Today, dads are wearing multiple hats. Some are taking on dual roles of financial provider and home caregiver, while others are taking on the full responsibility at home. Regardless of which role the dad to your children plays, Father’s Day is a great way to show a hard-working dad you care.
Here are 9 tips that will put a smile on his face and remind him how lucky he is:
Educate the kids beforehand on what the day means. Let them know that they can fight, whine, and throw tantrums the other 364 days as they please, but this day is Dad’s day.
Carve out time in the day just for him. Giving dad some time to himself to do the things he loves will be appreciated. Whether it’s a round of golf, catching waves at his favorite surf spot, or just some alone time to read and relax, schedule the time and make it happen. He won’t forget it.
Tell him how much he is appreciated. At one point many moons ago, dads signed a long-term contract to do the jobs no one else wanted to do. Taking out the trash. Investigating eerie sounds downstairs in the dark. Building dressers from Ikea using only an Allen wrench. Sure, we like to act tough, but we are softies on the inside and like feeling appreciated.
Make him his favorite food. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, as they say. Try starting with breakfast in bed.
Plan a fun family day pertaining to dad’s interests. Dad makes a lot of sacrifices during the year based on other’s needs. Plan an outing around something he likes that he can also enjoy with the kids. Take a hike. Watch a game. Lounge on the beach. Make it something easy so dad can just bask in the kid’s adulation without having to worry about being protector for a day.
Give him a guy’s day/night. Spending time with family is most important to him on Father’s Day, but dad needs a healthy bromance too once in awhile. Circle an upcoming Friday on the calendar and label it “guy’s night.”
Get social. Contact some other couples you’re close with and surprise him when they show up for a BBQ, or day at the park. Bring some lawn games and pack a cooler of his favorite beverages. It will be fun for him and the kids!
Give him access to the remote…If only for just a few minutes. You’d be amazed what a seven-minute break from Frozen will do for a dad. Let it Go. Let it Go. – Of the remote that is.
Do Nothing. That’s right. Literally do nothing. Give him some space and let him lounge on the couch in that ripped shirt you hate with SportsCenter on repeat. On second thought, you could skip the aforementioned tips and just let the day pass you by and you’d probably score just as many brownie points. Us dads are pretty simple creatures.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there. And thank you!