Fathers Day Activities for Kids
Father’s Day is a wonderful occasion to celebrate the dads, grandads, stepdads, and other incredible father figures in our lives. It’s a special day built not on extravagant spending, but on the simple joy of spending quality time together. From easy DIY crafts and personalised gifts to fun outdoor adventures and engaging activities, this guide offers plenty of ideas to help your child create unforgettable memories this Father’s Day, ensuring the whole family feels the love.
These simple, fun activities focus on bonding, allowing even little ones in the early years to actively participate in making it a truly memorable family day. Whether you’re looking for creative indoor projects or fun and engaging outdoor activities, these ideas will unleash your child’s creativity and result in unique gifts made with love.
DIY Crafts Kids Can Make for Father’s Day
Handmade gifts possess a unique charm and authenticity that store-bought items simply can’t match. They demonstrate genuine effort and love, making them cherished treasures for any father. These creative, fun and simple craft activities are tailored for various age groups, ensuring every child can contribute a personalised Father’s Day gift.
Handprint Art for a Keepsake Gift
Handprint and footprint art are timeless Father’s Day craft classics, serving as beautiful keepsakes that capture how small your child’s hands once were.
- Materials: Non-toxic acrylic paint or stamp pads, paper, canvas, or plain ceramic mugs/plates.
- The Process: Help your child press their hand (or foot) onto the paint and then onto the chosen surface. Once dry, you can add a date and a loving message like “Dad, I love you to the moon and back!” or “Best Dad in the World, hands down!”
- Meaning: These colourful handprint crafts are more than art — they’re tangible memories that instantly increase the sentimental value of the gift.
Dad Shirt Cards and Paper Crafts
Creating a shirt-shaped card or a paper tie is a great way to celebrate Father’s Day, especially for school and preschool projects.
| Craft Idea | Recommended Age | Skills Developed |
| Folded Shirt Card | 5+ years | Fine motor skills, simple geometry |
| DIY Paper Tie | 3+ years (with help) | Cutting, gluing, colouring activities |
| “Super Dad” Bookmark | 6+ years | Precision cutting, lamination (optional) |
Fathers Day Trophy or Award Certificate
Dads deserve recognition! Kids can show their appreciation by crafting a Best Dad award. This is a wonderfully inclusive idea, perfect for celebrating a grandad or a stepdad as well.
- Trophy: Use a clean, empty paper cup or toilet roll tube as the base. Kids can decorate it with gold or silver paint, glitter, and stickers. Attach a small, rolled-up card with the title “World’s Best Dad.”
- Certificate: A free printable certificate template can be downloaded and then personalised by your child. They can fill in the “Awarded to” field and draw pictures.
Story or Letter Gift Kids Can Create
Encourage creativity and literacy by having your child write a personal letter or short story about their dad.
“Personal narratives about shared experiences are one of the most powerful ways for a child to express love and for a father to feel truly seen and appreciated,” explain child development specialists, as they help children express love and strengthen emotional bonds.
Guide your child to write about their favourite family day moment or a funny memory. Even toddlers can participate by dictating their story while an adult writes it down, and then the little one can draw pictures to go with it. This activity helps strengthen emotional connection and results in a piece of writing a dad will truly cherish.
Downloadable Activity Sheets and Printables
Free printable resources are excellent tools for structured, low-prep Fathers Day activities. Look for:
- Colouring Sheets: Simple designs that the toddler or young child can fill with colourful crayons.
- “All About My Dad” Sheets: Prompts kids to fill in their dad’s favourite things, age, and what makes him special. These often result in hilarious and heartfelt answers that become memorable keepsakes for the family.
Simple Activities Toddlers and Young Kids Can Do
The early years are about discovery and sensory experience. These fun and simple activities for toddlers focus on safe, supervised interaction and bonding.
“I Love You Because” Jar Activity
This activity is a beautiful way to strengthen emotional bonding and is simple enough for the whole family.
- Decorate the Jar: The little one can help decorate a glass or plastic jar with stickers or paint.
- Fill with Notes: The child (or an adult writing for the toddler) fills small slips of paper with reasons they love dad, such as: “You read me stories,” “You give the best cuddles,” or “You play with me.”
- The Gift: Dad can pull out a note whenever he needs a smile. This is a personalised Father’s Day treasure.
Toddler Nature Treasure Hunt
Setting up an outdoor treasure hunt or a simple nature walk combines physical activity with educational elements.
- Set up: Draw simple pictures of items found in a local park or garden (a leaf, a stone, a feather).
- The Hunt: Walk a safe route and help the toddler find the items. This turns the family day into an active adventure.
Footprint or Portrait Art for Small Kids
Creating a simple portrait or footprint art is easy and offers a different kind of Fathers Day craft. For portraits, a simple drawing activity can be set up: just provide a blank paper and crayons and ask them to draw their dad’s face—the abstract results are often the best!
- Mess Control Tips: Use a high chair or cover the floor with a plastic sheet. Use washable paint and have wipes ready immediately after the print is made.
Cooking and Food Activities Kids Can Prepare Together with Dad
Spending time in the kitchen provides excellent learning opportunities and a chance for time together. Activities for kids centered around food are inherently family-friendly.
Make Fathers Day Breakfast Together
A no-fuss breakfast kids can help with:
- Fruit Kebabs: Kids can thread soft fruit onto blunt skewers.
- Toast Art: Spread toast with cream cheese and let kids arrange fruit slices or sprinkles into funny faces.
- Yogurt Parfaits: Layer yogurt, granola, and berries in a glass. This simple task lets the entire family enjoy the delicious and fun-making process.
Bake a Homemade Dessert or Treat
Baking is a delightful fun activity. Simple cookie dough or a boxed brownie mix can be easily managed.
- Kids’ Safe Tasks: Stirring ingredients, cutting cookies with simple shapes, or applying sprinkles and icing. Always supervise near the oven!
Family Brunch Kids Help Plan
Turn brunch into a mini celebration. Kids can:
- Decorate: Make a collage or simple paper chain decorations.
- Personalise: Create place cards for everyone.
- Set the Table: Lay out napkins and cutlery (fun activities for little ones).
Outdoor Adventures for Family Bonding
An outdoor adventure is a fantastic way to celebrate Fathers Day with energy and fun. These ideas encourage exploration and physical activity for the whole family.
Nature Walk or Mini Hike
Plan a short, manageable nature walk where your children can explore.
- Engagement: Give them a checklist of things to spot (a specific type of leaf, a bird, a yellow flower). Encourage them to draw pictures of what they see.
Family Road Trip for the Day
A short, scenic drive doesn’t require complex planning. Let the kids choose a fun stop, like a small town park or an ice cream shop.
Pool Fun or Water Play
If a pool isn’t available, a sprinkler, water table, or even a large bucket of water in the garden offers great water play. This is a classic, fun, and engaging activity for a summer family day.
Outdoor Movie Night Setup
If the weather permits, set up an outdoor projector and screen. The kids can be in charge of laying out blankets, preparing a popcorn station, and choosing the favourite family movie.
Indoor Family Fun Kids Can Lead
When the weather doesn’t cooperate, or you simply need a relaxed day indoors, these activities allow children to take the lead in planning the special day.
Family Board Game or Puzzle Night
Select games suitable for all ages.
- Cooperative Games: Work together against a shared challenge—great for teaching teamwork.
- Puzzles: A large family puzzle offers quiet, sustained time together.
Video Game Tournament for Family Play
Choose age-appropriate, multi-player games. The kids can create a fun bracket and even design colourful “medals” for the winners.
Karaoke or Music Session
Put on a fun playlist of dad’s favourite songs. Kids can sing, dance, or put on a mini concert.
Creative Class or DIY Workshop at Home
Let your child take the lead. Perhaps they can lead a simple drawing lesson or show dad how to make a collage from magazine clippings. Crayon drawings of the family are always a cherished item.
Outings and Experiences Kids Can Plan for Dad
Giving kids agency over planning an outing boosts their confidence and makes the gift truly personalised.
Visit to a Museum or Science Centre
Let your child choose the specific exhibit they think their dad would find most interesting.
Dinner or Picnic Kids Help Organise
- The Picnic: Kids can help choose the location, pack the food, and create invitations. This can become a wonderfully intimate family day tradition.
Fun Home-Made Gift Ideas from Kids
These are gifts that are simple to make but high in emotional value.
Dad Coupons Kids Can Design
This is one of the most beloved and simple to make gifts.
| Coupon Idea | Value |
| One Big Hug | Immediate and free! |
| Tidy Up Room | A welcome break from chores |
| Movie Night Pick | Kid chooses the family movie |
| Car Wash | A fun outdoor task with dad |
Family Photo Collage or Memory Board
Help your child print out favourite family photos. They can arrange the layout, add stickers and draw small illustrations, and write captions to create a heartfelt treasure.
Joke Session or Dad Jokes Collection
Gather a collection of famous “dad jokes” and have the child either perform a joke session or create a small, hand-drawn mini booklet. This is great for fun and simple literacy practice.
Ways Kids Can Celebrate Father Figures
Father’s Day is inclusive—it’s a time to celebrate any important male figure.
Shared Reading Time with Stories About Dads
Choose books that feature positive male role models or stories about bonding. Cuddling up for quiet reading time is a powerful way to bond with the little one.
Simple Conversations and Memory Sharing
Use prompts: “What is your favourite thing to do with grandad?” or “Tell stepdad a time he made you laugh.” These activities help kids articulate their feelings and appreciation.
Small Acts That Create Big Moments
Remind kids that the special day is made up of small gestures, like setting the table, drawing a simple picture, or bringing dad a cup of coffee. These acts, made with love, are the true treasure.
More Ideas for Making Father’s Day Special
Beyond the traditional Fathers Day craft, these ideas add an element of surprise and excitement.
Creating a Scavenger Hunt at Home or Outdoors
- The Riddle: Clues can be simple riddles or pictures leading to the next location. The final treasure can be a small dad gift or a hug. Let the imagination run wild!
Mini Spa Day Kids Can Set Up for Dad
A relaxing “spa day” is a unique and thoughtful gift. Kids can offer a simple foot soak in a bowl of warm water or help apply a safe DIY face mask (such as plain yogurt). This quiet time is a cherished moment of connection for the entire family.
Fun Social Media Message Kids Can Record
Help your child record a short, heartfelt video message to share with dad or other father figures. This provides a digital keepsake that is instantly shareable and memorable.
Tips for Making Father’s Day Meaningful for Kids and Dad
The goal of all these Father’s Day activities is not perfection, but connection.
Focus on Simple, Quality Time
Remember, the dad truly loves the time together more than the result of any craft or expense. Ideas to help children focus on the experience, not the outcome, are key to a successful special day.
Let Kids Lead the Day Where Possible
Give your child two or three activity choices and let them pick. This empowers them and makes the Father’s Day celebration feel genuinely theirs. The sense of ownership increases the fun factor for the little one.
Capture Memories with Photos or Journals
Take quick, candid photos throughout the day. Later, you and your child can look back on them and write a few sentences in a family journal. This helps cement the unforgettable memories from this Father’s Day and beyond.