Are you looking for Father’s Day gifts ideas from kids that are both meaningful and creative? Father’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with some fun, creative gifts from your little ones? Whether dad (or grandpa) is a fun geek, a sports enthusiast, or the ultimate grill master, there’s a perfect gift idea waiting to make his day special. Here are some creative Father’s Day gifts ideas from kids that they can either make or help create, to show Dad just how much he means to them. [*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for items purchased through these links at no additional cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.]
Father’s Day Gifts Ideas from Kids:
1. Handprint and Footprint Art
Handprint Art is a classic for a reason! It’s easy to do and can be personalized in endless ways. I would venture to say that handprint and footprint art is the most popular Father’s Day Gifts Ideas from kids because it’s great for any age and procides a keepsake of those tiny hands and feet.
To create this art, paint your child’s hand or foot with washable nontoxic paint to make prints on a card using cardstock or construction paper. Prints on canvas are also really beautiful! You can even turn little feet and handprints into animals, flowers, or anything else you can imagine! There’s nothing more heartfelt than a handmade card. Encourage the kids to get crafty with colorful paper, markers, stickers, and even some glitter (if you’re feeling brave!), to turn their handprints into a keepsake Dad will cherish foreber.
For babies and younger toddlers: Handprint and footprint art is a perfect way to include your little one and make a sentimental gift dad will love. Make sure to gather all your supplies before getting the baby ready and have baby wipes handy. The easiest way to get your baby’s prints are to paint their little foot while their sitting in the high chair. Place your cardstock or paper on a hard book or board too to get a nice clean print. Footprints van be turned into hammers, dinosaurs, football, putting greens, and more! Or, simply baby Footprints, the date, and I love you Dad are perfect.
2. DIY Coupon Book
Kids can create a personalized coupon book filled with offers like “Free Hugs and kisses”, One free car Wash,” “Breakfast in Bed,” Any dinner your choice, help you with yard work, free backrub, or “Family Game Night.” This is a fun and easy gift that Dad is sure to love!
This thoughtful gift not only shows love but also promises quality time together, which is often the best gift of all. Plus, it’s a great way for kids to contribute with their own ideas and creativity. You can easily create this with construction paper or cardstock, staples, and markers. But if you’re looking to save time use a fill in the blank coupon book that is already made for you .
3. Decorate a Mug
Plain mugs can be transformed into works of art with a little paint and creativity. Kids can write messages, draw pictures, or even trace their handprints.
To create a mug, decorate a ceramic mug using oil based paint markers. When your design is complete bake it in the oven and let cool. Create a ceramic mug kits are also fun, cute, and convenient!
Plastic create a mug kits are also a fun and creative choice! Kids can color in designs or create their own. There are plastic mug kits and ceramic mug kits that have everything you need.
Every time Dad sips his coffee he’ll be reminded of his special day and his loving children.
Fot babies and younger toddlers: paint their little finger in some nontoxic paint to make fingerprint patterns on the mug of your choice.
4. Personalized TShirt
Personalized gifts are always a hit. Let the kids design a T-shirt using fabric markers, or fabric paint. They can draw their favorite moments with Dad or write l Love you Dad.
To get younger kids involved, paint their hand or foot with fabric paint to make a print on the shirt. A cute idea is 2 handprints facing down with the saying. “You’re the best dad hands down!”
You can also do this same idea but on a plain hat. Proud dad’s always love wearing their kids creations!
5. All About Dad Book:
This is a cute and personal gift that Dad will treasure. Find a small notebook or journal and have the kids fill it with things they love about their Dad (or Grandpa) or funny stories.
For kids who can’t write yet, you can write down what they say and they can draw pictures to go with it. Asking them questions about Dad and writing their exact answers also makes for a super cute (and usually hilarious) gift. As a former Pre-K teacher I can tell you these were always a hit! Create yours using a notebook or construction paper, or a fill in the blank All about Dad book is another great option.
For Babies and younger toddlers: A, what I Love About Dad book is a great option. Fill it in with things Dad does that baby loves. makes them laugh, or ways he takes care of them. Dad will definitely appreciate this.
6. Memory Jar
A memory jar is a beautiful and simple gift that can be filled with handwritten notes of favorite memories, reasons why the kids love their dad, or fun little jokes. These can be written by older kids, or for kids who can’t write yet, ask them questions about their favorite things they have done with Dad, and write down their answers on little slips of paper.
For babies and younger toddlers: You can still create this when your child is a baby! Write down memories thay you love of Dad with baby. You can also include a little footprint or photo of baby with the date.
Decorate the mason jar with ribbons, stickers, or paint (or keep as is) and fill it with the memory messages. It’s a gift that keeps giving as Dad can pull out a memory note whenever he needs a smile.
7. Cook a Special Meal or Decorate a Dessert:
Whether it’s breakfast in bed or a barbecue dinner, getting the kids involved in cooking can be a lot of fun, and a lot of messy but behind every mess is a memory. Let children help with planning the menu, shopping for ingredients, and cooking the meal or dessert. Even toddlers can help you make a lasagna , bake cookies, or decorate cupcakes. For an extra surprise make sure to take some photos or video of your child in action to give to dad!
Kids love to bake! You can either make cookies or cupcakes from scratch, use a box mix, or use storebought plain cookies like sugar or shortbread.
If you’re baking the cookies you can get fun Father’s day cookie cutters, sports cookie cutters, or tool cookie cutters. Whether the kids are involved in the baking and decorating or just the decorating and eating, this is a yummy gift Dad or Grandpa will definitely love! I highly suggest sampling the product just make sure to leave some cookies left for Dad!
Cooking or baking with your child is wonderful way to bond and create lasting memories. Bonus points for making Dad’s favorite dessert or meal!
8. Decorate a Picture Frame:
Use a plain wooden picture frame and let the kids decorate it with paints, markers, and glitter glue. Once it’s dry, pop in a favorite photo of our child and Dad. You can also create a picture frame from popsicle sticks. Elmer’s glue works just fine just make sure to leave plenty of time for the frame to dry before decorating it.
9. Dad’s Day Out
Father’s Day Gifts Ideas from Kids don’t have to be crafts. Gifts from kids can also be experiences and activities. Plan a special day out doing something Dad loves. It could be a picnic in the park, a hike, a fishing trip, or even a visit to a museum or zoo. If Dad prefers to stay home, plan a BBQ or pool day. Kids can help with the planning and packing or making special snacks. Don’t forget to take pictures with a good camera! Make sure to buy (or make) a Father’s day picture frame so you can fill it with a great photo of ypur day out! This gift focuses on experiences rather than things, making it a memorable way to celebrate Father’s Day.
For babies: Do a Daddy and Me photo shoot at home or in the backyard! Use a nice camera p
10. Decorate a bookmark:
This is s perfect gift for dad’s who love to read! Kids can create their own bookmark for Dad using poster board, cardstock, or craft foam. They can decorate it with markers, stickers, stamps, or glitter glue. Don’t forget to write Happy Father’s Day and the date on the back. Kids can also color in Father’s day bookmarks with a make your own father’s day bookmark kit.
11. Photo Album or Scrapbook
Gather and print photos of favorite moments and memories to create a one of kind scrapbook. Using an at home photo printer makes this super simple! Just print the photos you want and put them right in your photo album or scrapbook.
You can keep things simple by using a self adhesive photo album or get more creative and create an actual scrapbook. Kids can help create the scrapbook by adding in their own drawings, stickers, and captions of photos to make it really special.
For babies or younger toddlers, you can do a special daddy and baby photo shoot at home and use those photos to make the book. Don’t forget to include little baby footprints and a cute poem! This is a keepsake that Dad will treasure forever.
12. Gardening Together
If Dad or Grandpaloves to garden, why not give the gift of a gardening day! Get Dad some new plants, seeds, or gardening tools and let the kids help plant flowers or vegetables. This is a great way to spend the day together and provides an amazing opportunity for bonding while learning about nature. If you can, get flowers that bloom every year so kids can always look back on their amazing day and hard work with dad.
13. Personalized Playlist
Kids can curate a playlist of Dad’s favorite songs or songs that remind them of him on Sporify, Youtube, or Amazon Music. Then play the playlist for Dad and have a dance party or mini concert!
14. Game Night
Pick out a new board game or puzzle and spend the evening playing together. Choose something that the whole family can enjoy, or create your own! You can help the kids create their own board game or card game. This also makes a cute keepsake. Having a game night if a fun and interactive way to celebrate Father’s Day all together.
15. Family movie and pizza night
Choose a family movie that everyone will enjoy and set up the living room so it’s nice and cozy, or get Dad an outdoor movie projector, don’t forget the screen and speakers, and bring movie night outside under the stars! Order pizza or make homemade pizza and just relax all together. This is such a cozy, fun bonding activity to do with Dad and the whole family.
16. Photo Keychains
Photo keychains are so simple to make! Simply take a photo of your child, print it out at home with a photo printer or use a photo print service, and pop it into a clear photo keychain frame! If you don’t have a photo keychain frame you can also mount your photo on cardstock, laminate it using an at home laminator, make a whole with a whole puncher, and attach a keychain ring. Make sure to print your photo a smaller size like 2×3 or smaller to have a nice keychain size.
17. Photo Frame Fridge Magnets
Fridge magnets can be made a few ways. Kids can decorate craft foam cut out into different shapes. They can decorate using markers, sequins, glitter, beads, etc. Then simply use self stick magnets and put one on the back.
Another way is to take a photo of your child, print it with an at home photo printer in 2×3 sizle or smaller, glue it on a piece of craft foam or wood and adhere your magnet to the back. You can also make a frame with the craft foam or wood that your child can decorate, the photo in the middle. This versatile craft makes great Father’s Day gifts from kids!
18. Decorate a wooden toolbox
I did this activity with my 1 year old and my husband absolutely loved it! Kids can paint the wood Toolbox in any colors they choose. For my 1 year old I selected 3 colors and let him paint away! I used washable fingerpaint. You can also use tempera paint, or acrylic paint. Snap some photos of the baby painting the box and print them with at home photo printer. I also printed pictures of baby with dad. My suggestion is to make a collage of photos and print them out like that so they are smaller. Then, glue the photos on different areas of the box, write I love you Dad, baby’s name, and the date. Once it was dry I painted it with a thin coat of Glossy Modge Podge. Older kids can do this all themselves! Dad will be sure to love this gift!
19. Create a BBQ grill plate and Apron
Decorating a special BBQ plate and apron for dad makes a great Father’s day soft for the Dad who loves to grill! Grab a plain fabric apron and fabric paint and let kids decorate a special apron for Dad.
For younger toddlers and babies paint or trace their hand or foot with fabric markers. Dont forget a cute message and the year!
Dad will love a special plate for all of his grilling masterpieces. A BBQ grill plate kit makes this craft simple to do. Alternatively, you can decorate a plain ceramic plate with food safe paint pens and bake it in the oven to set.
20. Air Dry Clay hand or footprints
Air dry clay is so simple and makes the best gifts! This is perfect for any age including babies! Simply roll out your air dry clay into a circle or square and have your child press there hand or foot print into it. Once dry, kids can decorate their print by painting the print or the outside of it. Use a sharpie to write the date. An air dry clay picture frame kit also makes an amazing gift. This is a beautiful keepsake Dad will love!
21. I Love You Photo Collage
This craft is great for babies and younger toddlers but can be done with any age. Get 3 pieces of cardstock. On one write, “I”. Next, on the second draw a big heart. On the third write, “YOU”. Now take 3 photos of your child using a good camera or your phone; 1 photo of your child hiding each sign. Print out the photos, with a photo printer, mount on construction paper or colored cardstock and glue on a larger piece of paper or poster board. The end result is so cute and a gift Dad will always want to look at!
22. Daddy and Me Canvas Art
For this gift paint the bottom of one of Dad’s boots or sneakers in washable, dark finger paint and use it to make a print on a canvas. 11×14 size canvas works great. Once dry, paint your child’s foot in a lighter color and press it on top of dad’s print. Include a cute saying like, “Daddy thank you for letting me walk in your footsteps”.
23. Breakfast in Bed:
This is a simple but thoughtful way to show Dad you care. Let the kids help make pancakes, waffles, or Dad’s favorite breakfast. Taking pictures or video of the process aka mess, is also a fun addition to show Dad. Gather everything on a cute tray and have the kids wake up Dad to surprise him with his breakfast treat!
Father’s Day Gifts Ideas from Kids Bonus Tip:
Handmade wrapping paper or table cloth is a simple way to get kids involved with the gift giving. Use plain kraft or butcher paper and let the kids decorate it with paint, markers, crayons, stamps, or stickers. You can also dip cookie cutters in paint and let kids stamp then on the paper. This can really help make the gift extra special!
Father’s Day is all about celebrating the special bond between dads and their kids. These Father’s Day Gifts Ideas from Kids are not only fun and creative but also focus on spending quality time together. Whatever you choose, these ideas will surley help make the day unforgettable! So, let the kids’ imaginations run wild and create an extra special Father’s Day filled with love, laughter, and tons of happy moments.
Happy Father’s Day!
