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Homemade Father’s Day gift idea

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Here’s a homemade Father’s Day gift idea — great for toddlers through early grade schoolers.

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

One thing I enjoy doing with my kids is having them make personalized books as gifts.  So a few years ago I made a template that each of them could complete – according to their own ability.  Each year I republish the post during the week of Father’s Day.  So if you’re a regular follower of my blog, know that we’re going back in time a bit for these ages. 😉

My Six (just finishing kindergarten)  did the whole thing by herself in one sitting. She loved it!

My Four wanted to write all the words himself — and was very concerned that he was spelling the words correctly.  I kept repeating, “You’re spelling it right for today.  You’re spelling all the sounds you hear, and that’s just right!”  I sat beside him and helped him stretch the words out. Occasionally I supplied a digraph: “th” or “sh.”  The rest of the spelling is his.  This is so important for young writers. If you give them all the spellings, they will need you next to them for every word – it can stifle creativity and independence.  My general thought is that if supplying the spelling will not help the child for the future, then he’s too young to be given spellings.

My just-turned-Three does not write any letters on his own yet, so I filled in the lines for him.  He is just starting to do a little drawing. Most of his pages are scribbling, but I shared a few below in which he attempted some drawing.

My 16-month-old was thrilled to sit on my lap, take the caps off the markers, and scribble.  Since he typically bites the tips off markers, they are kept well out of his reach!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Only my oldest was able to complete the book in one sitting.  We returned to it another day for each of the boys.  Then I punched holes and attached ribbon to each book. I’ve also punched holes and used brass fasteners (see main image).

Here’s a preview of each page — highlighting different pages from each child’s book.

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

Looking for a homemade Father's day gift idea? This book about Dad was a big hit at our house!

If you like this idea you can make your own or use ours.  Just print the pages on regular paper and cut across the center – then pick and choose which pages you’d like to include.

 

Get your free Father’s Day books!

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

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117 Comments

  2. Anitha

    The Father’s day booklet is very cute. I am on summer break, but I will work on September for the same school and continuing families from 2019-2020 batch. Please let me know if I can share the printout option with parents along with my Father’s day message to them.
    Thank you as always,
    Anitha

    Reply to this comment

  5. Laurie

    Thank you for the Fathers day booklet that says PAPA. I do school with my grandson and e are making this for his dad who he calls PAPA. I know this will make his feel special. Thank you for all you do for those of us who teach at home!

    Reply to this comment

        • Anna Geiger

          Oh, I’m sorry… I see you asked for this last fall and I didn’t deliver! I have got to get these done for Mother’s Day and for Grandparents Day too… life has been busy adjusting to having our sixth baby, but I will put this on my to do list again. Sorry! 🙁

          Reply to this comment

    • Anna

      Thank you so much. I’m in a summer program for school children called Project Bridge. The child assigned to me wants to make her father something for Father’s Day(which is this up coming Sunday). Thursday is library day. Then we have 25 minutes on Friday. I’m hoping that’s enough time for her to do all of it. We’re suppose to do reading and sight words but I’ve printed this and I’m going to try and encourage to complete it in 25 mins. So thank you very much. June 15, 2022

      Reply to this comment

  10. Margaret

    Thanks for the great idea! My 4.5 will definitely love this–and maybe my 2 will contribute a little!
    I would love something similar for end-of-the-year teacher cards–ever come across something like that? Or, I might use a couple appropriate pages from the blank version…

    Reply to this comment

  12. Brooke

    Thank you so much! We are making 2 for Daddy and 1 for Papa. But we would also love to make one for grandpa! Would you please ping me if you decide to create a grandpa version? Or can you send me your template and I will make the changes and send it back to you? 🙂

    Reply to this comment

  13. Ganeshkumar

    Wow !! This is such a wonderful idea. Thanks really for sharing this template. Am dying to use it or at least influence my wife too to adopt this template and see the results 🙂 Thanks

    Reply to this comment

  23. kewkew

    Hi, I saw this featured over at I Can Teach My Child and had to come over and see. This is great, my children will love it.
    Just wanted to say, I also have children at about the same ages as yours. My Tabitha is 6, Amelia is going to turn 5 this month, Hannah just turned 3 a couple of months ago, and the little one is almost 16 mths old! I am going to have to come back and check out your blog a bit more.
    I know I’ve visited before, but it is hard to keep up with everyone I follow.
    If you haven’t stopped by Tots and Me recently I’d love for you to stop by. We are in the middle of our Butterfly unit and just finished a Butterfly Life Cycle mobile.
    Have a great day

    Reply to this comment

    • annageig

      Thanks so much for commenting! I checked out your blog – wow, what a busy family you have! That’s funny how close in age our kids are, especially as our youngest is just about 17 months! But of course I don’t have a crew of older kids too :). Hope you stop by again! I’ll enjoy hearing what you’re up to over at your house.

      Reply to this comment

  24. Tabitha

    Thank you so much for the printable! I was looking for a story book idea for a Father’s Day play date I’m hosting later this week and this is perfect! I can’t wait for all the kids to enjoy making their books!

    Reply to this comment

  26. Jeni

    I love this. However, my girls call my husband “Papa”. Is there any way you could make a variation where the spaces are empty for the Dad or Daddy spots? Just a thought. That would also allow for those of us who would like to use it for grandfathers.

    Reply to this comment

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