Fathers fulfill important roles in our lives. They can be providers, protectors and pillars in the household. Research has shown that active, engaged dads can positively impact their child’s cognitive and social development. A loving and nurturing father can instill confidence and a sense of purpose by modeling these behaviors.

This Father’s Day, why not do something creative for the special man in your life? The following homemade crafts will touch Dad’s heart and provide a wonderful bonding experience for you and your child.

Handprint Father’s Day Card. This is a cute and funny way to tell Dad “I love you!” Only a few supplies are needed for this heartwarming gift – blue and orange construction paper, crayons, scissors, a popsicle stick, string, glue and googly eyes.

1) Trace your child’s left and right hands on the orange construction paper.

2) Cut out the handprints.

3) Glue only the wrist portion of the handprints together, so the handprint is able to open.

4) Glue googly eyes on the handprint and draw a smile.

5) On the inside of the handprint, write your Father’s Day greeting.

6) Glue the entire handprint in the middle of the blue construction paper.

7) At the top of the blue paper, write “Hooked on Daddy!”

8) Tie a small piece of yarn around the popsicle stick. Glue the stick on the blue paper just below the words “Hooked on Daddy!” Glue the yarn inside the handprint card (inside the mouth of the fish).

Popsicle Stick Photo Frames. Here’s a unique way to frame your family photos. You’ll only need three items – plain or colored popsicle sticks, glue and markers.

1) Print out a photo that Dad will like.

2) Glue popsicle sticks at each corner of the photo. The top and bottom popsicle sticks should overlap the left and right ones. For a bigger frame, glue on an additional four popsicle sticks.

3) You can leave the photo frame plain or use the marker to write “Happy Father’s Day” and decorate the frame with colorful shapes. As an option, you can add glitter to the frame or paint it with acrylic paint.

Painted Father’s Day Rocks. Show Dad that he really rocks! This unique gift will remind him how much you care.

You’ll only need two supplies for this simple craft – flat rocks and paint or permanent markers.

1) Clean the rocks and dry them.

2) Paint the rocks in a color of your choosing. If you want to leave your rock unpainted, use the permanent marker to write words that describe your dad – kind, loving, great, strong. You can also draw hearts on the rocks to show Dad how much you appreciate him!

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 20, 2021.