When shopping for dad at holidays and birthdays, choosing the perfect gift can be mind boggling. Items like ties, socks and new pajamas may be practical, but they lack thought and creativity. The most important factors when choosing a gift, whether it's for your dad or the father of your children, is to consider who he is as a person, what he likes and what makes him tick. When you put a lot of thought into a gift, he will love it no matter what it is.
Art Work
Create a painting or a drawing to show him how much you care. Allow school age children to express themselves by using paints, crayons or coloring pencils. If your children are too young for this activity, consider painting their hands and feet with nontoxic paint and stamping them all over a blank canvas. You can then add creative little sayings or a poem to personalize your gift.
Dinner with Mom
Fathers often get so wrapped up with work and taking care of the family that they often have to sacrifice their free time. A terrific gift would be to give dad a night out, perhaps to take mom out for an evening alone. Call a close friend or family member to babysit so dad can be assured the kids are in good hands. To take it a step further, purchase a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant to use on the night out.
Give a Hobby
Think of something dad has always wanted to learn, maybe a new sport like golf or a musical instrument, or maybe he's always wanted to fly. Ask around and do some research to find a well-respected teacher. Purchase a series of lessons so dad can finally learn the hobby he's always been interested in. Lessons will give dad a new hobby and time to himself to refresh his spirit on a frequent basis.
Sports Tickets
For the sports fanatic dad, purchase tickets to see one of his favorite teams. To make it a more special outing, secure enough tickets for the kids to go too. Save money by buying tickets at the beginning of the season when the team plays a "cupcake" (euphemism for a team that doesn't pose much of a challenge). Dad will appreciate being able to see his team play, especially if he's never had that experience before.
