Are you looking for a fun and creative Father’s Day craft for your toddler or preschooler? Do you want to make a Father’s Day medal that dad will treasure? You’re in the right place!
This Father’s Day, why not help your child create a handmade paper plate medal to show dad he’s the best in the world? It’s the perfect way for little ones to say, “You deserve a medal!” It’s simple enough for even young children to make with a bit of help.
This craft is quick, budget-friendly and a great way to get creative together. Plus, kids will have so much fun painting, decorating and personalising their medals for dad.
Note: Adult help and supervision are required at all times during this activity, especially when handling scissors.
You have options in the way you can colour the background of this Father’s Day medal, depending on whether you have time to let paint dry or if you need to make this in a timed preschooler craft session, for example.
Here are your options:
- Option 1: Paint the paper plate yellow/gold. (Takes time to dry.)
- Option 2: Use yellow tissue paper with Pritt Stick glue. (Dries quickly.)
- Option 3: Leave the paper plate blank. (No time needed at all!)
You will need…
- 23cm paper plates
- Yellow or gold washable paint (optional)
- Paint brush if using paint (optional)
- Yellow tissue paper (optional)
- Glitter star foam stickers
- Star foam stickers
- Ribbons 1cm width
- Pritt Stick glue
- Hole puncher
- Safety scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
- Sticky tape
Firstly decide on the background of your medal. I recommend yellow or gold for 1st place!
Step 1. Have your toddler or preschooler make the background in yellow. Either by painting this on or sticking on tissue paper with pritt stick glue. This would largely depend on how much time you have and how messy you don’t mind getting!
Either way you will end up with plates like the below with a yellow or gold background.
Step 2. Next print the Father’s Day award template and cut out the award circle just inside the lines. Download the award template here for free:
Step 3. Once the paper plates are dry, stick the award circle onto the plate in the middle with Pritt Stick glue.
Step 4. Next add two holes in the top of the paper plate with a hole puncher. This is where you will hang the medal so make sure it is as symmetrical as possible! Don’t worry if you make a mistake and need to re-adjust the holes, you can use the star stickers later to cover the holes you don’t want to use.
Step 5. Now for the fun part! Have your child stick stars around the outside of the paper plate. Avoid sticking them on the inside or over the holes, although if this happens you will be able to move the stars before they fully stick.
I was quite impressed when my 2 year old (24 months) listened to my instructions to not stick them in the middle!
Step 6. Time to add ribbons! Have your child choose the colour ribbon and cut a 40cm piece for the handle. Tie the ribbon using the holes made to make a handle.
Step 7. I recommend five ribbons for the bottom but you can choose more or less, it’s up to you and your child! Have your child choose the ribbons and then an adult can cut them in 30cm lengths. Using sticky tape, stick the ribbons to the back of the paper plate at the bottom, as centre as possible. You may need to readjust to get this right.
Turn this around and wow! You now have lovely handmade medals to give to dad on Father’s Day! He will be so pleased that your toddler or preschooler has made this for him.
You can make many versions of this Father’s Day medal by changing up the colours or stickers you are using. Here is my toddlers medal made especially for his dad for Father’s Day.
Here are our medals are hung proudly on our kitchen wall! Dad loves them!
Feel free to share this post and let me know what you think in the comments, I would love to hear about your results.
Happy Father’s Day medal crafting!
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