This super simple Father’s Day craft is one of my absolute favorites this year. The Dad, You Rule craft is the kind of craft that’s the perfect mix of clever and cute—perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, or big kids who love to make something by hand.
This DIY gift looks like a mini measuring tape, but instead of inches, it measures how much Dad is loved. It’s a fun way for kids to say, “Hey Dad, you’re the best,” without needing glitter explosions or a complicated setup. And the best part? It uses stuff you probably already have in your craft bin.
Why You’ll Love This Dad You Rule Father’s Day Craft
- It’s quick and easy – perfect for busy classrooms or a weekend project at home.
- It’s budget-friendly – made with recycled boxes and paper.
- It’s totally customizable – use any colors or decorations your child likes.
This is a great craft for younger kids with help from an adult or for older kids to tackle more independently. Plus, it turns out adorable every single time.
Materials You’ll Need
- A small cardboard box (think jewelry box or a cube tissue box)
- White printer paper
- Red or black paint (or any color your kid loves)
- Paintbrush
- Yellow construction paper
- Black marker
- Glue stick or school glue
- Scissors
Optional: stickers, washi tape, or foam letters to decorate
Step-by-Step Instructions for the “Dad, You Rule” Craft
1. Wrap the Box
If your box has words, graphics, or branding on it, wrap it in white printer paper first. This gives you a nice blank canvas for painting and keeps things looking clean and polished.
Secure the paper with tape or glue, making sure the edges are neat. This is your measuring tape base.
2. Paint the Box
Using a paintbrush and your chosen paint (we love red or black for that real measuring tape look!), paint all sides of the wrapped box. Let it dry completely before moving to the next step. You can speed things up with a fan or a sunny windowsill.
While the box is drying, you can move on to the measuring strip.
3. Make the Measuring Tape Strip
Cut a strip of yellow construction paper about 1 inch wide and 7–8 inches long. Fold one end slightly to mimic the look of a metal tip on a real measuring tape.
Use a black marker to draw short vertical lines along the strip to represent measurement marks. You can even add numbers if your child is into the details!
4. Create the Message Label
Cut a small square out of white printer paper—just a bit smaller than the front side of your box. Write “DAD, YOU RULE” in bold letters using a black marker. Let your child add doodles, hearts, or stars if they’d like.
Glue the message to the front of the box.
5. Attach the Measuring Tape
Flip the box over and glue the yellow “measuring tape” strip to the bottom, so it hangs down like a real tape measure rolling out. You can tape it inside if you want it to be hidden until it’s pulled out!
Let everything dry completely before wrapping it up or gifting.
This Dad, You Rule measuring tape craft is the kind of project that sticks with you (and with Dad!). It’s clever, creative, and the perfect mix of meaningful and playful. Plus, it gives kids a chance to explore art and build a thoughtful gift that actually says something special.
Whether you’re crafting at school, during a weekend family afternoon, or pulling together a last-minute surprise, this one’s a total win.
So go ahead and tell Dad how much he rules—one inch at a time.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
