How to Fingerprint Your Child and Make It a Fun Activity

With child abductions happening at an alarming rate all around the world, one step a parent can take to help find their child if they are missing is to have them fingerprinted. The National Child Identification Program, which has partnered with the FBI, has fingerprints on file for millions of children. This organization is dedicated to identifying missing children and bringing them home safe. Below is an opportunity to make fingerprinting a fun an educational activity for children as you explain to them the importance of their fingerprints! A craft project is a great activity to do with children. Use this family time as an opportunity to safeguard them at the same time.

Things You'll Need

• Ink Pad (Not Waterproof)
• Paper (Two for every child doing craft activity)
• Crayons, Colored Pencils and Markers

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Instructions

• 1

  Start off on a flat surface. Place two pieces of paper down side by side. You are going to have your child place their finger prints on each piece of paper. Use one piece of paper for each hand. For multiple children doing this project, please write their names on each paper so that you can keep track of who's fingerprints are who's.

• 2

  Open up the black ink pad. Be sure to use a NON waterproof ink pad. Those ink pads that say "waterproof" on them are very difficult to wash off a child's fingers! If you only have a waterproof ink pad, then make sure you do it prior to a bath or shower so that fingers can be scrubbed well!

• 3

  Now, have your child lightly press each fingertip onto the ink pad. With all 5 fingers on their hand stamped with ink, have them place their fingers on one of the pieces of paper and press lightly again. Note, the harder the press, the less the pattern on each fingerprint will show up on the paper. The purpose of this craft is for them to see how each fingerprint looks!

• 4

  Repeat the process with their second hand. The result should be ten unique little fingerprints, 5 on each paper. Once each finger has left a print on the paper, have your child wash their hands really well with warm soapy water. If they don't get most of the ink off, when they go to handle the papers or touch anywhere else, there will be little smudges on everything.

• 5

  Next, have your child brainstorm about what they could turn each finger print into. They could draw two separate pictures completely different from one another or they could turn both papers into one big scene. Let them be creative and take their time. I encouraged my children to make each finger print into something slightly different so that each one was unique like their own fingerprints are.

• 6

  One example is to draw each fingerprint into your favorite cartoon character or stuffed animal. In the photo to the left, each fingerprint was drawn into an Ugly Doll character. Click on picture to enlarge the photo.

• 7

  Another example is to draw each fingerprint into an outdoor scene full of bugs and animals. Be sure to encourage your child to add to the background of their picture. Its fun to see how the fingerprints become part of the drawling.

• 8

  The next example you could do is turn your child's fingerprints into an underwater ocean scene. In this photo, each fingerprint together became a school of fish.

• 9

  The last example is to draw each fingerprint into a different flower. They could also be a part of unique patterns across the page if you just want to draw designs.

• 10

  The point of this is to teach them about how unique their fingerprints look up close and to do something fun with them as a keepsake. They can hang it on the fridge or you can frame it to keep. After this you can tell them that they are going to make a record of their fingerprints for you to keep. Below is a link for how to make a fingerprint card for children in my Resources. By doing this you have a record of their prints as well for their safety if they should ever go missing.