Take Time to Be a Dad Today!

Here are some suggestions for easy, no-cost or low-cost ways to spend meaningful time with your family.

Take a trip:

“Travel” to Spain, China, or Australia. Borrow a library book with photos and facts about your destination, prepare a local-inspired meal, rent a documentary or movie that takes place in that country, and imagine yourselves there.

Watch your kids’ favorite TV shows together:

Maybe you’ll like them, too. But if not and you can’t figure out why they like those programs so much, ask them.

Wish upon a star:

Visit a planetarium or check out the night sky from your own front or back yard. Search together for a book or web site with information on stars and constellations.

Unplug:

Working all the time? Always on your phone? Turn off that laptop, leave your phone behind, and spend some uninterrupted time with your children.

Fix It Together:

Work through your list of home improvement chores together and show your children how to repair household items.

Let fatherhood go to your head:

Take your son to the barber or learn to braid your daughter’s hair.

Read the Sunday Comics:

No time on Sunday? Save the comics and read them together when you have time. Or read a book, newspaper, magazine anything will do as long as you are with your children.

Go grocery shopping:

Buy healthy foods and treats. With younger children, work on alphabet and reading skills as you walk the aisles.

Learn something:

Whether you read a biography or watch a National Geographic special, experience something new together.

Reminisce:

Share memories of your children’s youngest years or even before they were born. Ask them to talk about some of their favorite memories.

Play:

Play cards, learn new games and card tricks together. Make sure the game is appropriate for the children’s ages. Play boardgames, pick an age-appropriate game and remember to play by the rules. Or play an old-school game: teach your children some of the classic games you played as a kid. Hide and seek, tag, kickball, and other low-tech games can be particularly fun in our digital age.

Go camping:

No need to head to the wilderness, brave the cold, or buy a tent. Just camp out in the living room with blankets draped over chairs.