In Australia, Father’s Day is just a few sleeps away, and if you know me, you’ll know that celebrations are a big deal in our house. I seem to have carried this mindset through from childhood, when I was insistent on a birth-week, rather than a mere birth-day. These days I’m (mostly) about other people’s milestones rather than my own; there’s something about the planning and excitement in the lead up that really ignites my inner child. Or maybe I just need to get a job.
Either way, I know not everyone has the time or inclination to watch a 45-minute YouTube tutorial on how to make your own tie-dyed “I love my daddy” tshirt, or to watch as your children painstakingly glue a thousand mini ‘gemstones’ onto a piece of cardboard. And so this year, I’ve prepared a list of easy Father’s Day ideas for kids – all simple, kid-approved, and done with very little adult involvement.
Dad’s Breakfast Bar
Breakfast in bed is a great idea in theory, but sleeping in crumbs until the next sheet washing day will be your reality. Instead, try Dad’s Breakfast Bar! Kids set out a buffet-style breakfast of all dad’s favourite foods. Channel your inner Club Med resort vibes and let them make it fun! We love icecream, nutella and sprinkles sat alongside chopped fruit, nuts and a range of cereals. A smoothie station would work well here too.
Treasure Hunt to His Gift
This is a great one to keep kids occupied in the days leading up to Father’s Day. Kids plan a few simple clues leading dad to his Father’s Day surprise (which could be his gift, a handmade card, a page of jokes… whatever you like). Younger kids can draw pictures, and older kids might have more fun with a few riddles, like “Your next clue is hidden near something that has hands, but can’t clap!” [Answer: a clock!]
Dad Portrait Gallery
Picture this: Dad wakes up. Kids tell dad about the amazing Dad’s Breakfast Bar they have prepared for him. Dad walks down the hall/stairs/anywhere that has walls. Looks to his right – there’s a picture of him riding a horse. Dad has never ridden a horse in his life. He looks to his left – there’s a stick portrait of someone (something?) standing in front of another thing. It’s dad cooking the barbecue of course, drawn by a 4 year old. Welcome to the Dad Portrait Gallery, featuring hand-drawn images of him in a multitude of scenarios. It’s magnificent.
Daddy Treat Jar
So the goal of this is to give daddy a jar full of ‘pick-me-ups’, and all you need for it is a jar and some paper. Kids can write (or draw) the things they think daddy would like as a treat, then cut their ideas out and stick them in the jar. If you feel like getting crafty you can help them decorate the jar too. Some kids struggle to get their ideas flowing, so you could try some starters like “what makes you feel good when you’re sad?” or “what do you and daddy love doing together?”. Before you know it, daddy has a jar full of cuddles, ice creams, play-time and performances to call on when he needs a little treat!
Gift Voucher for a Daddy/Child Activity
We did this one for KG’s birthday recently. They each wanted to give him a voucher for a special golf experience for them to do together, so I let them design their own vouchers in Canva (with guidance!) and then we printed off the vouchers and they filled in some extra details by hand. You could totally do this all by hand too – my kids have just started learning how to use a computer at school though and it was a nice change from crafting for me!
Compliment Sandwich
This is a fun one to do around the table or when you’re driving. Each person has to share one thing they love about daddy, one funny thing that daddy does, and one thing he’s really good at. Super simple, but guaranteed to result in lots of warm and fuzzy feelings.
Mini ‘Yes’ Day
Have you ever given your kids a ‘yes’ day? They are FUN, though tbh I’d argue life is pretty much one long yes day for my children. Anyway, this is a yes day, but for dad! Give him a number of yeses (five seems fair to me!) and anything he asks of the kids, they have to do. Before he tries to push it too far (because really, what dad isn’t basically an 8 year old in a grown ups body), you might want to set some ground rules.
At the end of the day, Father’s Day activities don’t need to be complicated. It’s the small, kid-made touches – the dodgy drawings, the silly riddles, the heartfelt compliments – that make it special. Well that, and some new socks of course.
What about you; do your kids have a go-to Father’s Day tradition? Share it in the comments (I’m always on the hunt for new easy wins). And if you’d like to keep these ideas handy for next year, don’t forget to save this post to Pinterest or pass it on to a friend who might need a little inspo.