avoid drinking at all during the week. Limiting your drinking to the weekend while you’re out with friends means your social life won’t be affected. Of course, you can still use the two previous ideas to help you drink less.

Treat yourself to something nice with the money you’ve saved from not drinking. Mixed drinks while you’re out can be quite pricey. If you choose to drink club soda or soft drinks rather than alcohol, you can save a good amount. And since you’re expected to leave a tip based on the price of your drink, you can save that way, too. Use the money you’ve saved to buy something you’ve wanted but chose not to get because you felt you couldn’t afford it.

Most experts recommend a woman drink no more than two servings of any alcoholic beverage a day. That may not seem like much if you’re used to drinking more. Men are allowed one more drink per day. If you’re drinking to reduce the amount of stress you feel each day, going to the gym or finding other means of reducing stress may help you drink less, as well.

There are a lot of reasons people choose to drink. If you have something to celebrate, that doesn’t mean alcohol has to be part of the celebration. You can find ways to reduce your alcohol intake without taking the fun out of your social life. It may take a while to get used to going without alcohol, but before too long you won’t miss it all.

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Peach Julius (Makes one serving)

Ingredients:
* 1 cup frozen or fresh peach juice
* 2 ounces milk (whatever percentage you prefer)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream
* 1/2 cup of ice

Place the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. When the ingredients are totally blended, pour them into chilled glasses. You can adjust the water or juice by adding more if the mix is too thick; add more ice cream if the mix is too thin.

Virgin Miami Vice (Makes one serving)

Ingredients:
* 1 ounce pineapple juice
* 1 ounce coconut cream
* 1/2 ounce half and half cream
* 1 1/2 ounce strawberry puree
* 1 1/2 ounces lime juice
* 1/4 ounce simple syrup
* 1 cup crushed ice
* Strawberry or mint for garnish

In a blender, add half the ice, pineapple juice, coconut cream, and the cream. Blend this until it’s smooth and then pour it into a tall glass. Place the remaining ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Carefully pour this mixture over a spoon to layer it over the pineapple-coconut layer. Add a strawberry, sprig of mint, or both as a garnish.

Non-Alcoholic “Champagne”

You can make a non-alcoholic “champagne” by adding 32 ounces of lemon and lime soft drink with 12 ounces of thawed white grape juice concentrate. Pour this into a container with a cover so it will remain fizzy until served. Serve as is out of the covered container or serve it out of a punch bowl.

Mudslides

Mudslides are a great option if you’re looking for a sweet non-alcoholic drink which still allows you to drive. You’ll need the following ingredients to make one serving:

* 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
* 1 teaspoon non-alcoholic amaretto flavored syrup
* 3 teaspoons non-alcoholic Irish cream flavored syrup
* Chocolate syrup to taste
* Splash of milk to thin down the mixture

Put the ice cream into a blender and add milk until the mixture is smooth. Add the amaretto syrup first and pulse it followed by the Irish cream flavored syrup. Add chocolate syrup to taste and blend the mixture again. Pour this into a tall glass. Finish it by placing a dollop of whipped cream and then drizzle additional chocolate syrup on top. To create a mocha-flavored drink, substitute coffee-flavored ice cream in place of the vanilla.

If you’re looking for non-alcoholic syrups to make some of your favorite drinks, you can often find them in the same area as coffee and tea in your local grocery store. You can also go to a favorite coffee shop and see if they have flavored syrups you can purchase.

Having a family member or friend with an issue with alcohol can make celebrating difficult. You don’t have to serve alcoholic beverages. Try one of these home-made non-alcoholic and delicious cocktails and they’ll still be able to enjoy the celebration.

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Start planning at least a month in advance. This will give you plenty of time to go around the neighborhood, introduce yourself, and ask if they would be interested in the party. Get names and telephone numbers from each of them so you can keep in contact with them. Set up a planning meeting at your home or the neighborhood recreation center or club house if it has one.

Decide where the party will be held. Contact your city government to see if you must have a permit. This may be necessary if you want to close off the street and have an old-fashioned block party. If this isn’t possible, will the neighbor with the biggest yard allow you to have the party at their home?

Plan the layout of the party once you know the location. Where will the food be placed? How many grills will there be? Where will everyone sit? Will there be tables and chairs provided or will they each be responsible for bringing their own lawn chairs? These are all questions you’ll want to answer as soon as you can so you can let your neighbors know what is expected of them.

Set the date and time. Which day of the three-day weekend will the party be: Saturday, Sunday, or Monday? Once you have the what, when, and where, you can begin making fliers to hand out. Be sure to decide on an alternate date or location in case of rain. Don’t forget to ask everyone to RSVP so you know how many to plan for. This will ensure no one purchases more than necessary.

For the party itself, there will need to be food, beverages, paper goods, and condiments. Ask everyone to chip in so one family won’t be in charge of providing everything. Plan for everyone to either provide something for the party or be in charge of an activity.

Of course, if there are children in the neighborhood, you’ll also want to plan some games. Water balloon tosses, a game of Frisbee, croquet, or horseshoes are all activities both children and adults may enjoy. Be sure that if you choose a game or activity with water, you include that on the invitation or flier so everyone can be prepared.

Decorations don’t have to be elaborate. In fact, having tablecloths of red, white, and blue and a few patriotic balloons may be all you need. For those who choose to decorate more, try to keep your decorations so they can be used for the Fourth of July or used again next year.

Depending upon the location, do as much set up as you can the day before the party. If you have to wait until the day of the party, call everyone who is bringing something and ask them to meet you early to set up. This will ensure the party will go off without a hitch when guests start to arrive.

Once you know how to organize a neighborhood Memorial Day party, don’t let that stop you! Plan regular neighborhood get-togethers and you’ll soon find your neighbors are good friends. That’s the way it was in the past, isn’t it time it’s the way of the future?

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