Are you staring at a bleak February afternoon, the kids are getting restless, and the phrase “I’m bored” is starting to echo through the house? We’ve all been there. February 19th can feel like a weird in-between day, but it’s actually a golden opportunity for some unforgettable creative time. Forget the stress of planning; we’ve gathered the best, most engaging 19 february crafts for kids that turn a random Tuesday into a mini-holiday extravaganza.
1. Cardboard Tube Presidents
Got an empty toilet paper or paper towel roll? Then you have the foundation for a presidential portrait gallery! This craft is a fantastic, hands-on way to introduce kids to iconic figures like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. It’s all about simple shapes and big creativity.
What You’ll Need & How to Do It
Gather your cardboard tubes, construction paper, cotton balls, glue, markers, and scissors. Help your child wrap the tube in black or blue paper for a suit, then let them design the face. A cotton ball beard for Lincoln? Perfect. White paper curls for Washington’s hair? Absolutely brilliant.
2. Patriotic Spin Art
Who says art can’t be a thrilling science experiment? Spin art combines color, motion, and a little bit of glorious mess to create stunning, one-of-a-kind masterpieces. The red, white, and blue color scheme makes these perfect for displaying on the fridge all month long.
Setting Up Your Spin Studio
If you have a salad spinner, you’re in business! Just place a round piece of paper inside, dab on some liquid tempera or watered-down acrylic paint in patriotic colors, and spin away. No salad spinner? No problem. Tape a paper plate to the base of a lazy Susan and give it a whirl!
3. Log Cabin Building Challenge
Channel the pioneer spirit and young Abraham Lincoln with this fantastic STEM-inspired craft. This activity isn’t just about gluing; it’s about engineering and problem-solving. Can they build a cabin that stands tall and strong?
Grab Your “Logs” and Build
Use pretzel sticks, popsicle sticks, or even brown paper strips rolled into tubes. Provide a small cardboard square as a base and a pot of glue. Watch as they carefully construct four walls and a roof. It’s amazing to see their concentration faces come out.
4. Cherry Tree Finger Painting
Let’s be honest, the story of George Washington and the cherry tree is basically an invitation to get messy. This craft embraces that wholeheartedly. It’s a sensory delight for little fingers and a great way to talk about honesty (with a wink).
A Mess-Worthy Masterpiece
On a large sheet of paper, help your child paint a simple brown tree trunk with branches. Then, the real fun begins. Dip those little fingertips into red paint and dab, dab, dab away to create a lush, beautiful cherry tree canopy. So simple, so satisfying.
5. Paper Plate American Flag
This craft is a classic for a reason: it’s easy, recognizable, and gives every kid a sense of pride in their creation. Using a paper plate as the base for the blue field is a genius hack that makes the whole process smoother.
Assembling Old Glory
You’ll need one paper plate, red construction paper strips, white star stickers, and glue. Color the paper plate blue, then glue on the red stripes. The best part? Picking out and placing the white star stickers to complete the flag’s canton.
6. “If I Were President” Crown
Every kid has ideas about how to make the world a better place. This craft lets them literally wear their leadership dreams on their head. It combines art with a fun writing or discussion prompt that can lead to some hilarious and insightful conversations.
Crafting and Campaigning
Cut a crown shape from construction paper and let your child decorate it with markers, glitter, and jewels. Then, ask them the big question: “If you were President, what would you do?” Write their presidential promise on the crown. Free ice cream Tuesdays, anyone?
7. Popsicle Stick Abe Lincoln’s Cabin
Here’s a slightly more structured version of the log cabin craft that yields a super sturdy and display-worthy result. It’s perfect for older kids who enjoy a bit more precision in their crafting. The final product looks fantastic on a bookshelf.
Construction Tips
Glue popsicle sticks side-by-side onto a small piece of cardboard to form the walls. You can even notch sticks at the corners for a more authentic log-cabin look. Add a construction paper roof and a tiny drawn-on door to complete the rustic scene.
8. Coffee Filter Cherry Blossoms
This craft is pure magic. Using washable markers and a spray bottle, you can create the most beautiful, watercolor-like cherry blossoms. It feels less like a craft and more like a mini art lesson, and the results are always stunning.
The Magic of Bleeding Colors
Color a white coffee filter with pink and red washable markers. Then, lightly spray it with water and watch the colors bleed and blend into a gorgeous, marbled effect. Once dry, crumple and shape it into blossoms to glue onto a drawn tree branch.
9. Bald Eagle Handprint Craft
Handprint crafts are keepsakes. Years from now, you’ll look at this and marvel at how small their hands once were. The bald eagle, a majestic national symbol, is the perfect subject for this sentimental and fun activity.
Creating Your Eagle
Paint your child’s hand brown and press it onto white paper, fingers spread. This forms the eagle’s body and wings. Once dry, add a white painted head, a yellow beak, and a googly eye. Don’t forget the signature white tail feathers!
10. Liberty Bell Printing
Introduce your kids to the fun of printmaking with this simple bell craft. It’s a fantastic way to talk about symbols of freedom while exploring a different artistic technique. The cracked bell? That’s the best part!
Make Your Stamp
Cut a bell shape from a thick sponge or foam sheet and glue it to a small piece of cardboard to make a handle. Dip it in gold or yellow paint and stamp it onto paper. After it dries, use a black marker to draw the famous crack. Easy peasy.
11. Washington’s Wig
This craft is 100% pure, unadulterated dress-up fun. What kid doesn’t want to prance around the house wearing a giant, fluffy white wig? It’s an instant costume that sparks imaginative play for hours after the crafting is done.
Becoming George
Take a brown paper bag, cut out the bottom, and fit it over your child’s head like a cap. Then, glue masses of cotton balls all over it until it resembles Washington’s iconic poufy hairdo. Pro tip: use a low-temp glue gun for adult assistance to make it stick faster.
12. Patriotic Slime
Okay, I know. Slime. But hear me out. When you theme it with red, white, and blue glitter and stars, it suddenly becomes a festive, sensory activity. It’s a surefire hit for kids who love hands-on, squishy fun.
A Safe Slime Recipe
Use a simple, borax-free glue and contact lens solution recipe. Divide your base into three parts and color one red and one blue, leaving one white. Swirl them together gently for a marbled patriotic effect. Add star-shaped confetti for an extra celebratory touch.
13. Mount Rushmore Clay Sculptures
Challenge your little sculptors to recreate one of America’s most famous monuments. You don’t need to be Michelangelo; the charm is in their unique, lumpy, wonderful interpretations. This is a great craft for developing fine motor skills.
Sculpting the Presidents
Give each child a lump of air-dry clay or play dough. Show them a picture of Mount Rushmore and let them try to mold and carve the four presidential faces into their clay mountain. It’s harder than it looks, which makes it all the more engaging.
14. Star-Spangled Windsock
Bring the celebration outdoors with a colorful windsock. As it catches the breeze, it becomes a dynamic piece of art. This craft is great for practicing patterns and sequences with the red, white, and blue streamers.
Let the Streamers Flow
Decorate a cardboard tube or a sturdy paper plate with the center cut out. Then, glue long strips of red, white, and blue crepe paper or streamers to one end. Attach a string to the other end and hang it up to watch it dance in the wind.
15. “My Presidential Portrait” Drawing
Time for some serious (or seriously silly) self-reflection. Set up a “presidential portrait studio” with some art supplies and ask your child to draw their own official portrait. The results are often frame-worthy and always personality-filled.
Strike a Presidential Pose
Provide a large piece of paper, crayons, markers, and maybe even some gold paper for a fancy frame. Encourage them to think about what they would wear, what would be in the background, and what kind of expression they would have. Would they look wise? Cheeky? You’ll find out!
16. Firework Straw Painting
This is an explosive art technique that’s full of energy, just like a real fireworks display. It’s incredibly easy, but the “wow” factor is huge. Kids love the physical act of blowing the paint and seeing the unpredictable results.
Creating a Night Sky
Water down some red and blue paint. Drop a large blob of each color onto black construction paper. Then, give your child a straw and let them blow the paint outward from the center to create fantastic firework bursts. It’s art and a breathing exercise in one!
17. Button Flag Art
Dig out that random button jar and put it to good use! This craft is wonderful for fine motor skill development and creates a beautiful, textured piece of art. Sorting the buttons by color is an activity in itself.
A Textured Triumph
Draw a simple flag outline on a piece of cardstock. Then, using glue, have your child fill in the red stripes with red buttons, the blue field with blue buttons, and add little white buttons or beads for the stars. It’s a tactile and visually striking project.
18. Presidential Puppet Show
Take the learning a step further by encouraging storytelling. Creating paper bag puppets of Washington and Lincoln sets the stage for a hilarious and educational puppet show. What would these two presidents talk about if they met?
Puppet Making & Play
Decorate two paper lunch bags to look like the presidents. Then, help your child write a simple script or just let them improvise a conversation. This is a brilliant way to reinforce what they’ve learned in a playful, memorable format.
19. Kindness Rocks for a National Holiday
Let’s end our list with a craft that spreads joy beyond your home. Painting kindness rocks with patriotic designs and inspirational words is a beautiful way to celebrate community and kindness, values any great president would endorse.
Rock Your World
Find some smooth, flat rocks. Paint them with flags, stars, or positive words like “Hope,” “Unity,” or “Joy.” Seal them with a clear sealant and then go on a family walk to hide them for others to find. It’s a craft that keeps on giving. 🙂
And there you have it! Nineteen fantastic, easy-to-pull-off 19 february crafts for kids that are way more exciting than just another screen-time session. From historical explorations to pure sensory fun, this list has something for every young creator. The best part? You’re not just killing time; you’re making memories, sparking conversations, and maybe, just maybe, inspiring a future leader. So grab the glue stick, embrace a little glitter, and have an absolutely craft-tastic February 19th.