My daughter Charlotte turned four this year, which is quite an accomplishment. Not only is she asking questions about the world, but she's also become a much better help when it comes to holidays. She's now more aware of what Mother's Day and Father's Day are, and actually looks forward to celebrating.
While Charlotte and I picked out a special gift just for my husband, I knew that a craft should accompany that present. Crafts are so special for parents, since when they're preserved, they serve as a milestone and memory of that year. Most kids crafts also come from the heart.
That said, I'm not the craftiest person in the world. So, I tried to figure out a craft that was cute, personal, and didn't necessary break the bank. I thought that a construction paper caterpillar would be a fun gift. It's cute, and I figured that Charlotte can personalize it any way she wanted.
All I needed for this craft was some construction paper, a mug with a wide enough opening, some tape, and some markers. It's great to get multiple colors of construction paper to personalize this craft even more. If the dad in your life has a particular favorite color, it'll show even more thought. Feel free to use as many colors as you want. While you may be constructing a caterpillar, it doesn't need to be realistic whatsoever.
To make the body of the caterpillar, you'll want to trace the opening of the mug or cup with a Sharpie or a regular marker. You can make as many circles as you want. Eventually, you'll decorate the body of the caterpillar with words that describe the dad in your life, so if you have a lot to say, you can end up with a pretty long caterpillar. If you want to keep it short, you can do that as well.
One of the best parts about a crafty Father's Day gift like this is the fact that it can always be changed up. For example, as I was cutting out circles, Charlotte had a great idea. Instead of just using circles, why not also throw a few hearts in there as well? These suggestions will not only make the project more fun for your child, but also more meaningful. Hearts — or any other shape you can think of — would be an excellent suggestion to mix it up.
Even if your child wants the caterpillar to be all hearts, you should agree — especially at this age. Children like having control over crafts, and those personal touches can turn it into a personalized masterpiece. Charlotte and I opted to throw a few hearts in between our circles for an eclectic mix. This is a craft that can turn out differently every time you make it. Even if you have multiple kids willing to participate, there's a good chance that dad will have several completely unique caterpillar designs at the end.
When you have enough circles, hearts, or shapes, it's time to put them together. The best way to do this is by layering them a bit to give the caterpillar some more depth. Putting a small amount of tape on the back later will be enough to hold them together. That said, you could also string your caterpillar together with ribbon. All you'd need for this adjustment is a hole punch and some colorful ribbon. If you plan on hanging the finished product, that'd be a nice alteration.
Is your art cart overflowing with products? As long as each shape of your caterpillar has enough room to write words, your child can decorate any way that appeals. If glitter is allowed in your household, that'd be a great way to get these caterpillars to sparkle. (Glitter pens also work quite well with much less mess.)
After taping (or stringing) the shapes together in the back, you'll want to give your caterpillar a little bit of personality. Make sure to draw a happy face using your markers. I also cut out tentacles using a color I didn't use for the body. This helps them stand out.
Of course, when it comes to either tentacles or antennae, pipe cleaners are great to have around. You can add even more to your caterpillar by creating small pipe cleaner legs, or even make his smile out of pipe cleaners if you have glue handy. But if you don't, creating a small pair with paper works just fine.
Now's the really exciting part: Brainstorm with your child a list of words that describe their dad. It can be hobbies he's into, or just adjectives that define his overall demeanor. These words will make your caterpillar extra special and give your gift a little more heart.
This is also a great way to get your kids to reflect on their own relationship with their father. What makes their dad special? What are some of their favorite things about their dad? This little brainstorm will make them realize how much they care about their father or grandfather. That, alone, is big. Father's Day is all about reflecting on the good qualities each dad has.
Parents can also pitch in and help their kids think of words. If your child is old enough to spell and write, give permission to fill each caterpillar shape out for themselves. The words don't have to take up the entire shape, but they can if that's what your child envisions.
One final suggestion: On the top of your first caterpillar shape, write "Dad is…" to tie it all together. That way he'll know it's just for him. These caterpillars can be the big gift your child gives, or just an addition that he can hang up on the fridge or at work.
Since these are so easy to make, you might resort to making caterpillars for everyone you love on special holidays. In general, this is a great "intro to crafts" for younger kids, since there's not much too it. Just make sure that an adult cuts out each shape, and they can let their imaginations run wild from there.
You can also adapt your caterpillar and turn him into something else. Just like in nature, your caterpillar can morph into a butterfly fairly easily. Some ideas would be to stack your shapes vertically, and then have your child pick out the color of the butterfly's wings. The positive phrases can then be written on the wings, while the body can stay decorated, or even say "Dad." This design can also be turned into a snake — just add a red forked tongue in front.
You can also make a great card to go along with your child's Father's Day gift using the remaining construction paper. Give your kids plenty of markers, and make sure to be around if they want you to write out a special message. When it comes from the heart, the dad in your life will absolutely adore it.
