45 Easy Father's Day Crafts for Toddlers, Preschoolers and Tweens
Kids can gift these fun homemade DIYs to show their appreciation on his special day.
You've cooked Dad's favorite meal, watched his go-to movie and satisfied his sweet tooth with a mouth-watering dessert. Now, consider celebrating him with easy Father's Day crafts. These family-friendly projects, which also happen to double as DIY Father's Day gifts, are fun activities that will keep toddlers, preschoolers and tweens engaged. Dad will love and appreciate their homemade DIYs — from salt dough magnets and lollipop ribbons to wooden toy cars and decorated mugs. Kids can even pair their craft with a personalized Father's Day card filled with funny and thoughtful phrases, like "Gouda. Mozzarella. Brie. Sorry this card is so cheesy, but I really love you, Dad!"
The projects featured below are for all kinds of Dads. You'll find colorful decorated hammers for the handyman of the house and handprint superhero cards for Marvel and DC fans. There's a mustache mug and a daddy clay dish, along with a personalized face-drawn paperweight to spruce up his desk. What's more, we have a few edible crafts on the list, including "No.1 Dad" sugar cookies and sports-themed donuts that kids will enjoy decorating.
With Father's Day approaching on June 18, you'll want to get a headstart and stock up on craft sticks, pom-poms, cardstock or other materials kids will need to put their creativity to the test with these entertaining crafts. And if you're still on the hunt for a store-bought present for Dad, consider our Father's Day gift guide for practical and unique picks.
Customizable Dad Portraits
Use blogger Brittany's Father's Day portrait template to create a paper replica of Dad's face. Get creative with your colors — use pink for his glasses, blue for the beard and green for his eyebrows and tie.
Mini Zen Garden
Whenever Dad is stressed, he'll have his very own zen garden to calm his nerves. Plus, your kids will love learning how to make one with rocks, air plants, sand and a mini rake.
No. 1 Dad Father's Day Cookies
When it came to baking and decorating these "No. 1 Dad" sugar cookies, blogger Kelly was inspired by classic pennant flags. Let kids join in on the baking fun by having them spell out their dad's favorite sport or activity, along with any other sweet messaging, using airhead letters.
Painted Father's Day Plate
Blogger Kathy shows us why painted paper plates are always fun crafts, especially for kids. Grab your paint (in various colors) and some paper plates, then get to decorating. If you want to replicate Kathy's design, use tracing paper to transfer her heart template onto the plate.
Painted Hammer
Imagine how pleasantly surprised Dad will be to open his toolbox and see his hammer's colorful new look. First, sand the hammer's wood handle to rough up any coating, then get to painting your stripes, polka dots and squiggles.
Father's Day Sports Donuts
Purchase a bag of glazed mini donuts, then decorate them with white, red, blue and brown frosting to represent Dad's favorite sports. Display the delectable soccer balls, footballs and basketballs on fake grass, and stick toothpicks with mini pennants on top for a more sporty look.
Paper Airplane Garland
Is Dad a history buff? If so, fold paper maps into mini airplanes. Stamp messages on each one, then hot glue string or twine to connect them. During the Father's Day celebration, hang his new airplane garland for everyone to see!
Mustache Mugs
Whether or not Dad has a mustache of his own, he'll cherish the silly one his kids drew when sipping his coffee in the morning.
You're My Hero Card
If Dad is a lover of puns and sandwiches, this card will leave him laughing and craving a hero for lunch. Use Michaels' printable template, then get to cutting, tracing and assembling your hero sandwich.
Origami Shirt Cards
With your help, kids can make these adorable shirt cards in just five minutes. Plus, all it takes is patterned cardstock, solid cardstock, scissors and glue.
Hero Stones
What makes Dad so great? Have your kids write their thoughts on rocks, which he can easily display in his office or bedroom.
Dinosaur Terrarium
After they're done making the terrarium — full of moss, pebbles, soil and stones — let kids write “Have a Raw-Tastic Father’s Day!" on small paper flags for a dinosaur-themed touch.
Father's Day Hammer Card
If Dad is the handy person of the house, he'll appreciate this DIY card — featuring one of his trusty tools on the front. It's a cool card craft for kids that requires twine, foam squares, a card base and a hammer embellishment.
Origami Shirt Gift Bags
Help kids turn brown grocery bags and lunch sacks into colorful bags to hold your Father's Day gifts. Blogger Brittany used acrylic paint to decorate her collection with stripes, polka dots and other fun shapes.
Wooden Dad Car
Give your kids a helping hand making cool cars with plywood and flat wheels. Putting them together will be worth the time, especially if Dad has a thing for automobiles.
We Love Dad Banner
You'll need contact paper, double-sided tape, cardstock and a banner template to make this thoughtful sign. Hang it by the snack bar or above the mantel on Dad's special day.
Daddy Clay Dish
He can store all of his small items and accessories in this playful dish. Michaels provides all three steps for kids to scoop out their clay and transform it into a one-of-a-kind gift that's practical for Dad.
Washi Tape Crafts Stick Frames
Let your kids pick their favorite pictures with Dad to frame using crafts sticks and colorful washi tape. It'll become an instant keepsake.
Record Coasters
For the audiophile dads out there, this craft — made of adhesive craft foam — lets him know he's a hit! Plus, they're functional, doubling as coasters.
Tin Can Pencil Holder
You can upcycle an old tin can (make sure there are no sharp edges!), paint it and personalize it with a photo. Then Dad can use it for pencils, flowers or anything else he might need to store.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.
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