Memorial Day is a time to honor those who have given their lives in service to our country. It’s also an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your kids and create fun crafts together. As someone who works closely with children, I know how much they love getting creative and expressing themselves through art. That’s why I’ve put together this list of 15 accessible and engaging memorial day crafts for kids that you can do together as a family. These crafts are perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, including those with special needs or learning differences. So grab your supplies, and let’s get crafting!
Table of Contents
1. Patriotic Handprint Flag
This craft is a great way to teach your kids about the American flag while creating a cute keepsake. You’ll need red, white, and blue washable paint, a sheet of white paper, and your child’s hand. Please help your child dip their hand in the red paint and press it onto the paper to create the stripes. Then, use a small brush or their finger to add white stars on a blue background in the top left corner. Once it’s dry, you can hang it up or give it as a gift to a veteran or active service member.
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2. Poppy Pinwheels
Poppies are a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers. You’ll need square sheets of red paper, a pencil with an eraser, scissors, and a push pin to make these pinwheels. Cut the paper into squares and then cut diagonal lines from each corner towards the center, stopping about an inch from the middle. Fold every other point into the center and secure it with the push pin. Then, stick the pencil through the center to create a handle. Your child can blow on the pinwheel and watch it spin in the wind.
3. Fireworks Glitter Bottles
Kids love sparkly things; these glitter bottles look like fireworks in a jar. You’ll need empty clear plastic bottles, glitter glue in red and blue, silver glitter, and warm water. Help your child squeeze the glitter glue into the bottle and add a spoonful of loose glitter. Then, fill the bottle almost to the top with warm water, leaving some room for shaking. Screw on the lid tightly and let your child shake it up to watch the glittery fireworks show inside. These are fun memorial day crafts for kids.
Read more: Memorial Day Sensory Bin Activity For Kids
4. Star-Spangled Wind Chimes
These patriotic wind chimes are a fun and easy craft that looks great hanging outside. You’ll need wooden dowels or sticks, red, white, and blue acrylic paint, paint brushes, ribbons, scissors, and small metal bells. Please have your child paint the dowels in the three colors and let them dry. Then, help them tie pieces of ribbon to each dowel and attach a bell at the bottom. Hang them outside and let the wind make beautiful music.
5. Patriotic Slime
What kid doesn’t love playing with slime? This red, white, and blue version is perfect for Memorial Day. You’ll need white school glue, liquid starch, red and blue food coloring, and glitter (optional). Pour the glue into a bowl and add a few drops of food coloring to create streaks. Then, slowly mix the liquid starch until it forms a slimy texture. Knead it with your hands and add glitter if desired. Store in an airtight container.
6. Yarn-Wrapped Star Ornaments
These yarn-wrapped star ornaments are a great fine motor activity for kids who need to improve their dexterity and coordination. You’ll need cardboard star cutouts, red, white, and blue yarn, scissors, and glue. Help your child wrap the yarn tightly around each star, alternating colors. When the star is fully covered, secure the end with a dab of glue. You can hang these on the Christmas tree or display them year-round.
7. Coffee Filter Fireworks
For a simple and impressive craft, try these coffee filter fireworks. You’ll need round white coffee filters, washable markers in red and blue, a spray bottle with water, and a plastic tablecloth or newspaper. Have your child color designs on the coffee filters with the markers. Then, lay the filters flat on the covered table and spray them with water until the colors bleed and blend. Let them dry completely before hanging up.
8. Patriotic Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are great for tactile exploration and imaginative play. To make a patriotic one, you’ll need a large plastic bin, red, white, and blue pom poms, star-shaped beads or buttons, and small American flags. You can also add rice dyed with food coloring for extra texture. Let your child scoop, pour, and sort the materials however they like. This is especially beneficial for kids with sensory processing issues.
9. Stained Glass Flag Suncatchers
These suncatchers look like beautiful stained glass when the light shines through. You’ll need clear contact paper, red, white, and blue tissue paper, scissors, and ribbon. Cut the contact paper into flag shapes and peel off the backing. Have your child stick small pieces of tissue paper onto the sticky side in a flag pattern. When it’s covered, seal it with another piece of contact paper and trim the edges. Punch a hole at the top and hang with ribbon.
10. Pony Bead Flag Keychain
Older kids can make these cute keychains to attach to their backpacks or give as gifts. You’ll need pony beads in red, white, and blue, lanyard hooks, and thin cord or plastic lacing. Help your child thread the beads onto the cord in a flag pattern, alternating colors for the stripes and adding a blue section for the star field. Tie it off at the end and attach it to the lanyard hook.
11. Handprint Bald Eagle
The bald eagle symbolizes American freedom and strength. Your child can make their own with just their handprints! You’ll need brown and white washable paint, a sheet of blue paper, googly eyes, and a yellow beak cut from construction paper. Please help your child press their hands into the paint and onto the paper to create the wings. Add the eyes and beak to the thumbprints for the head. So simple and cute!
Read more: Memorial Day Coloring Pages for Kids
12. Paper Plate Wreaths
Wreaths are a classic Memorial Day decoration, and kids can easily make their own with paper plates. You’ll need a white paper plate, red and blue tissue paper squares, glue, and ribbon. Cut out the center of the plate to create a wreath shape. Have your child glue the tissue paper squares around the wreath, alternating red and blue. Glue a ribbon at the top for hanging.
13. Painted Rock Flags
Painting rocks is a fun outdoor activity that kids of all ages enjoy. Have them paint American flags on smooth, flat rocks for a patriotic twist. You’ll need acrylic paint in red, white, and blue, small paintbrushes, and a clear sealant spray. Please help your child paint the flag design and let it dry completely before spraying with the sealant. Display them in the garden or give them to veterans.
14. Cupcake Liner Flowers
These colorful flowers are perfect for a Memorial Day picnic or barbecue. You’ll need red and blue cupcake liners, pipe cleaners, and staplers. Flatten out the cupcake liners and stack them together, alternating colors. Staple them in the center and fluff out the petals. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the center to create a stem. Make a whole bouquet to decorate the table!
15. Thank You Cards for Veterans
Teach your kids about gratitude by having them make thank you cards for veterans or active military members. You’ll need red and blue construction paper, white printer paper, markers or crayons, stickers, and glue. Fold the construction paper in half to create a card. Please have your child write a message on the white paper and decorate it with the other supplies. Deliver them to a local veterans’ organization or mail them to troops overseas. This is a great memorial day crafts for kids.
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I hope these Memorial Day crafts for kids have inspired you to get creative with your family this holiday weekend. Remember, the most important thing is spending quality time together and teaching your children about the meaning behind Memorial Day. Whether you try one of these crafts or develop your own, I’m sure you’ll make lasting memories and beautiful artwork to display proudly.
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FAQ’s About Memorial Day Crafts for Kids
What are some easy Memorial Day crafts for kids?
Some easy Memorial Day crafts for kids include handprint flags, patriotic pinwheels, and star-spangled wind chimes. These crafts use simple materials like paper, paint, and glue.
How can I teach my child about the meaning of Memorial Day through crafts?
You can teach your child about the meaning of Memorial Day by making crafts that incorporate patriotic symbols like the American flag, bald eagle, and red poppies. Discuss the significance of these symbols while crafting together.
Are there any Memorial Day crafts that are suitable for children with special needs?
Yes, there are many Memorial Day crafts that can be adapted for children with special needs, such as sensory bins, stained glass suncatchers, and painted rocks. These crafts offer tactile exploration and can be modified to suit your child's abilities.
What supplies do I need for Memorial Day crafts?
Most Memorial Day crafts require basic art supplies like construction paper, washable paint, markers, glue, and scissors. Some specific crafts may need additional materials like coffee filters, pony beads, or cupcake liners.
Can Memorial Day crafts be used as gifts or decorations?
Absolutely! Many Memorial Day crafts make great gifts for veterans or active military members, such as thank you cards, painted rocks, or yarn-wrapped star ornaments. Other crafts like paper plate wreaths and cupcake liner flowers can be used to decorate for a Memorial Day picnic or barbecue.
Emily is a seasoned blog writer for Goally, leveraging her extensive background in child psychology and special education to provide valuable insights and resources for parents. Her commitment to understanding and addressing the unique needs of these children, combined with her expertise in educational strategies, makes her a credible and empathetic voice for families.
