Father's Day is a special occasion to honour and celebrate the dads in our lives. When you have young toddlers, finding the perfect gift can be a delightful yet challenging task. While toddlers might be too young to create or choose gifts on their own, there are plenty of unique and thoughtful presents that a partner can arrange to make the day special. Crafting personalised gifts with the help of toddlers not only creates meaningful memories but also enhances the child’s creativity and fine motor skills. Here are three detailed DIY craft projects that are perfect for celebrating Father's Day.
In this first blog post in a series of ideas you can do with your toddler, we look at 'Handprint Art'.
Handprint Art
Handprint art is a heartfelt gift that captures a moment in time. This project uses your toddler’s handprints to create unique and colourful designs that dad will cherish forever. Whether you turn the handprints into flowers, animals, or a simple artistic display, this gift is sure to bring a smile to dad’s face.
Materials Needed
- Non-toxic paint (various colors)
- Canvas or thick paper
- Paintbrushes
- Markers
- Decorative items (glitter, stickers, etc.)
- Old newspaper or plastic tablecloth (to protect your workspace)
- Wet wipes or a damp cloth (for quick cleanup)
How to Create
1. Prepare Your Workspace:
- Cover your workspace with old newspapers or a plastic tablecloth to protect it from paint spills.
- Lay out all the materials within easy reach.
2. Choose Your Design:
- Decide on the design you want to create with your toddler’s handprints. You can make flowers, trees, animals, or even a simple pattern of handprints.
3. Paint Your Toddler’s Hand:
- Using a paintbrush, apply a generous amount of non-toxic paint to your toddler’s hand. Make sure the paint covers the entire hand, including the fingers.
- If your toddler is willing, you can use different colours for each hand or even mix colours for a unique effect.
4. Make the Handprint:
- Gently press your toddler’s painted hand onto the canvas or paper. Press down firmly to ensure all parts of the hand make contact with the surface.
- Lift the hand carefully to avoid smudging.
5. Repeat as Needed:
- Clean your toddler’s hand with a wet wipe or damp cloth before changing colours or making additional handprints.
- Repeat the process until you have achieved the desired number of handprints for your design.
6. Add Details:
- Once the handprints are dry, use markers and other decorative items to add details to the design. For example, you can turn handprints into flowers by drawing stems and leaves or create animals by adding faces and other features.
7. Personalise:
- Write a special message, your toddler’s name, and the date on the canvas or paper. This personal touch will make the gift even more meaningful.
8. Let It Dry:
- Allow the paint and any other decorations to dry completely before handling the artwork.
9. Present to Dad:
- Wrap the finished handprint art in gift paper or present it as it is. Enjoy the look of joy and surprise on dad’s face as he receives this heartfelt gift.
Choose Your Design
Here are some design ideas you can choose from when creating your handprint art with your little one!
1. Handprint Flowers
Create a bouquet of flowers using your toddler’s handprints as the petals.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand in bright colours and press it onto the canvas or paper to create a flower shape.
2. Use green paint or markers to draw stems and leaves.
3. Add details like a vase or garden background.
2. Handprint Animals
Turn handprints into cute animals like fish, butterflies, or birds.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand to resemble the body of an animal (e.g., blue for a fish, yellow for a bird).
2. Press the handprint onto the canvas or paper.
3. Use markers to add details like eyes, wings, fins, and tails.
3. Handprint Tree
Create a tree with handprint leaves.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand in various shades of green and press onto the canvas to form the tree’s foliage.
2. Use brown paint or markers to draw the trunk and branches.
3. Add details like grass, flowers, or a sunny sky.
4. Handprint Heart
Form a heart shape using two handprints.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand in a colour of their choice.
2. Press the handprint onto the canvas at an angle.
3. Repeat with the other hand to form a heart shape with the prints.
4. Add a sweet message or the date inside the heart.
5. Handprint Family Tree
Represent the whole family using handprints.
- How to Create:
1. Paint each family member’s hand in a different colour.
2. Press each handprint onto the canvas to create a tree with different coloured leaves.
3. Write each family member’s name next to their handprint.
6. Handprint Butterfly
Use handprints to create the wings of a butterfly.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hands in bright, vibrant colours.
2. Press both hands onto the canvas with thumbs touching to form the wings.
3. Use markers to draw the butterfly’s body and antennae.
7. Handprint Rainbow
Form a rainbow using handprints in different colours.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand in the colours of the rainbow (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple).
2. Press each handprint in an arc shape to create the rainbow.
3. Add clouds, sun, or other details to complete the scene.
8. Handprint Sun
Create a sunny scene with handprint rays.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand yellow.
2. Press the handprints in a circle to form the sun’s rays.
3. Use orange or red paint to add more rays for a vibrant look.
4. Paint or draw a smiling sun face in the center.
9. Handprint Fish
Turn handprints into colourful fish in an underwater scene.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hand in bright colors and press onto the canvas.
2. Add eyes, fins, and scales using markers or paint.
3. Draw or paint an underwater background with seaweed and bubbles.
10. Handprint Balloons
Create a bunch of balloons using handprints.
- How to Create:
1. Paint your toddler’s hands in various bright colours.
2. Press the handprints onto the canvas as if they are floating in the air.
3. Use markers to draw strings connecting the balloons to a central point or a gift box.
These handprint art design ideas are just the starting point for your creativity. Encourage your toddler to have fun and experiment with colors and patterns. Each design will be unique and personal, making it a treasured gift for dad on Father's Day. Enjoy the process and the precious moments spent creating art together!
In the next blog post, we will be looking at other DIY craft projects you can do with your young children for dad this Father's day!
