Father's Day Poems for Church: 8 Short Recitations for Kids

Eight short, original Father's Day poems for church kids to recite in the Father's Day service. Each one is marked with the age it fits, from a two-line welcome for 3-year-olds to six-line pieces for older kids, and every child can say one: there is a poem for a dad, a grandpa, anyone who cares for a child like a dad, and one that thanks God for being a Father to us all. Finish with every child saying Joshua 24:15 together.

The poems

1. Welcome (ages 3–4) Happy Father's Day! I'm glad you came. Let's thank our God and praise His name!

2. Thank You, God, for Dads (ages 4–6) For dads who work and dads who pray, Who teach us what is right each day, For grandpas, uncles, all who care, We thank You, God, in every prayer!

3. D-A-D (ages 5–7, Proverbs 20:7) D is for doing what's right every day, A is for always taking time to pray, D is for dear, and I'm happy to say: God bless my dad on this Father's Day!

4. Grandpa's Crown (ages 5–8, Proverbs 16:31) My grandpa's hair is silver-gray, And God's Word has a lot to say: When grandpas walk in what is right, That gray's a crown of glory bright!

5. Thank You for Caring (ages 6–9, for a dad, grandpa, uncle, pastor or teacher; Philippians 1:3) Thank you for the time you give, For showing me the way to live, For every ride and every prayer: I see God's love in how you care!

6. F-A-T-H-E-R (ages 8–11, Joshua 24:15) F is for faithful in big things and small, A is for always there when I fall, T is for teaching God's Word every day, H is for honest in all he will say, E is for every time we kneel and pray, R is for "Ready! We'll serve God today!"

7. The Father Who Ran (ages 8–11, Luke 15:11–24) A son took all his father gave And wasted it; he didn't save. He came back home to say, "I've sinned," But his father ran and took him in. Jesus told this so we'd see How God forgives both you and me.

8. God Is a Father to Us All (any age, Malachi 2:10) God is a Father to us all; He hears us every time we call. When dads are near or far away, He's with us every single day!

Tips

• Send poems home three weeks early so families can practice at bedtime.
• Never leave a child out. Say "your dad, or someone who cares for you like a dad." Poems 5 and 8 fit every child, and a child can say poem 5 to a grandpa, an uncle, the pastor or a teacher.
• Pair a shy child with a buddy who says the poem with them.
• The poems slot right into our Father's Day program for church, and poem 7 goes with the prodigal son play.

Every poem is original to VBS HQ and checked against the Bible: Grandpa's crown keeps the "if" of Proverbs 16:31 ("if it be found in the way of righteousness"), and the father who ran follows Luke 15:11–24. Poem 7 is the story of our prodigal son story set, memory verse 1 John 1:9. More: Father's Day Bible verses.