Summer Fun: Start a Parade

Organize the kids for a neighborhood parade!

Submitted by
Andrey Ragozin

Gather a group of local children to parade around the block. Your neighbors will be grateful that you're watching their kids and may even return the favor one day!

Sidewalk:
Keep the kids off the street. Tell them that official parades are held in the street because Uncle Sam blocks off the roadways, but sadly, they don't have an Uncle Sam (or if they do, he's too busy to build a blockade today.)
Musicians and marchers:
Your kids!
Instruments:
Tambourines, drums, bells. Any easy-to-carry noisemaker will do. Leave your tubas at home.
Bandleader:
That's you, Mom or Dad!
Marching band costume:
Have the kids dress up in matching outfits. Jeans and a yellow T-shirt will do. You can also pull out hats, boas, capes, anything you have lying around. (And you thought the kids would never wear their Shrek masks again!)
Paper:
Tape a few sheets together to make a big banner. What's a parade without some signs?
Crayons, markers or paint.
Ride-on toys:
Bikes, trikes, scooters or those fancy mini-Ferraris. Hang ribbons or streamers off them for makeshift floats.

Call the neighbors and see if their children want to join your parade.
Have the kids make signs and banners. Then they can decorate their bikes with ribbons, streamers or anything dangly.
Get the children into their costumes.
Hold a rehearsal. Real marching bands spend hours perfecting their sound. Give your little musicians a few minutes. Everyone within earshot will thank you.
Come up with a reason for celebrating with a parade. National I Ate All of My Broccoli Day sounds pretty good for some summer fun.
Hit the sidewalk! Have your little marchers follow behind you playing their instruments. You may have to walk backward so you can keep an eye on them.
Stop before you get a splitting headache or someone calls the police!