Last Updated on April 16, 2026 by Masha Eretnova
Looking for fun, affordable, and engaging Memorial Day crafts to spend time with your toddler?
You can play with some paint and torn paper to make fireworks, noisemakers, and American flag with your kids aged 1 to 3 with these 10 simple ideas.
These ideas are great to do at home, some require a bit of cleaning, but most are also great for daycare to keep toddlers busy.
See also: 20 Memorial Day Crafts For Kids
Q-Tip Painted Firework Craft
This Q-tip painted fireworks craft uses black paper and bright paint to create bold, colorful bursts. Toddlers and young kids dip cotton swabs into paint and stamp out firework shapes, which makes it easy for even little hands.
Get the tutorial: Q-Tip Painted Firework Craft
Painting Poppy Flowers with Balloons
This craft lets little ones explore painting while creating meaningful poppy artwork. Using crafting materials like paint and paper, toddlers can experiment with bold red hues and fun textures, making it a perfect hands-on Memorial Day activity for Toddlers.
Torn Paper American Flag Craft
Tear and glue your way to a toddler-friendly American flag with this torn paper craft. Kids use strips of red, white, and blue paper to fill in a flag outline, giving it a handmade, textured feel.
Get the tutorial: Torn Paper American Flag Craft
Fireworks Craft for Kids
This simple fireworks craft uses just colored torn paper. Kids can finish it with sparkle and make it at home or classroom.
Get the tutorial: Fireworks Craft for Kids
Patriotic Paper Plate Craft
This patriotic paper plate craft turns basic supplies into a fun red, white, and blue decoration. Kids upcycle a paper plate, color cut-out stars in flag-inspired colors, and arrange these stars around the plate – it is that easy!
Get the tutorial: Patriotic Paper Plate Craft
Memorial Day Noisemaker
Make some noise with this DIY patriotic noisemaker using paper plates, beans, and paint. Low-cost fun craft kids will love!
Counts as a sensory activity, too.
Get the tutorial: Noisemaker
Patriotic Firework Handprint Craft
This handprint firework craft starts with a painted handprint, then adds glittery lines radiating outward to mimic an exploding firework. Kids can use red, white, and blue paint along with sequins or stars for added sparkle. Great keepsake, too.
Get the tutorial: Patriotic Firework Handprint Craft
Patriotic Window Clings
These patriotic window clings are made by tracing shapes onto plastic with school glue, then coloring with markers and adding glitter. Once dry, the clings peel off and stick to glass.
Get the tutorial: Window Clings
Toilet Paper Roll Firework Craft
This Patriotic Craft for Kids uses toilet paper rolls and paint to create festive firework art. With bright red, white, and blue colors, kids can stamp unique bursts onto paper, mimicking real fireworks in the night sky.
Get the tutorial: Toilet Paper Roll Firework Craft
American Flag Craft: Easy Patriotic Painting
This American Flag Craft for Kids is an easy painting idea for Memorial Day. It’s a hands-on way for kids to create their own flag while learning about its significance.
Ideal for preschoolers and toddlers. With minimal prep, it’s perfect for Memorial Day, Flag Day, or the Fourth of July!
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Chiang Mai-based certified teacher, artist, and blogger with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.