What a special time it is when one parent can go out with their child/ren and do something FUN! I’m not talking about going to soccer lessons or the store, but something that both the kids and dad have a great time doing. Laughter and inside jokes can come out of these great experiences. What great bonding!
Here are some Father/Kiddo date ideas:
Golfing: make reservations, get their outfits and gear together (or pre-pay for rentals), pack a lunch or make reservations at a cafe.
Picnic at the Park: This one is simple and inexpensive, but can be so fun for both dad and child. Pack their lunch in a cute basket or container. Include silverware, a blanket, plastic champagne flutes, sparkling cider (can be transferred into a plastic drink container), a lunch, and a special dessert! You can also include a frisbee or a soccer ball if the kiddo is too old for the playground. If there are ducks at the park. Also include a baggy of duck food (torn up bread). If dad wants to bike the little one there, pack a backpack for him to wear with all of the goodies inside it. You wouldn’t want the picnic basket to explode on your child in the bike trailer when he rides over a speed bump! If your little one is old enough to ride, I’m sure he or she will have a great time on the way to the park with dad!
Amusement Park: Get tickets at a local grocery store or send them off with some money to pay for admission at a nearby amusement park (maybe even a water park). Pack a backpack with hats, sunblock, sunglasses, extra money for food or souvenirs, snacks, and water. If snacks and water are not allowed in, pack them anyway for the car ride.
Volunteer: Set up a volunteer opportunity for the two (or more) of them to participate in together. This is a great idea if you have a husband who finds value in volunteering. If he doesn’t, it’s a bad idea. 😉 You can cook at a homeless shelter, sort donated clothing, plant flowers at a local park, visit cancer patients, etc. There are so many opportunities to volunteer. Check Volunteer Match or search “volunteer [your city]” in your favorite search engine.
Baseball game: Take them out to the ball game! Most everything they need will be there, so you don’t have to pack much. You can pack a backpack with sunblock, hats with the team’s logo, and sunglasses. Don’t forget to provide money for hot dogs, peanuts, cracker jacks, and nice cold drinks! If you want to do a little extra credit, include a CD of baseball-themed songs (or load your husband’s Spotify with the below playlists) for them to listen to on the way.
[spotify id=”spotify:user:1271328088:playlist:3LYbO7u8cHnQrQTvD31Rj4″ width=”300″ height=”380″ /]
[spotify id=”spotify:user:1271328088:playlist:2hYoP3LB5C0uDc8kEtDtDK” width=”300″ height=”380″ /]
Movies and Ice Cream: Two things kids love are movies and ice cream (I do, too)! Get tickets for your husband and little one/s to go to a kid-friendly movie they’ve been wanting to see, and tell them to grab some ice cream afterward so they can discuss the movie or whatever else! You can grab a gift card from the ice cream place and send it with them. Mmm… bonding over sweets is great! 🙂 You can even call the ice cream place beforehand and tell the associate what your husband and child will be wearing so they can greet them with their names and a, “Happy Father’s Day!”
Send them On a Scavenger Hunt: Make clues for different locations. Send them off with their first clue and a digital camera. The clues can lead to a local park, a grocery store, a friend’s house, a hiking trail, a toy store, a garden, etc. You can have them do a challenge at each location. For example, they might have to make your friend’s dog sit, roll-over, and eat a treat before moving on. At a grocery store, you can make a clue like, “walk to the back of the store where you’ll find a beverage that really makes you want to wear short pants in the light of day. Look in the back of the shelf for the Berry Burst flavor. You’ll find your clue on the bottom of the box.” The beverage would be Berry Burst Capri-Sun. You would have staged the clue a few hours beforehand. If it’s in the back, no one should bother it… hopefully… haha! Every few clues, add one in that will lead them to a treat: a drink at a coffee shop, a smoothie, a small gift your husband has been wanting, etc.
If you have other great Daddy/Kiddo date ideas, please share them below!
Resources:
About.com: Best Baseball Songs
Great ideas! And I love the illustrations!
🙂