Patriotic Star Craft for Kids

Every year since the kids were born I have taken them to a Cemetery on Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day to pay our respect to those that have passed on. Being a military child, wife, and mother to a military service member means a lot to me, it gives me time to reflect but I’m also able to explain to my children what they did and how to support them.

We normally show up with little flags or carnations to drop on a few graves, we say thank you and leave. The entire time the kids talk quietly among themselves about how long the person lived and which war they may have been in and even memories they might have from when they were a military child.

Before you ask, no we don’t know anyone buried in any of the cemeteries we have visited. Their dad however has been to Iraq twice and knew plenty, he can no longer go in with us because of his own experiences but we continue to go in and honor our own tradition.

Nicoli is so little and still grasping what it is we are doing or why, I wanted to get him more involved by making small crafts that he can show his support that way. What crafts do you or your kids make? The kids and I will be at the cemetery on Monday morning to give thanks. What do you do on Memorial day?

Patriotic Star Craft

Materials needed:

• construction paper (white)
• tissue paper (red, white, blue)
• glue (this can be Elmer’s stick glue or white glue)
• Scissors
• Pencil
• ribbon
• tape

Easy instructions to make your own Patriotic Star since you are letting your kids do this with little help from mom and dad.

1. Draw or cut out a Star on construction paper. (For me I drew a star for him and had him do the craft before I cut it out.)
2. Cut tissue squares from long strips of tissue paper. If you have toddler scissors this could be a great time to let them cut different-sized pieces to glue on. Otherwise cut the pieces out yourself and have them ready for your child before sitting them down
3. Spread glue on the star and let your child decorate it. Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect, to them it will be and that is the only thing that matters. (Wait for it to dry before cutting out the star shape.)
4. Add a bit of flare by taping the ribbon to the bottom of the star. I placed tape over the strands of ribbon on the backside so no one would see it.
5. Don’t forget to add a bit of ribbon to the top part of the star to hang it up on the front door so they can show their support.

Note: Nicoli believed the craft was about matching at first, all the white pieces went on the star and then he put on the blue and reds.

Did you like this Patriotic Star craft? If you did please feel free to share this or visit more craft ideas on my Patriotic Craft/recipe pinterest page

Still, looking for more patriotic crafts? Below I’ve left you a few links to a few I found and thought you’d like to decorate your place for the 4th of July or Memorial Day.

1. Patriotic Star Craft with printable from Learn Create Love.
2. The Resourceful Mama has put together a Patriotic Star Wreath Crafts from a paper plate.
   
3. Over at Education, they’ve got a patriotic star banner for you to make to hang up around the yard.
   
4. DIY Beaded Patriotic Sun Catcher from Beneath My Heart.
   
5. 4th of July Day Thumbprint Craft from A Dab of Glue will Do.