4th of July American Flag Fine Motor Craft for Toddlers

June 28, 2020

Lately Miss 26 months and I started reading She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Hilary Clinton, which helped to introduce to my toddler important names and events that shaped American history. I found it to be a timely book to read as 4th of July nears.

Apart from it being a day 'Daddy is off-work' and people are celebrating the holiday with barbecues in their backyards, I wanted my toddler to get a deeper understanding of 4th of July and its significance.

How to Explain 4th of July to Toddlers

This are some of the basic facts I introduced:

4th of July is a special day for America, also known as America's birthday.
It represents the day America became free and independent (Because America's founders declared separation from British rule and no longer followed the orders of Britain's king.)
It is a day celebrated by many people with parades and fireworks.
The stars and stripes on the America flag have a special meaning (The 50 stars stand for the 50 states while 13 stripes represent the 13 colonies that declared their independence on 4th of July.)
What being American means -- that people in this country have the freedom to live and work in the way they want and in the best way they can.

Kids Academy has a Youtube video to explain 4th of July in a visual and interactive way.

Kickstarting this Activity

Tapping into my toddler's interest in stickers, I illustrated an American flag template which my toddler could decorate with star and dot stickers. This makes for a wonderful fine motor activity with all the peeling, sticking, positioning, pasting, cutting, glueing and waving of the American flag craft. This activity also reinforces recognition of the US flag, shapes and colors on the flag, as well as provide an avenue for creative expression.

The completed American flag craft is perfect for 4th of July and Memorial day event decor.

4th of July American Flag Craft for Toddlers

Materials needed

Wrapping paper cardboard tube (for the flagpole)
White drawing paper
Coloring materials
Stickers (Star and dot shaped ones)
Tape/glue

Steps

Draw the American flag on white paper
Color the blue and red aspects of the flag but leave circle and star blank for your toddler to fill using stickers
Demonstrate sticker peeling and pasting and encourage your toddler to complete the activity
Wrap the hoist end of the flag onto the cardboard tube and tape/glue

Fun Things to Do

Encourage toddlers to count and do one-to-one correspondence learning as they paste the stickers
Challenge your toddler to find a way to hold the flag upright (My toddler placed the flagpole in a stacked row of tapes)
Play a patriotic song and encourage your toddler to move with the flag
Drive around the neighborhood to try to spot the flags displayed at homes, police station, city hall etc