Father’s Day in Sunday school: crafts, fathers of the Bible and messages
Father’s Day needs more care than Mother’s Day in children’s ministry, for a simple statistical reason: the share of children without a father present is high, and the standard activity can leave part of the class with nothing to do.
The fix is to widen the target from the start: the craft is for a dad or for whoever fills that role. Said in the opening minute, nobody is left out and nobody has to explain anything.
"As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him."
Psalm 103:13
Simple crafts that work
- A card with the child’s drawing and Psalm 103:13.
- A handmade bookmark with the name of whoever receives it.
- A foam keyring with the initial — cheap and it survives daily use.
- A note with "three things I like about you", written by the child.
Fathers of the Bible to tell
- Joseph, who raised a son who was not his by blood.
- Noah, who pulled his whole family into a project nobody understood.
- The father of the prodigal son — the strongest father story in the Bible, and the one older children discuss best.
- Jairus, who went looking for help for his sick daughter.
Stories for this date
Printables
Activities
Go deeper
20 Bible stories by age — which one to tell when
A practical list of Bible stories sorted by age, from 3 to 12, with the reason behind each pick and what to hold back.
Read the guide · 7 min →Frequently asked questions
How do you run Father’s Day with children whose father is absent?
Say at the start that the craft is for a dad or whoever takes care of them — a grandfather, an uncle, a godfather. The child needs to hear this before the activity, not after.
What verse should go on the craft?
Psalm 103:13 fits best. For younger children, "Honor your father and your mother" is easier to copy.