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Fathers Day Activities Theme for Preschool
Father's Day is the third Sunday in June. Fathers Day Activities, such as those special songs, poems, activities or gifts made by a preschooler and given to Dad, Grandpa or other caring male is priceless!
You'll find more themes to help you with your planning on my preschool themes page.
Let the Fathers Day Activities Theme planning begin!This Theme page is filled with some preschool activities and ideas for your classroom. Some of the activities on this page are the same as the activities listed on the Mother's Day Theme paged, but changed for Dads.
You can either scroll down through this page to see all of the
preschool activities for your Fathers Day Activities Theme
or
click one of the links below
to go to specific preschool activity types you are looking for.
Fathers Day Activities Theme Art
Butterfly Picture
Materials Needed: Fingerpaint paper; fingerpaint
Have the children dip their hands in fingerpaint and then press their hands side by side (with both thumbs next to each other) and press down. Remove paper to dry...let them continue free style fingerpainting!
When their handprints are dry, add this poem to the picture: (Adapted from a poem written by Elaine Magud)
This isn't just a butterfly
As you can plainly see.
I made it with my hands
Which are a part of me.
It comes with lots of love
Especially to say
I hope you have a very, very
Happy Father's Day
Following in your Footprints
Materials Needed: Finger paint and paper, a tub of soapy water and towels!
The children dip one foot into the paint and step on the paper.
When dry, cut out the footprint and attach to sturdy card stock and write on the bottom:
"I'm Following in Your Footprints" with a picture of the child on the card.
Hand Print and Poem
Materials Needed: finger paint, paper, picture frames (optional)
The children make hand prints on paper (as many as they want) and when dry, you can frame it or make a construction paper border around it and laminate it.
Before placing it in the frame or laminating it, add the following poem:
There used to be so many of my
Fingerprints to see,
On the furniture and walls and things
From sticky, grubby me
But if you stop and think a while
You’ll see I’m growing fast,
Those tiny hand prints disappear,
You can’t bring back what’s past.
So here’s a small reminder,
To keep, not wipe away,
Of tiny hands and how they looked,
To make you smile someday.
Whale of a Dad Can
Materials Needed: small coffee cans with lids (1 for each child) or other containers with lids; construction paper cut to fit around the can; a picture of each child; whale stamps and stamp pads or whale stamps and paint; markers
The children print whale stamps on the paper. When dry, write "You're A Whale of a Dad!" and have the children help you to glue the paper around the can.
Great can for holding their keys, tools, pens, etc.
Kiss and Hug Box
Materials Needed: Small gift boxes (1 for each child); paint; Hershey's Kiss and Hug chocolate.
The children paint the box and when dry add some Kisses and Hugs to the box and cover it!
Here is a poem for the box--I'm not sure who wrote this poem, but it's great!
This is a very special box, that only you can see.
The reason it's so special it's just for you from me.
It's filled with hugs and kisses, as sweet as sweet can be.
Just hold the box close to your heart, and you'll always think of me.
Fathers Day Activities Theme Block Center
Add dollhouse sized people to your block area for some family fun building!
Fathers Day Activities Theme Circle Time
Circle Time is such a great time for children to learn the social skills of being together as a large group AND to learn more about your theme!
My Dad's Name Is.....
Well, of course it's DAD! However, do the children know their Dad's actual first name? Ask each child their Dad's name (have the list of names available so that YOU know them!) and write each name down on a piece of chart paper. The children love talking about their Dads!
What Does a Dad Do?
Ask the children what types of things their Dads do. Where do they work? What types of things do they do at home? I'm sure you'll have some funny stories to share!
Fathers Day Activities Theme Cooking Ideas
Cooking with children helps develop their math skills and helps them to learn how to follow directions. It also allows for some great conversation!
Ask many questions while cooking with your children to encourage conversation! Be sure to ask specific themed questions while making these fun snacks!
Dad Mix
Ingredients and Items needed: Any items you want to use for a trail mix--be aware of allergies! Perhaps have some cheerios, raisins and pretzels in separate bowls. The children add one scoop of each snack into a baggie and add a "For My Dad" note to give to Dad with a card.
Fathers Day Activities Theme Dramatic Play
Dollhouses
Add dollhouses, furniture and vehicles for the dollhouses to your dramatic play area.
Fathers Day Activities Theme Ideas for your Easel
More Than Just Painting (Although that is always THE favorite in our classroom!)
My Daddy....
Ask your children what their Daddy does for or with them and then encourage them to paint a picture of that at the easel. Print on the paper what the child said about their Dad.
Fathers Day Activities Theme Large Group Games that help build their muscles while they have fun together!
Twist on Some Classics!
Thank you to Sheila from NC for these ideas!
Try playing Father May I (a twist on Mother May I) or Father, Father, Son (Daughter) (a twist on Duck, Duck, Goose)!
Fathers Day Activities Theme Ideas for Your Library and Literacy AreaBook Suggestions for the Library
(I LOVE Amazon, and some of the links below will take you to the Amazon website. If you do choose to purchase yours through Amazon, they do send me a few cents--which supports my coffee habit! )
A Father's Day Thank You by Janet Nolan
A Perfect Father's Day by Eve Bunting
Because Your Daddy Loves You by Andrew Clements
Biscuit Loves Father's Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman
Father's Day by Anne Rockwell
Froggy's Day With Dad by Jonathan London
I Love My Daddy by Sebastien Braun
Click here to learn more about my 30-page Father's Day Resource Pack!
Fathers Day Activities Theme ideas to help your preschoolers develop math skills and those small muscles in their hands!
Dad Collage
Materials: Scissors, family magazines, glue sticks, colored paper
The children rip out or cut out pictures that remind them of their Dad or family and glue it on a collage. Be sure to ask them why they chose each picture. That way, when they bring the collage home, they will tell their families how each picture reminds them of home!
People Match
In advance make (print pictures from online) pictures of a Dad doing daily activities (driving, cooking, working, etc.). Make 2 of each picture, and laminate.
The children can either place them face down on a table and play a memory game with them or they can leave them face up and find the matches, depending upon their level of ability with this type of activity.
How Many
In advance, cut out from magazines (or print out from online) pictures of family members: Moms, Dads, babies, etc. Print out several of each.
Look at and discuss the pictures with the children. Then ask how many Dad pictures are there? How many babies?
Fathers Day Activities Theme Music and Movement Activities
to get your Preschoolers Movin' and Groovin'!
D-A-D-D-Y Song
sung to the tune of B-I-N-G-O
I love my Daddy, he's the best.
My Daddy is a great one.
D-A-D-D-Y, D-A-D-D-Y, D-A-D-D-Y
And Daddy is his name-o!
Fathers Day Activities Theme Ideas for the Senses!
Time for a Shave!
Place shaving cream and craft sticks in your sensory table today for the children to shave with! Add small plastic balls for them to put the shaving cream on and then use the sticks to shave with!
Fathers Day Activities Theme Science Ideas
for your Preschool Scientists in Training!
Foot Print Stepping Stones!
Materials Needed: bag of cement, water, small toys (little bugs, toy car, etc.); 9" round cake pans (disposable);
1. Mix cement as instructed.
2. Pour into the round pans. Let sit until it is firm enough for a print to stay in it.
3. Press child's foot into it (not too hard though!)
4. Trace child's initials and date into it.
5. Child presses some small toys around the footprint.
6. Let set. Most cement needs to be "cured" by covering with water. Read directions and do this.
7. Let set until hard (a few days) and then remove the stones from the pans.
They are great stones for a home garden, on a deck, end of a driveway!
This is not as complicated as it sounds! When I first saw this activity, I thought "THERE IS NO WAY...!" But it was easy and fun. We did it outside and the kids were able to run around in the playground barefoot for a while!
Heart Shaped Grass!
Materials: Planting pots (1 for each child); potting soil; heart shaped cookie cutters; grass seed; water
Have the children fill their pot with soil until just about full.
Place a heart shaped cookie cutter on the soil.
Cover the inside of the cookie cutter with a thin layer of grass seed
Cover the seeds with more soil.
Water the pot.
Remove the cookie cutter.
The grass will grow into a heart shape!
EXTENSION: Before planting, have the children decorate the outside of the pot with markers, stickers, etc. and then glue on a picture of the child to the pot.
Add your favorite fathers day poem to a heart shaped paper. Hole punch the heart and tie around the pot with ribbon!
Fathers Day Activities Theme Ideas for your Writing Center!
Coupon Book
Materials Needed: Hand shaped stencil (adult sized hand), paper, markers, scissors, stickers
The children trace and cut out 2 hand prints with the stencil(or you can have them pre-cut).
The children trace their own hand and you help them cut out 3-5 of their own hand shapes.
Ask the children what they'd like to do to help Dad to make this Father's Day activity. They might help:
Rake the leaves
Help in the yard
Wash the dog, etc.
Write each of these ideas on the child sized hand prints. The children decorate each one with markers and stickers.
Staple these inside the larger hand prints for a coupon book.
You can write something on the front such as "Giving Dad a Hand" or other saying. Or, have the children practice writing "Dad" on the front!
Placemats
Materials Needed: Construction paper, markers, scissors, pre-cut letters D-A-D OR, I like to have the word "DAD" posted at the writing table for the children to print it themselves. Over the letter A, have the children glue on a small picture of themselves.
They decorate the placemat with markers. You laminate it!
Something to write in the card to go with it (sorry, I'm not sure where I got this poem from, but it is fantastic!):
Dear Dad,
I made this placemat with lots of love
Just for you from me.
You can read my memories and see my art
While you drink some juice with me!
I love you! Happy Father's Day (add year)
Go to MAIN THEMES Page from this Fathers Day Activities Page
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Hey there! Welcome to Preschool Plan It! I’m Cheryl, a preschool teacher of over 20 years.
I KNOW, I know, you spend hours of time developing your preschool themes, activities and preschool lesson plans each week. You are commited to planning preschool themes and activities that are engaging hands-on, interactive, fun AND meet the goal of supporting each child’s level of growth and development.
I am commited to providing you, the preschool teacher, with everything you need to develop preschool lesson plans and preschool activities for your classroom all in one place!
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