Father's Day Children's Crafts

On Father's Day, children get the opportunity to appreciate and understand the value of the fathering they receive. Here are some creative ways that little ones can tell their Dad and Grandad how much they care.

These Father's Day children's crafts are easy enough to be activities for 2 year olds and some of them you'll find 1 year olds can do too.

Here are some Father's Day children's craft ideas...

Create a special banner for the occasion

1. Cut some left over wall paper in half long ways
2. Write 'I love Daddy' in big, chunky bubble or bold writing on one half
3. Cut the letters out while leaving the rest of the paper intact, creating a stencil
4. Paper clip your stencil on top of the other half of the wall paper
5. Place some paint (in Dad's favourite colour) in a plate and find an old sponge
6. Either strip your toddler down to their nappy (diaper) or pop an old shirt or apron on them
7. Let your child sponge paint to their heart's content, while you slide the paper along so they cover it all
8. When your child's finished gently peel off the stencil and leave flat to dry

Handmade Father's Day Cards

Transport Father's Day Card

This is particularly good toddler project.

1. Draw and cut out a simple outline of a car, boat, aeroplane or train on coloured card (card stock) - whatever Dad's favourite is.
2. Create or find a small photo of your child or of your child with Dad. Cut out a window near the front for your child and/or Dad to 'drive' or have Dad 'driving' and your child riding in the back. Tip: I find putting a large lump of blue tack (white tack) underneath the card is the neatest way of cutting a shape out of the middle.
3. Prepare poster paint in Dad's favourite colour in a pot with a chunky brush. Dress your child for mess (as I mentioned above) and let her do some painting on the picture.
4. When it's dry, tape the photo(s) on the back so that they can be seen through the 'window'.
5. Make some springs by cutting two thin strips of card (card stock), placing them overlapping each other at right angles, then folding them one on top of the other until the resulting springs are about an inch or so long. Make 2 to 4 springs depending on the size of the picture and how wobbly you'd like the design to be (more springs = less wobbly). When the paint's dry, tape the springs to the back of the picture and then onto a folded piece of A4 card (card stock) in a contrasting colour.

The Sport Fan's Card

This is a great toddler crafts activity too.

1. Draw an outline of a symbol of Dad's favourite sport onto card and cut it out. I would draw around a bowl or glass if you want to create a round ball.
2. Then cut out a lot of small pieces of paper in the appropriate colour. Maybe black hexagons on a white circle for a British football.
3. Let your toddler decorate the ball, boxing glove, running shoe or whatever you've chosen.
4. Back to the springs idea as in the transport card. Tape 3 springs to the back of the picture and onto the folded piece of A4 card (if you're in the USA, that's letter size).

Let her show off her creative skills

I think this is the best Father's Day children's craft for the older ones.White or light coloured card (card stock) is best. Simply fold a piece of A4, provide coloured pencils or felt tips (markers), show them which side to draw on and then let their creativity go wild!

Handmade Father's Day Gifts

A Decorated Frame

This could be made into a gift or a card. The following instructions are for a gift.

1. Choose a photograph of your child with or without their Dad. If it's the normal (4" by 6") size, cut a strong A4 (letter size) piece of coloured card in two.
2. Draw and cut out a hole that's 3 1/2" by 5 1/2" in the middle of one piece, so there's a border of a little over an inch on the longer sides and 1 1/4" on the shorter ones. Tip: As mentioned, popping a large lump of blue tack (white tack) underneath the card is the neatest way of cutting a shape out of the middle. Keep hold of that small rectangle, as you can use it for the stand.
3. Provide glue and a variety of collage bits and pieces such as: craft feathers, shiny or foam shapes, pom poms, tissue paper either cut into small pieces or scrunched up, etc., and let them create a masterpiece. Tip: place a piece of scrap paper or newspaper under the frame for an easy clean up.
4. When they have finished and it's dry, line up the photograph and the unused piece of card (from step 1) with the frame piece. Then stick the photo and frame to the backing card.
5. You could either tape a short piece of string in a loop poking out at the top and/or make a stand like this: Find the rectangle you cut out of the frame, create two equally spaced folds so that when you bring the two opposite ends to meet each other, you've created a triangular shape (like an open ended triangular prism). Stick one 'face' of the prism firmly onto the bottom back of the frame with glue or tape. Make sure the bottom 'face' is lined up with the bottom of the frame so that it stands correctly. You may need to experiment a bit with this step to create a stand that's strong enough and at the right angle for your frame. Tip: If the card you're using isn't thick, try cardboard cut from a box (you could get your toddler to paint/colour the cardboard piece too).

Why I love Dad (or Grandad) jar

Ask your child what they like about their Dad or Grandad, what makes them laugh or smile, what they like doing with them etc., then write each statement on a strip of paper and put them in the jar. You could scribe for a preschooler or an older child may like to do it all themselves including cutting the positive statements into strips. Even a toddler can decorate a label to put on the jar.

Designer Gift Wrap

Buy plain gift wrap and an ink pad with interesting ink stamps. Let your little one design their gift wrap. Be aware though that ink pads become very messy in little hands.

I hope you enjoy doing these Father's Day children's crafts with the little one in your life. Dad will be touched and impressed!

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