One method for creating an American flag is to cut a blue rectangle and seven red strips of paper. Help toddlers arrange the cutouts and paste them on a white page. Stars can be added by placing star stickers on the blue rectangle or drawing white stars with chalk. Another fun idea for toddlers is finger painting red stripes on a flag printout. For infants, prepare an American flag with the blue rectangle and red and white stripes. Add thumbprint "stars" using baby's thumb and a white ink pad.
A plastic, star-shaped cookie cutter can be given to toddlers to cut stars from rolled-out modeling dough. You can also pre-cut stars out of construction paper and allow toddlers to rub a glue stick on the star and sprinkle glitter on top. With assistance and supervision, infants may be able to shake glitter onto a prepared star. Another idea is to create a growth chart by cutting out multiple red, white and blue stars and stapling them together from tip to tip until the chain of stars matches the infant's length or toddler's height. If you are celebrating a specific patriotic holiday, add additional stars to the chain each year on that holiday to track the child's growth.
Liberty bell crafts will be enjoyed by infants and toddlers who like to make noise. Jingle bells can be strung on a piece of yarn and tied to size around little wrists or ankles. Even the youngest infants can kick their feet and jingle the bells. Enjoy letting freedom ring together! Because of the small pieces involved, please remember to closely supervise children during this craft and to store the completed crafts in a safe place.
The Statue of Liberty's torch can be re-created for a fun and bright craft. Roll a green piece of construction paper into a cone shape and tape in place. Allow infants and toddlers to crumple up red, yellow, and orange tissue paper. If your baby is too young to crumple the paper, involve your baby by allowing him to listen to the crinkling sound of the paper and to see the bright colors. Place glue in the green cone and have the children stuff the tissue paper inside. Take a walk and allow the children to carry their torches high.