With Father’s Day approaching, many teachers prepare to have students make gifts to bring home for the dads and father figures in their lives. We know every student has a different home situation, but for those who want to participate, these Father’s Day crafts for kids are all easy to do and don’t require expensive supplies. Whether you want to create a rustic picture frame, make a secret message for your dad to decode, or create something from a handprint or footprint, there’s something for everyone here. You can even send this list of Father’s Day crafts home if your last day of school falls before the holiday.
The Seasoned Mom
1. Building Memories with Dad
This adorable jar of memories can be added to for years to come. Kids write their memories on LEGO bricks and put them in a jar for Dad.
Put those old scrabble tiles and buttons to good use to make this rustic and oh-so-adorable picture frame. Let kids pick which picture they would like to include inside the frame.
We love a good upcycled project! Do you have old records lying around? If not, no worries … ask your students’ parents to send in some. This is the perfect time to make coasters.
It’s time to show Dad (or Grandpa or an uncle) that they are tops! These trophies are the perfect last-minute Father’s Day crafts for kids because they can be embellished with anything you’ve got lying around, from pom-poms and Popsicle sticks to beads and pipe cleaners.
First, have kids write sweet messages to their father figures on the handles of their hammers. Then, have an adult use a wood-burning tool to permanently etch the messages on the hammers.
It’s easy to round up empty toilet paper rolls! Decorate them with craft paint and googly eyes and embellish them with paper to make this look “just like Dad.”
Before getting started, download the free template here. Father’s Day crafts for kids that can be animated are some of the coolest. Check out this adorable craft that allows for the cartoon dad to throw his child into the air!
Before getting started, get some washable paint and a man’s shoe to make the father’s footprints. Then, have kids dip their feet into the paint and stamp them on top of the larger footprints. This gift will surely pull at the heartstrings of any father figure.
With this craft, Dad will be able to have a sweet little reminder every time he grabs his keys. Each student will need a few paint chips, washi tape, and a key ring. To make this even more special, choose Dad’s favorite colors or maybe even his favorite sports team’s colors. For younger students, you might consider typing or writing out their responses for them.
Teach kids about recycling while creating something extra special for the father figures in their lives. Have kids bring in cereal boxes from home, then provide them with a variety of decorative materials so they can really personalize their crowns.
Take photos of the kids or ask them to bring one from home. Then have them paint Popsicle sticks, let them dry, and add puzzle pieces to the frame! Super cute and easy to do.
This crafty cube doubles as a paperweight for Dad’s office. It is also the perfect opportunity to work in a geometry lesson about cubes. Each student needs a wooden cube, Mod Podge, and six decorations, one for each side of the cube. Students can customize the six sides with messages; alternatively, students can use photos to make a photo cube.
With a little bit of planning (i.e., holding a photo session), your students can create this card. Not only will Dad get a snapshot of his child at this age, but he’ll also get to read the little narrative written by his child. You can grab the free printable by visiting the Happy Home Fairy’s website (link below).
Have a wide array of scrapbook paper available for this project so kids can really personalize their Dad’s tie. Once the tie shape is done, cut pieces out to use to outline the edges. Then, fill with candy and cover with a sheet protector. Finally, hot-glue the edges.
Another adorable candy craft for your favorite father figure. Kids will have so much fun personalizing their superheroes complete with a note about why their Dad is super.
Move over, macaroni frames, rustic twig frames are here to stay. Bring in the twigs or have the class spend a little extra time during recess gathering them. In the process, you can also work in a little science lesson about twigs (e.g., why some branches stop producing leaves).
This craft isn’t technically for children, but with a few modifications, you can use it in your classroom. (You’ll have to skip the spray paint or just do it ahead of time.) You also have the freedom to swap out the content if you don’t want to use comic books. If you do want to use them, just cut out comics from the newspaper. You can also have students bring in pictures, old comic book pages, or even hand-drawn notes.
Cards are a classic Father’s Day gift, but this one adds a little spunk to the ol’ standby. Students can practice their scissoring skills by cutting along these curves. They can also decorate the card with paint, stickers, and other designs that represent their dad.
You can get these white mugs for about a dollar at Walmart. You’ll also need paint markers and geometric-shape stickers. Students use the stickers to design their mugs and then scribble over the message. Once they’re done coloring, students peel off the stickers to reveal the artwork underneath. To make the paint hold, bake the mugs for about 30 minutes. (You’ll have to take them home to do this or send them home with instructions for baking the mugs.)
Get the free template for this adorable Father’s Day card here. You’ll also need card stock, two cupcake liners, markers, googly eyes, a glue stick, and scissors. This is especially perfect for the dog-loving dads out there.
It just wouldn’t be a Father’s Day craft roundup without a handprint craft! While mothers get handprints turned into flowers, dads get fishing-themed cut-outs of handprints. Add a Popsicle stick and some twine, and you’re ready to go! Depending on the student’s age, you could have them handwrite the bottom portion of the card, making it more personal.
A goodie bag that also looks like Dad’s favorite shirt and tie? Perfect! All you need is paper bags, craft paper, and tape. You can either send the bags home as is or send them home filled with candy, cookies, or other little treats. Tip: Be sure to grab a few sheets of camo-patterned craft paper for any dads who are in the military!
For dads who have a sweet tooth or love to fish, here’s one of the simplest Father’s Day crafts for kids. Just pick up a plastic tackle box from the bead section of the craft store. Then fill it with Swedish Fish. Finally, tie a bow and attach the printable gift tag.
This craft is fun, easy, and useful too. Use colored duct tape folded and secured with brass fasteners to build Dad a custom tray to store his keys, wallet, and pocket change.
Save all your old magazines and other scraps of paper, then put them to good use making this creative collage portrait. Any father figure will surely be happy to receive a portrait of themselves made by someone special!
Get your hands on some air-dry clay that your students can then use to sculpt something special for the father figures in their lives. Have students paint their canvas with acrylic paint. Then, have them sculpt something to eventually glue to the canvas. While the clay is still wet, kids can decorate their sculptures with a variety of gemstones.
Another superhero-themed craft for Father’s Day, but this one serves a useful purpose! The grill master in your life will get a kick out of a superhero spatula.
If you have access to an oven, then this is the perfect Father’s Day craft for kids. Kids love to help bake goodies and dads love to eat them, so it is a win-win. Be sure to buy some edible rocks for this craft!
This craft is so simple but so adorable. In addition to the baseballs, you will also need an ink pad and some baby wipes for cleanup. Simply rub tiny hands over the ink pad, press onto the baseball, then add a ribbon or something similar for a finishing touch!
Before doing this project with a large group, you may want to stock up on small wooden Christmas tree ornaments. You’ll probably get them for an especially good price if you wait until just after the holidays. Once you have your wooden ornaments, trace and cut the shape out of a fabric of your choice. Then glue them to the front and back of the ornament. Once dry, you can soak them in a favorite scent by using essential oils.
When it comes to Father’s Day crafts for kids, nothing beats some good old-fashioned macaroni art! Give kids pasta in a variety of shapes as well as markers, paint, and glue, and then watch the creativity take flight!
All you need to bring this original gift idea to life is a paper plate, construction paper, markers, and a paper fastener. Any dad would be excited to give this spinner a whirl.
As far as Father’s Day crafts for kids go, this one is inexpensive but also adorable and practical. Cut poster board to fit the inside of a plastic hanger and use a hole punch to place holes every inch and a half or so apart. Then sew some string around the edges of the hanger and into the holes. Finally, let your students decorate with stickers or whatever else tickles their fancy!
Father figures are sure to have fun while they de-code a super-sweet and super-secret message from their kiddos. We love that this spy card is so different from your typical Father’s Day crafts for kids.
We love that all you need to create this oh so sweet craft are 11 popsicle sticks, a sharpie, and some twine. Simply write ten things you love about the father figure in your life and then tape them all together. We especially love the idea of using rainbow popsicle sticks.
