One way for your family to show its patriotic colors is to hang an array of these red, white and blue twirlers from a window frame, a parade float or even limbs of the neighborhood trees. Then grasp each one at the bottom, twirl it around and around until the string is wound tight, then let go and enjoy the show.

To make one, use a nail to poke a hole in the center of a plastic coffee can lid. With a marker, draw a spiral that starts 3/8 inch from the hole and gradually extends to the rim, then cut along the line (parents only). Knot an end of a piece of string and thread the other end up through the hole in the center, and the twirler is ready to hang up and spin.