“What do you like to do with Daddy?” I asked my youngest son, Mr E (almost 3yo). He replied, “Daddy loves me”. My heart melted there on the spot. I beamed and almost had to reach for some tissues. Aww… Even though Mr E’s reply doesn’t quite answer the question, it says more than any other response could.

 
Fathers make a world of difference. “Daddy loves me”. I think a person’s life is shaped by many things, but it is a very good thing if someone can confidently proclaim that their Father loves them.

 

 
This Fathers Day Kids Craft is a simple homemade gift for Fathers, that kids, as young as preschoolers, can make to honour Fathers on Fathers Day.

 
It is inspired by {Secret} Message in a Bottle Valentine by My Sister’s Suitcase. The moment I came across it via Pinterest, I was smitten. I didn’t have access to adorable vintage game pieces, so improvised with finds from my local dollar store.

 

 

Fathers Day: Kids Craft, A Secret Message

 

Materials:

• Small craft wooden blocks
• Glass jars / bottles
• Ribbon
• Cardboard
• Markers

 

Method:

 
1. Write a message for Fathers on the wooden blocks by placing a single letters on single small craft wooden blocks.

 

 
If your child is too young to write the message for their Father on their own, here are some ways to vary the craft:

• Ask them what they like to do with their Father. Help them compose a message based on their response. (Hint: being concise is key and makes it easier!)
• If they are at the stage where they are beginning to write, and keen to write some letters, model how to write the letters to them first. Allow for some practice writing on large scraps of paper before moving onto the wooden blocks.
• Encourage them to write selected words, perhaps the shorter words, from the message.
• If they know how to write select letters, let them write those select letters from the message.
• As with our rainbow writing, provide little phrases that describe the movement required to write the letter.
• If your child is unable to write, encourage them to draw pictures on the blocks that convey what they like to do with their Fathers. Add to these blocks a written message of thanks.

 

 
2. To help Fathers decode the secret message, you can write numbers on the other side of the wooden blocks, ordering the letters of the message. If Fathers like a challenge of decoding a message though, leave this part out.

 
3. Place the all the small wooden blocks into the glass jar.

 
4. To pretty up the Fathers Day secret message, provide children with a cardboard tag and ask children to draw a picture of their Father. Add the tag to the jar with some ribbon.

 

 
I adore emergent writing and drawing. These early words and representations are records of their young voices. My home will always have space for keepsakes like these.

 
To all the wonderful Fathers who are making a world of difference, for the better, in the little things, and the big things, thank you!