Gift giving does not always have to involve buying and wrapping a ‘THING,’ although many of us love to unwrap said thing. Sometimes, giving the gift of an experience is even more memorable. This article explores ten actual-reality Father’s Day ideas that you and the dad in your life can enjoy together. WARNING: Some of these ideas may be so fun that everyone will want to make it a regular occurrence…
TAKE THE FAMILY OUTDOORS
Exploring the outdoors together can be a rewarding experience for everyone. Maybe Dad has a favorite park? Does he like frisbee golf? Does he love a good hike? Make the most of the day by packing a healthy lunch that also includes some of Dad’s favorite snacks. Once out and about, explore the differences in the plants, animals, and insects. Lie in the grass and look at the clouds together. Go to the beach and discuss what you find under the rocks. Plant a Father’s Day tree or flower together that you can enjoy year after year.
GO ON A ROAD TRIP
Drives can be nice, especially if they end up somewhere new and interesting or are a family favorite spot that is usually too far to drive on an average day. Look for routes with a stop or two to allow the family to stretch their legs or take a bathroom break. Bring along snacks and beverages (or plan a stop somewhere special). Make sure to research the hidden gems and local touristy spots you usually don’t see as a local. It can be fun to be a tourist in your own town! Pop in some tunes from dad’s favorite era, or explore new genres that fit the theme of where you are going on your road trip.
To keep kids busy in the car, you can play a car game, like spotting the alphabet letters in the street and building signs in the order of the alphabet. Whoever gets to Z first wins that round. Count a specific type of animal or bird that you commonly see as you drive around.
PROMOTES: exploration, togetherness, relaxation, observation, recognition of surroundings, awareness, counting, and excitement of the unknown
FAMILY GAME OR SPORT TIME
Speaking of games, we are talking about old-fashioned (completely non-digital) games here. There are so many fun games to choose from. Tap into dad’s childhood playful self and see if you can beat him in a game of Connect 4, Charades, checkers, pick-up sticks, “Go Fish” or other card games, etc. If your child is very young, you can also play stacking games. Our favorite is to put several random items in a bag and select one at a time. Stack one item on top of the previously drawn item. You will be surprised how fun it is to try to balance a dinosaur on top of a toy car.
Outdoors, you can get busy with a game of corn hole, an obstacle course, t-ball, shooting some baskets, or throwing a ball. Croquet is also a fun family game and is pretty easy to set up. We love the extra-large home-made version of croquet made from bent rebar, painted softballs, and giant mallets. Try a variation of the game by choosing one person whose only role is to knock everyone’s ball off the correct course.
Make sure to have plenty of refreshments on hand to stay happily hydrated!
MOVIE THEATRE AT HOME
Take movie time to the next level by creating the theatre atmosphere at home, complete with a darkened room, buttery popcorn, movie previews, a soda, and homemade tickets to get in. Create extra comfy family seating and snuggle in for a good family movie. You can even have a few favorite “movie” snacks on hand. For a different experience, a larger family, or a movie time with friends, this can be done outdoors with a hanging sheet and a projector, picnic blankets, and pillows. Line the space with a string of lightbulbs to create a theatre-in-the-park vibe with a snack bar in the back.
GET CRAFTY
Do an art project together, whether it is drawing each other, finger-painting, getting big with chalk on the driveway, or making handprint portraits together. Children love crafting with their parents, and when Dad is involved, it is so much more fun.
PROMOTES: dexterity, fine-motor skills, creativity, togetherness, laughter, learning, and presence
BUILD A FORT
Dads are usually pretty great at building things, especially temporary forts! Find all the pillows, blankets, boxes, and chairs, and get creative in the living room. Or, make a stick fort outside to enjoy all summer long! Get ready for a lot of giggles!
PROMOTES: balancing, knowledge of structural strength, problem-solving skills, using different materials, togetherness, sense of accomplishment, fun, laughter, and presence
HAVE A THEMED DAY
Choose one of Dad’s favorite subjects as the theme for the day. Then, plan clothing, food, and activities according to the theme. It really doesn’t matter what the subject is; there is always a way to build the theme around it, even if it is the colors everyone chooses to wear. Maybe Dad’s favorite thing in the world is the color yellow. Make everything yellow and use as many yellow synonym words as you can come up with throughout the day in conversation. Bring out all the yellow things and decorate the spaces with yellow. You get the idea. If it is a sports team, don the jerseys or colors, play the team’s fight song, watch a game with the favorite team, etc..
You can also introduce a learning component by exploring the history of his favorite subject. If it is politics, for example, Dad may get a kick out of seeing the baby dressed like a long-ago president. Get creative. Once you have the theme, the rest is fun to figure out.
PROMOTES: knowledge of one of Dad’s favorite subjects, togetherness, discussion, word power, attention to detail, and presence
Happy Father’s Day! No matter what you decide to do, creating beautiful family memories together will touch Dad right in the heart.
Cover Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
