Fathers Day Ideas

Fathers Day is fast approaching here (1st Sunday in September) and I have a husband who doesn't really need or want much. Now usually this is a good thing, but come birthdays and Fathers Days, it makes it awfully hard to find something to give him, or do for him. On browsing the net this week I found several pretty cool ideas I thought I would share. Surely I'm not the only one wondering what the kids and I should do for Fathers Day?

First up I found this interview. So easy to print out and have the kids fill in. If you don't have a printer, just copy the questions onto a piece of paper. For real young kids ask them each question, then write the answer yourself.



Click HERE to go to the Simply Montessori Blog to download.

Allison has a different interview on her blog which allows space for the kids to draw a picture too. I really like that idea. It'd be cool to make it a tradition every Fathers Day. Collect the interviews and put them in a binder, then each year you can see how much they've grown up.



Click HERE to go to Allison's blog for the download.


Click HERE to find the download link for these free cards from Ana (and more fathers day printables).

I love this hand tree. So easy for the kids to do:



And this little gift is super easy to do. Print out the tag and attach to a packet of M&Ms. Go HERE to download the tag.



The following list of ideas I found on The Red Headed Hostess' blog. She is also a Seminary teacher, and has lots of fantastic information and ideas for scripture study. Just check her sidebar for links. Here are her 9 fun ideas for Fathers Day. I just love number 8:



1. Sticky Note Love

Have your kids write things they love about their dad on sticky notes. Put them up all over the house, in his pockets, car, etc…

2. Daddy Photos

Dress up your kids in their dad’s clothes. Take them outside and take pictures of them. Print your favorite ones and frame them for his desk at home or work.

3. Daddy Books

Have your children each make a picture book about their dad. Each page can have a sentence about him along with an illustration. Things like:
My dad is always ________________
I like it when me and dad _________________
When I grow up I want to be ______________ like my dad
My dad is really good at ________________
Staple them together and have them make a cover page and come up with a fun title.

4. Me and Dad… Our History

Same as the idea above – but instead have it just about this past year. That way you could make a new book every year and it is a little family history. For example:
Last summer Dad and I ________________
Dad always helps me with my homework in ________________
Its really important to Dad that I _________________
One of the best things Dad and I have done this year is ______________
Every night Dad and I _________________
Last Christmas I gave Dad _______________

5. Our Treasures (hunt) With Dad

Send him on a treasure hunt around the house and yard. Each clue could be something about him and that location written by different family members. For example:
We built this together last summer. - Tim
This is where we like to sit and talk. -Mom
This is where you picked me up when I fell on my bike. -Sara

6. Driveway Love

Have your kids write things they like about their Dad all over the driveway so that everyone in the neighborhood can read them

7. Father’s Day Sign

Have your kids make a Happy Father’s Day sign similar to this Happy Birthday sign. Here is the lettering: happy fathers day sign

8. Paper Bag Mystery

Have everyone find one item that reminds them of Dad in some significant way and have them all put it in one large paper bag. Have Dad reach in, and before pulling it out, try and guess what it is and who put it in there. Then after he pulls it out then the person who put it in can tell why they chose that item and what it means to them.

9. Pictionary

Play Pictionary with memories of Dad. So divide into 2 teams, then each team has to write 10 to 20 memories of Dad. Like: When Dad and Tim mowed Mr. Smith’s lawn when he had surgery. Then the other team has to draw them as you play pictionary. So each team has 1 minute to try and draw as many as they can until the next team gets to to. The first team to draw and guess them all first, wins.

LOVE LETTER BOOK

Next up is a gift idea that would be more from you than from the kids. Perfect for his birthday or Christmas too. It's a love letter book. This is what Heather Lynne says to do:

1. Search the stores for the most masculine journal/notebook you can find



2. Write your first love note. It can be the same sort of note you might write in a card or something a little more lengthy.

3. Give him the book as a gift, and explain that the pages will be filled (by you) over time.

4. Every time you notice something great that you love about your husband, get out the book and write a dated note to him. Don't tell him when you've written them. Just let him find them next time he looks in the book.

5. Next time there's a special occasion, instead of buying him a card, just get out the book and write in that instead. If there are past notes in there that he hasn't seen yet, he'll see them when he re-receives the book for that occasion.

Bonus: No more cards from random occasions to stash in a shoebox somewhere or add more clutter to your home. All of your meaningful notes will be contained in one small and accessible place- yay!

I (Jacinda) did this for my husband on our 11th anniversary in April. He loved it. And I loved the idea of a record of our love. You can tell your husband he's welcome to write his own love notes to you in there too, or it can just be one way, from you to him.

SUPER HERO NOSH



Here's a fabulous idea from Alpha Mom, with free printables so all the hard work is done. Surely every Dad is a superhero to their kids, yes? I (Jacinda) did this for my husbands birthday in May, from the kids and I. The kids were just as excited about it as he was. I bought some cellophane bags from the $2 shop to put everything in, but you could just as easily use zip lock bags too. I found the perfect size gift box at the same shop, and I was good to go. Here's how my box turned out:



HAPPY MEAL

OK, here's an idea from BAKERELLA for those that are good in the kitchen. (That isn't me by the way).



Look closer. The bun is a cupcake cut in half and sprinkled with sesame seeds. The meat pattie is actually a brownie, the lettuce and sauces are icing, and the chips are actually sugar cookies rolled in sugar! How cute is that! Go to Bakerella's site for instructions, and to download the template to the tray and chip packet.

So.....what do you reckon? Think there's something there that you could use this Fathers Day? I'm definitely using a couple of them, and I know the kids will be excited to do the interviews and draw a picture at the very least. Whatever you decide to do, I hope it's successful and that your Fathers Day celebrations are full of love and joy.