Memorial Day is a special time to honor and remember the brave men and women who served our country.
Many families like to decorate their homes with red, white, and blue.
Crafts are a fun way to teach children about this holiday while letting them show creativity.
Below are 11 simple Memorial Day craft ideas for kids of all ages.
These crafts use easy-to-find supplies and are perfect for small hands.
Memorial Day Crafts (for Kids, Toddlers, and Preschoolers)
1. Tissue Paper Flag
Materials Needed: White paper, red and blue tissue paper, glue, pencil, scissors
Steps:
- Draw a simple outline of the American flag on a piece of white paper.
- Cut or tear red and blue tissue paper into small squares.
- Crumple each tissue paper square into a small ball.
- Glue the red tissue balls in the stripes area and the blue tissue balls in the corner for the stars.
Why It’s Great: This craft helps children practice fine motor skills as they crumple and paste tissue paper.
2. Handprint Wreath
Materials Needed: Construction paper (red, white, blue), pencil, scissors, glue, ribbon
Steps:
- Trace your child’s hand on each color of paper.
- Cut out multiple handprints in red, white, and blue.
- Glue the handprints in a circle shape to form a wreath.
- Add a ribbon bow at the top for decoration.
Why It’s Great: Kids love seeing their own handprints. This wreath can hang on the door to honor Memorial Day.
3. Patriotic Windsock
Materials Needed: Empty cardboard tube or paper cup, red and blue paint (or markers), streamers (red, white, blue), string or yarn
Steps:
- Paint or color the cardboard tube (or paper cup) in red, white, and blue patterns.
- Attach red, white, and blue streamers at one end.
- Punch two holes on the opposite end and tie a piece of string to hang it.
Why It’s Great: The windsock can be hung outside to blow in the breeze, creating a fun, patriotic display.
4. Star Stamps with Cookie Cutters
Materials Needed: Star-shaped cookie cutter, paint (red, white, blue), paper
Steps:
- Pour paint onto paper plates.
- Dip the star-shaped cookie cutter into the paint.
- Stamp stars on the paper in any design your child likes.
Why It’s Great: This is an easy craft that toddlers and preschoolers can do with minimal help.
5. Paper Plate Uncle Sam
Materials Needed: Paper plate, construction paper (red, white, blue), cotton balls, glue, markers
Steps:
- Draw Uncle Sam’s face on the paper plate.
- Cut a strip of red and white paper to form the stripes for his hat. Add a blue band at the base of the hat.
- Glue the hat on top of the plate.
- Attach cotton balls for Uncle Sam’s beard and hair.
Why It’s Great: Children can learn about Uncle Sam, a symbol of America, while having fun with cotton balls and paint.
6. Painted Rock Flags
Materials Needed: Smooth rocks, red/white/blue paint, paintbrushes, clear sealant (optional)
Steps:
- Clean and dry the rocks.
- Paint the rocks in simple flag designs or stars and stripes.
- Let them dry, then coat with clear sealant if you want them to last longer.
Why It’s Great: These can decorate a garden or walkway and help children learn about America’s colors.
7. Fireworks in a Jar
Materials Needed: Clear jar or cup, water, oil, food coloring (red/blue), spoon
Steps:
- Fill the jar with warm water.
- In a small bowl, mix a few drops of food coloring in a tablespoon of oil.
- Pour the oil and food coloring mix into the jar.
- Watch as the colors slowly swirl and spread like fireworks.
Why It’s Great: This fun science-like activity amazes kids as they watch the color “fireworks” expand in the water.
8. Patriotic Paper Chain
Materials Needed: Strips of construction paper (red, white, blue), glue or tape
Steps:
- Cut construction paper into strips (about 1 inch wide, 8 inches long).
- Form a loop with the first strip and glue or tape the ends together.
- Loop the next strip through the first ring, then glue or tape it.
- Continue until you have a long chain.
Why It’s Great: This is an excellent craft for preschoolers to practice pattern making with red, white, and blue.
9. Cupcake Liner Poppies
Materials Needed: Red cupcake liners, black markers, green pipe cleaners or straws, glue
Steps:
- Flatten a red cupcake liner to make a circle shape.
- Draw a black center in the middle (like a poppy).
- Glue or tape a green pipe cleaner (or straw) to the back as a stem.
- Make several poppies to remember the brave soldiers.
Why It’s Great: Poppies are a symbol of remembrance. This is a simple way to honor Memorial Day.
10. Patriotic Shakers
Materials Needed: Plastic or paper cups, tape, dried beans or rice, markers, stickers
Steps:
- Decorate the cups with stars, stripes, or stickers.
- Fill one cup with a small handful of dried beans or rice.
- Place another cup on top and tape the rims together.
- Shake them to make festive noise!
Why It’s Great: Kids love making music. These shakers are perfect for a Memorial Day parade or celebration at home.
11. Red, White, and Blue Tie-Dye Shirt
Materials Needed: Plain white t-shirt, red and blue fabric dye, rubber bands, gloves, plastic bags
Steps:
- Twist or fold the shirt and secure it with rubber bands.
- Wear gloves to protect hands.
- Use red and blue dyes to color the different sections of the shirt.
- Put the dyed shirt in a plastic bag for the amount of time stated on the dye instructions.
- Rinse and dry.
Why It’s Great: This wearable craft lets kids show off their patriotic spirit.
Final Words
Memorial Day crafts give children a chance to explore their creativity while learning about the importance of this holiday.
From simple paper projects to colorful tie-dye shirts, these 11 craft ideas will help make Memorial Day both fun and meaningful.
Enjoy crafting together and decorating your home with patriotic colors!
Ankit is an engineer by profession and blogger by passion. He is passionate to do all the stuff such as designing the website, doing the SEO, researching for the content, writing tech blog posts and more.
