Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Make Your Dad a Badge For Father's Day
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Make Your Dad a Badge For Father's Day is a free printable badge activity. Children make a badge for their dad or father figure, so it works just as well for a grandad, stepdad, uncle, carer or family friend. Page 1 is for your child. Page 2 is a short page of notes for the grown-up, with help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages and give page 1 to your child. Keep page 2 for yourself. Colour printing is nice, but black and white works well too.
What is on the sheet
Children make a badge as a handmade gift to show a father figure how much they are loved. It is a hands on craft rather than a test, so there are no right or wrong answers. Each child decides how to make their badge look, who it is for and what they want it to say about that person.
Ways to make the badge your own
Think about the person
Before starting, talk about who the badge is for. What do they enjoy? What makes them laugh? What do they do for your child? Ideas like these make a badge feel personal.
Choose colours with care
Let your child pick colours they think the person will like. A favourite team colour, a favourite animal or a favourite hobby all make good starting points.
Add a message
A few words are enough. A short thank you, a joke or a simple "best dad" can mean a lot. Help with spelling if asked, but keep your child's own words.
Finish it as a gift
Think about how the badge will be given. A card, a small envelope or a handmade wrapper makes it feel special. Let your child hand it over themselves.
Why make a handmade gift?
In the UK, Father's Day falls on the third Sunday in June. Many families mark it with a card, a small gift or a family meal. Not every child has a dad at home, and that is fine. Lots of children have a grandad, stepdad, carer or other special adult, and this activity is open to all of them.
A handmade gift is often kept for years because a child made it. Making a badge is a small, manageable project that children can finish in one sitting. It gives them practice at choosing, planning and finishing something, and it helps them put kind feelings into words or pictures.
Adults should handle any pin, clasp or other sharp fastening. If your child is using scissors, make sure they are the right size for small hands and that a grown-up is close by. For younger children, double sided tape or a sticky fastening is a safer choice than a pin.
Skills and curriculum link
- Creativity and design
- Fine motor control
- Colouring and decorating
- Writing a short message
- Planning and finishing a task
- Showing thanks and kindness
Ideas to help your child get started
- Talk firstAsk your child to tell you three things they like about the person. Their answers can shape the badge before any pencil touches paper.
- Plan the coloursLay out the pencils or pens and let your child pick a few colours before they begin. Fewer colours often look neat and bold.
- Practise the messageTry the words on scrap paper first. This helps with spelling and means the final badge looks the way your child wants.
- Take your timeCrafts go better when nobody is rushed. Let your child stop and come back later if they lose energy.
Key words
- BadgeA small decorated shape that you wear to show something about yourself or someone else.
- DesignTo plan how something will look before you make it.
- PersonaliseTo change something so it is special to one person.
- MessageA few words you write to tell someone how you feel.
- Father figureA grown-up who looks after you and cares about you like a dad does.
- GiftSomething you give to a person to make them happy, with no payment needed.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes for you.
- Gather pencils, pens or crayons. Scissors and tape or glue may also be useful. Find a clear table or tray to work on.
- Talk about who the badge is for and what makes them special. Let your child decide on the look and the message.
- Let your child make the badge in their own way. Offer help only when asked, and keep praise about effort and ideas.
- Plan when and how to give the badge. A handover with a hug and a few words is a lovely way to finish.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
If your child is unsure where to begin, ask one simple question: "What does Dad love?" Draw or write that one thing first. Build from there. Offer a choice of two colours at a time, and let them take breaks if they get tired.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to add a second small gift to go with the badge, such as a handwritten card or a list of five things they love about the person. They could also design a second badge for someone else in the family.
Make it a game
Play "Guess who the badge is for". Your child describes the badge and the person it is made for without naming them. The rest of the family guesses who it is. Take turns, and make as many badges as you like.
Talk about it
- Who is the badge for, and why did you choose them?
- What is one thing this person does that makes you feel happy?
- Which colours did you choose, and why do they suit them?
- What words did you pick for your message?
- How do you think they will feel when you give them the badge?
- Who else in your family could you make something for?
Take it off the page
Handmade card
Fold a sheet of paper in half and make a card to go with the badge. Draw a picture of something you have done together.
Memory jar
Write or draw favourite shared moments on small slips of paper. Fold them up and put them in a jar for the person to read later.
Thank you chat
Sit together and take turns to say one thing you are thankful for about each other. It takes only a few minutes and is worth remembering.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child at the start, then let them lead. Resist the urge to tidy up the design. The wobbly lines and uneven colours are part of the charm. Keep the finished badge as a small keepsake.
Teachers
Use it in the days before Father's Day as a quiet craft task or a calm end of day activity. Be sensitive to children who do not have a dad at home, and invite them to make it for any special adult.
Home educators
Home educators can link it to art and design, writing a short message and talking about family. Let your child plan, make and give the badge, and treat the whole process as a small project.
Where this fits in
Making a badge builds on early mark making, colouring and cutting skills. Children who enjoy it are practising control of pencils and scissors, along with choosing colours and ideas. These skills sit within the art and design and design and technology strands of the National Curriculum for England.
After this, children can try other handmade gifts and cards, such as designs for birthdays or other family days. They can also plan a short piece of writing for a card, or explore making more detailed models and decorations using different materials.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- Is the badge activity really free?
Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. You can print as many copies as you need for home or the classroom, and there is nothing to buy or sign up for.
- Can it be made for someone who is not a dad?
Yes. The sheet is made for a father figure, which can be a grandad, stepdad, uncle, carer or any special adult. Children can choose whoever matters most to them.
- What do we need to make it?
You will need the printed sheet and basic craft items such as pencils, pens or crayons. Scissors, glue or tape may also help. An adult should handle any pin or sharp fastening.
- Do we need to print page 2?
Page 2 is for the grown-up. It holds notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard and a stretch idea. Your child only needs page 1, so print page 2 if you want those notes.
- Can children do this on their own?
Many children can work on the design independently, but a grown-up should be nearby for scissors and fastenings. Offer help only when asked, so the badge stays your child's own work.
- Can I use it in a classroom?
Yes. It suits a quiet craft session or a special activity before Father's Day. Invite children to make the badge for any special adult, so every child feels included.
- How should we give the badge?
Let your child hand it over themselves, ideally with a card or a few kind words. A small wrapper or envelope adds a sense of occasion, but it is not needed. The thought is what counts.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.