Fun & Easy Canada Day Activities for Kids to Enjoy
Canada Day is the perfect time to bring families together with fun, patriotic activities—and that includes the youngest members of the crew! Whether you’re planning a celebration at home, at the park, or in your backyard, having age-appropriate Canada Day activities for kids makes the day extra special. From simple crafts to outdoor games and sensory play, there are plenty of creative ways to keep little ones engaged while honoring Canada’s birthday.
In this post, we’ve rounded up the best Canada Day activities for every age group. You’ll find exciting ideas for toddlers, preschoolers, infants, and even seniors joining in the family fun. We also included suggestions for Canada Day activities for kindergarten, preschool, and babies—plus options for outside play when the weather’s nice.
Whether you’re looking for educational crafts, red-and-white themed snacks, or memorable traditions to start with your children, we’ve got you covered. These ideas are not just fun—they’re meaningful, screen-free ways to create lasting memories. Let’s make this Canada Day unforgettable for kids of all ages!
🎨 1. Creative Canada Day Crafts for Kids
🇨🇦 Maple Leaf Collage
Let kids explore their artistic side by creating a maple leaf collage using red and white construction paper. Provide scissors (safety scissors for younger children), glue, glitter, and markers. Trace or print maple leaf outlines and let the kids decorate them with various textures and patterns. This is a simple yet engaging Canada Day activity for kindergarten and preschool children.
Tip for toddlers & preschoolers: Use foam maple leaves and pre-cut paper shapes to simplify the process.
📍 DIY Canadian Flags
Using paper, straws, or popsicle sticks, children can craft their own mini Canadian flags. Supply red and white paint or markers, and allow kids to get creative with their designs. This hands-on activity is perfect for Canada Day activities for toddlers and preschoolers who love working with their hands.
Enhancement for older kids: Incorporate history by sharing the story of the Canadian flag and its symbolism.
🎆 Red & White Fireworks Painting
Use a fork or toilet paper roll as a “firework stamper” dipped in red and white paint to create bursts on black or blue paper. This fun art project mimics fireworks and is ideal for kids who might not stay up for real ones.
Great for: Canada Day activities for preschool, kindergarten, or older kids who enjoy expressive art.
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🌞 2. Outdoor Canada Day Activities for Kids
🏃♀️ Maple Leaf Scavenger Hunt
Design a Canada-themed scavenger hunt in your yard or local park. Hide items like toy beavers, mini flags, red and white balloons, or paper maple leaves. Provide clues or a checklist for older kids and parents to assist the younger ones.
Perfect for: Canada Day activities for kids outside, toddlers with supervision, and preschoolers who love adventure.
🧺 Patriotic Picnic
Host a Canada Day picnic in your backyard or at a community event. Prepare snacks like maple cookies, red and white cupcakes, and fruit kabobs with strawberries and bananas.
Add in games like sack races, bean bag toss, or hula hoop challenges to keep kids entertained.
Include seniors in this one—they can enjoy relaxing under a shady tree while watching the festivities.
🚴♂️ Canada Day Bike Parade
Organize a bike decorating contest where kids can adorn their bikes with streamers, flags, and balloons. After decorating, host a neighborhood parade with music and cheering.
This is a beloved Canada Day activity for kids outside, and it’s suitable for all ages, including older siblings and friends.
🧠 3. Educational Canada Day Activities
📚 Canadian Symbols Flashcards
Create a set of flashcards with images and facts about Canadian symbols like the maple leaf, beaver, Mounties, moose, and Canadian provinces.
For Canada Day activities for preschoolers and kindergarten, make the flashcards large with bright images. Older kids can try trivia challenges based on the cards.
🧩 DIY Canada Puzzle Map
Print out a blank map of Canada and cut it into pieces. Kids can color and reassemble the provinces and territories. For younger children, provide color-coded outlines for easy matching.
Ideal for: Indoor Canada Day activities for kindergarten and older preschoolers.
Bonus: Include fun facts about each province to spark curiosity.
🏰 Storytime: Indigenous Legends and Canadian Tales
Introduce kids to Canada’s rich Indigenous culture and folk stories by reading age-appropriate books. Great options include:
- “The Legend of the Dreamcatcher”
- “A Promise is a Promise” by Robert Munsch
- “Goodnight Canada” by Andrea Beck
This is a meaningful addition to your Canada Day activities for infants, babies, and preschoolers, especially during quiet time.
👶 4. Canada Day Activities for Infants and Babies
🖐️ Sensory Bins in Red & White
Create a Canada-themed sensory bin with items like red pom-poms, white rice, safe plastic shapes, and textured fabrics. Let babies and infants explore the textures under supervision.
This sensory play supports developmental learning while celebrating Canada’s colors.
🎶 Canada-Themed Baby Singalong
Babies love music, so incorporate patriotic tunes like “O Canada,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “Maple Leaf Forever” in a soft singalong session. Use instruments like baby rattles or tambourines to enhance the experience.
Great for: Calm indoor Canada Day activities for babies and infants.
👣 Handprint Maple Leaf Keepsakes
Use baby-safe, non-toxic paint to create handprint or footprint maple leaves. Parents can frame them as a first Canada Day keepsake.
This activity is heartfelt and perfect for families celebrating their baby’s first July 1st.
🧓 5. Intergenerational Canada Day Activities (Kids + Seniors)
🧵 Collaborative Crafting
Invite grandparents or senior family members to join kids in a crafting session. Making friendship bracelets, patriotic wreaths, or even simple quilts can be a bonding experience.
Canada Day activities for seniors don’t need to be separate—combine their wisdom with the kids’ creativity!
🕹️ Canada-Themed Bingo
Customize a Canada Day Bingo game with symbols like moose, maple leaf, CN Tower, red mittens, etc. Both kids and seniors can play at the same time.
Provide small prizes like stickers, snacks, or Canadian pencils.
📖 Memory Sharing Circle
Host a storytelling session where seniors share their favorite Canada Day memories. Kids can ask questions and draw pictures based on what they hear. This is not only educational but deeply meaningful.
This makes a great Canada Day activity for preschool and older kids, promoting family connection.
🎊 6. Festive Decor & Party Ideas
🎈 DIY Photo Booth
Set up a simple backdrop with Canadian flags, balloons, and streamers. Provide red and white props like hats, feather boas, and fake mustaches for a family-friendly photo session.
Kids love dressing up, and this becomes a wonderful keepsake.
🍁 Red & White Snack Bar
Let kids build their own snack plates with items like:
- Mini poutine cups
- Strawberry yogurt parfaits
- Red velvet cupcakes
- Popcorn in maple syrup drizzle
- Canada flag fruit skewers (strawberry, banana, marshmallow)
Use child-sized plates and tongs to make it a hands-on Canada Day activity for preschoolers and toddlers.
🎂 Mini Maple Leaf Cupcake Decorating
Bake plain cupcakes ahead of time and let kids decorate them using red and white icing, sprinkles, and small maple leaf candies. This tasty craft combines creativity with dessert!
🕹️ 7. Active Games and Group Play
🧼 Red & White Water Balloon Toss
Use red and white balloons filled with water for a splashy good time. Make sure to use safe zones and soft toss rules for little kids.
Great as a Canada Day activity for kids outside on a warm July afternoon.
🐻 Stuffed Animal “Canadian Safari”
Hide plush animals representing Canadian wildlife (bear, moose, beaver, loon, etc.) around the yard. Create a safari map and let kids find each animal while learning fun facts.
Tip: Include cardboard binoculars for extra excitement.
🏹 DIY Canoe Race (Without Water!)
Create cardboard “canoes” and let kids race from point A to B by crawling or pretending to paddle. It’s a hilarious, active game for all ages and nods to Canada’s Indigenous and explorer history.
🛋️ 8. Quiet Time Canada Day Activities
🧸 Canada Day Puzzles & Coloring Books
Download or purchase Canada-themed coloring books and puzzles. Offer a cozy space with crayons, colored pencils, and stickers for quiet creativity.
This is a calming option during party lulls and an easy Canada Day activity for toddlers and preschoolers.
🎥 Watch a Canada-Themed Movie
Wind down the day with family-friendly Canadian films like:
- Franklin and Friends: Franklin’s Canada Day
- The Magic Hockey Skates
- Canada: The Story of Us (for older kids)
Set up a mini theatre with popcorn and blankets to close the celebration on a relaxing note.
📔 Canada Day Journal or Scrapbook
Provide older kids with materials to reflect on their day. Have them write about their favorite parts, draw pictures, or paste photos and keepsakes into a Canada Day journal.
This is a thoughtful wind-down activity that builds gratitude and memory-making.
💡 Final Tips for Planning Your Canada Day Activities for Kids
- Plan ahead to have age-appropriate supplies ready.
- Include all ages: babies, toddlers, preschoolers, seniors, and school-aged kids.
- Keep it simple for toddlers and infants. Avoid overstimulation.
- Mix it up with indoor and outdoor options to adapt to the weather.
- Stay safe by supervising all water, crafting, and active play activities.
- Engage everyone by allowing kids to help plan, decorate, and lead games.
Canada Day offers a unique opportunity to celebrate our country while spending meaningful time with family—and the right Canada Day activities for kids can make it all the more magical. Whether you’re planning a lively outdoor bash or a cozy indoor celebration, the key is finding age-appropriate ways to keep everyone smiling.
From simple sensory fun for babies and infants, to hands-on crafts for toddlers and preschoolers, to more structured games for kindergarteners and beyond, these activities encourage creativity, movement, and togetherness. Don’t forget to include Canada Day activities for seniors too—they’ll love helping the kids and sharing stories from their own childhood celebrations!
We hope this guide has sparked inspiration and helped you plan an unforgettable day. If you loved these ideas, don’t keep them to yourself—share this post with other families and help spread the celebration. Have a happy and safe Canada Day, filled with joy, laughter, and a whole lot of red and white fun!
