Father's Day crafts for kids

Father's Day is a chance for children to celebrate dads, grandpas, stepdads, uncles and every father figure in their lives. Homemade gifts mean far more than anything from a shop, and they do not need to be complicated. These Father's Day crafts for kids include easy cards, handmade gifts, printable ideas and activities to make the day special.

Easy Father's Day cards

1. Tie card. Cut a folded card into a shirt shape with a collar and decorate a paper tie with stripes or polka dots.
2. Handprint card. Paint a handprint and write "You're the best dad, hands down."
3. "Dad, you rock" card. Glue a painted stone to the front of a card.
4. Star card. Color one of our star coloring pages and write "You're a star, Dad."
5. Rocket card. Color the shape rocket page and write "I love you to the moon and back."
6. Superhero card. Draw dad as a superhero with a cape and his own superpower.

Father's Day gifts kids can make

• Best dad medal. Cut a card circle, cover it in foil or gold paper and add a ribbon.
• Coupon book. Staple together coupons: a car wash, breakfast in bed, a game together, a back massage, a quiet hour.
• Decorated mug. Draw on a plain mug with ceramic markers and bake to set (adults help).
• Photo frame. Decorate a card or popsicle stick frame and add a favorite photo.
• Paper trophy. Make a trophy from a paper cup and card, and write "World's Best Dad".
• Key ring. Make a key ring from shrink plastic with a drawing.
• Painted plant pot. Paint a pot and plant a herb or succulent.
• Framed drawing. Draw something you love doing together and put it in a frame.

"All about my dad" questionnaire

Ask your child these questions and write down their answers exactly. The answers are often funny and very sweet.

• My dad's name is...
• My dad is ___ years old.
• My dad's favorite food is...
• My dad is really good at...
• My dad always says...
• My favorite thing to do with my dad is...
• My dad is the best because...

Add a drawing of dad and fold it into a card, or frame it. It becomes a lovely keepsake to compare year after year.

Father's Day crafts for toddlers

Toddlers can make handprint and footprint art with help: a handprint tie, footprint "you're my sole mate" card or fingerprint hearts. Let them paint and press, and an adult adds the words. Write the date on the back so it becomes a keepsake.

Father's Day crafts for older kids

Older children can make more personal gifts: a comic strip about their adventures with dad, a recipe book of his favorite meals, a homemade board game, a playlist of songs with a decorated cover, or a short video interview. They can also plan the whole day.

Father's Day activities

Gifts are only part of the day. Spend time together doing something dad enjoys:

• Breakfast in bed. Toast, eggs, fruit and a homemade card on a tray.
• Bike ride or hike. Pack a picnic and explore a new trail.
• Fishing trip. A classic Father's Day activity.
• Backyard games. Football, frisbee or catch.
• Building project. Build a birdhouse, a model or a cardboard car together.
• Barbecue. Kids can help make burgers, salads and fruit skewers.
• Movie and popcorn. Let dad choose the film.
• Coloring together. A calm half hour with detailed mandala pages for dad and simple pages for the kids.

Father's Day in the classroom

Teachers can invite children to make a card for any special person in their life: a dad, grandpa, uncle, mom, carer or family friend. This keeps the day inclusive for every family. Printable cards and questionnaires make it easy to manage a whole class.

Tips for Father's Day crafts

• Start a few days early so paint and glue have time to dry.
• Hide crafts in a box until the day.
• Let children choose the colors and design; the imperfections make it special.
• Write the child's name and the date on every gift.

More homemade gift ideas

The same ideas work for birthdays and other holidays. See our Mother's Day crafts for kids for more card and gift ideas, and crafts for kids for 50 easy projects.

Writing a message for dad

Children sometimes get stuck on what to write. Try simple sentence starters: "Thank you for...", "I love it when we...", "You are the best at...", "My favorite memory with you is...". Younger children can tell you what to write while older children write it themselves.

Father's Day crafts by age

Ages 1 to 3

Handprint and footprint keepsakes, sticker cards and painted stones. Let toddlers do the painting and pressing, and an adult adds the words.

Ages 4 to 6

Tie cards, best dad medals, paper trophies and colored star or rocket cards. Children this age can decorate, glue and write their name.

Ages 7 to 9

Coupon books, decorated mugs, photo frames and "all about my dad" questionnaires. They can write their own messages and plan a small surprise.

Ages 10 and up

Comic strips, recipe books, homemade games and video interviews. Older children can also help younger siblings with their gifts and plan the day.

A Father's Day picnic

A simple picnic is a lovely way to spend the day. Let children make sandwiches, pack fruit and a homemade card, and choose a park, beach or garden spot. Bring a ball or a frisbee for games after lunch.

Frequently asked questions

What can a toddler make for Father's Day?

Handprint ties, footprint cards and fingerprint hearts are easy for toddlers with an adult's help, and they make lovely keepsakes.

What is a good homemade Father's Day gift?

A coupon book, a best dad medal, a decorated mug, a photo frame or an "all about my dad" card. Personal gifts made by the child are the most special.

How can teachers make Father's Day inclusive?

Invite children to make a card for any special person in their life, such as a grandpa, uncle, mom, carer or family friend.