Finding Joy and Light on the 4th of July While Facing Childhood Cancer
As you gather today with your friends and family, don’t forget to check in on family members with cancer. As holidays are challenging times for individuals facing cancer, it can feel especially isolating.
Today, we are thinking of all the families facing cancer and cheering you on every step of the way. If you're not able to go out today, there are many ways to enjoy fun activities during this holiday. Keep reading to learn more about ways you and your family can celebrate during the 4th of July, all from the comfort of your home. If you know someone experiencing childhood cancer, we have tips for you, too!
🏡 At-Home Celebrations
Patriotic Pajama Movie Night: After a fun-filled backyard picnic, take a refreshing break from the summer heat by heading indoors to relax and recharge. Curl up on the couch with your favorite snacks — and favorite people — for a movie marathon featuring feel-good or patriotic films. Add in some board games or card games for a bit of friendly competition and extra laughs.
Bake Sweet Treats Together: What better way to enjoy the holiday festivities than by baking your favorite sweet treats? This is an enjoyable activity for the entire family to participate in, and the kids can participate in a hands-on experience decorating their cupcakes, cookies, or star-shaped Rice Krispies treats. Go the extra mile and add patriotic flair with sprinkles and flags.
Glow Stick Dance Party: To avoid the loud noise and smoke from outdoor fireworks, stay indoors, dim the lights, and break out the glow sticks or LED lights to create a little, family-friendly dance party atmosphere. This is ideal for immunocompromised kids. Still want to see fireworks? No problem! FaceTime a family member with fireworks in the background or watch one of your favorite fireworks shows online.
🧺 Backyard Fun & Activities
Red, White, and Blue Picnic: Enjoy an indoor picnic (or outdoor picnic, depending on the weather) with your favorite blanket and basket of favorite treats. Want to make it festive? Bring the family together to create decorations with paint, paper towel rolls, glitter, and construction paper, making firework art. This creates a cheerful atmosphere — plus, it’s safe, creative, and fun for all ages.
Stargazing with a Blanket and Snacks: Trade the fireworks for a cozy night under the sky. If the weather’s nice, grab your homemade treats and patriotic decorations, then head outside with the family. Spread out some blankets, gaze up at the stars, and soak in the summer night. Bring along a flashlight for a fun game of “I Spy” in the dark—extra points for spotting red, white, or blue!
Bubble Parade or Balloon Drop: This activity is fun for the entire family. Head outside to blow bubbles in the sunshine, or host your very own mini parade — decorate wagons, bikes, or scooters with red, white, and blue flair and roll down the driveway or around the yard. Want to kick it up a notch? Create your own balloon drop using red, white, and blue balloons for a burst of patriotic excitement.
❤️ How to Support Families This 4th of July
Portable Celebration Kits: For families undergoing treatment or at the hospital, portable celebration kits are ideal and bring joy during difficult times. You can help a family battling cancer during the 4th of July by putting together a small pack or bag of stickers, coloring pages, glow sticks, mini puzzles, and themed snacks. This is ideal for clinic or hospital rooms.
Virtual Hangouts to Share the Love: Set up a FaceTime call for a family member experiencing childhood cancer and undergoing treatment at the hospital. This virtual hangout with friends and family lets them know you’re thinking of them and that their strength is remarkable. Take it a step further by hosting a 4th of July bingo game, bringing everyone together.
Offer Specific Help: Oftentimes, it’s most helpful to ask and offer specific help to family members facing cancer. Check-in with them to see if there’s anything they need, asking specific questions like: “Can I drop off dinner this week?” or “Want me to pick up fireworks for the kids to use later?” These open-ended questions help them know you’re there for them and ready to provide help and support. Visiting after the holidays also makes a world of difference by dropping off flowers or a coffee, and sharing your love and support.
We’d love to hear from you on how your family celebrates the 4th of July. Head over to our Instagram to share a comment on our latest post. Interested in helping Maxwell’s Toy Box further its mission? Your support is vital in helping us bring joy and comfort to families and their children battling cancer — thank you for fighting cancer to the max!
With love,
Dina
Mom, Founder & Childhood Cancer Advocate 💛
