Dads are special people. They are toy repairmen, givers of piggyback rides, and pitchers in backyard softball games. They provide for the family and keep the kids laughing. For all they do, they deserve something special for Father’s Day.
Of course Dad needs a card for his big day. Most kids love to make cards, so get them some construction paper, scissors, glue, and crayons or markers and let their imaginations run wild. They can also decorate the card with stickers. If you have some family pictures that they could cut out and glue on, they can add a great personal touch. The more creative they get, the more it will mean to Dad.
Hand decorated picture frames are an easy and thoughtful gift to make. There are many different ways to make these. You could buy a picture frame and let the kids paint it any way they wish, and maybe add stickers. Four craft sticks can also be glued in a square shape to make one completely from scratch. Then glue the edges of the picture to the back of the finished frame, and glue a cardboard back on if desired. For younger kids, a less messy option would be to cut out a frame from construction paper, then use crayons, markers, or stickers to decorate.
Custom t-shirts are a fun activity, and can make a great gift for Father’s Day. Light colored shirts work the best. If you would like to add a photo to Dad’s special shirt, you can do so easily with iron-on creator software, a printer, and iron-on transfer paper. Dad would surely love to have a shirt with a picture of his little angels on it. Let the kids pick out the picture and any graphics to go with it, then Mom can do the ironing. Fabric paints can add a decorative touch. Just make sure you cover the workspace with newspaper before turning the kids loose with them.
For business dads, a pencil holder would be an ideal gift. These can be made out of empty cake icing containers or old cups. Cover the container with felt or construction paper, and cut out designs from either material to glue on. Markers or stickers can also be used to decorate. If Dad is a sports fan, you could use his favorite sport as a theme.
Handmade gifts are a wonderful way to show Dad how much he is loved. They are also a great project for the kids. With a few inexpensive materials and some creativity, they can make Dad a Father’s Day gift that he will cherish for years to come.
With the weather being nice and warm outside, why not let the kids help prepare dinner for dad on Father’s Day and make it a fun night out by the grill.
During the day, let the kids make decorations like handprints on a paper tablecloth, blow up balloons or make some simple paper lanterns. Then let them help you with dinner preparations. A great Father’s Day dinner from the grill includes delicious grilled steaks, pasta salad and Texas toast. Finish it all off with scrumptious brownies a la mode.
Start by making this simple pasta salad. Cook the pasta ahead of time, and then let the kids mix all the salad ingredients together. Chill the pasta salad for several hours before serving.
Pasta Salad Makes 5 servings
· 1 16-ounce package corkscrew pasta
· 1 cucumber
· 3 carrots
· 1 bunch broccoli
· 1 15 1/2-ounce can garbanzo beans
· 3 tablespoons salad supreme
· 1 16-fluid ounce bottle Italian herb dressing
Cook noodles and combine with everything else.
Now it’s time to prepare the marinade for the steaks.
Marinated Steaks Makes 4 servings
· 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
· 1/4 cup soy sauce
· 3 tablespoons garlic minced
· 2 tablespoons honey
· 2 tablespoons olive oil
· 2 tablespoons ground black pepper
· 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
· 1 teaspoon onion powder
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
· 1 pinch cayenne pepper
· 4 beef steaks - cut of your choice
1. In a medium bowl, mix the vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, olive oil, ground black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, salt, liquid smoke, and cayenne pepper.
2. Place steaks in a shallow glass dish with the marinade, and turn to coat. For optimum flavor, rub the liquid into the meat. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator overnight or up to two days. Now it’s time to cook those steaks on the grill. Of course Mom or Dad should be taking care of this. 3. Preheat grill for medium-high to high heat.
4. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill steaks 7 minutes per side, or to desired doneness.
Texas Toast
What would dinner be without some sort of bread? Dad is sure to love this hearty Texas Toast. Kids can help spread the butter and sprinkle the seasoned salt.
· 1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, softened
· 4 slices thick-cut white bread, about 1 inch thick
· 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1. Set oven control to broil.
2. Spread butter on both sides of bread slices. Sprinkle with seasoned salt. Place on rack in broiler pan.
3. Broil with tops 4 to 6 inches from heat 2 to 4 minutes, turning once, until lightly toasted. Cut each slice diagonally in half. Serve warm or cool.
Dessert
Help the kids mix up a boxed brownie mix and bake them just before you sit down for dinner. Allow the brownies to cool while you eat, then get the kids to make dessert by placing a piece of brownie in a bowl, top it with some vanilla ice cream. Drizzle chocolate syrup over the ice cream and dessert is ready.
There you have it…the perfect Father’s Day dinner that Dad is sure to love, especially since the kids were busy making most of it.
Want more family friendly recipes and crafts ideas? Visit http://www.dinewithoutwhine.com/info for a sample weekly menu plan your entire family will love and http://www.kinderinfo.com/ for tons of craft and activity ideas that are sure to keep your little ones entertained.
The third Sunday in June is a special day that is set aside to honor our fathers and the other special men (stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, etc.) in our lives. You have probably heard the saying “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” This Father’s Day you can make that saying come true. Plan a barbecue and make and bottle some homemade barbecue sauce for dad. (Go to http://www.kidssoup.com/ for instructions) Invite family as well as friends who are close to your dad or just let it be you and your dad. For dessert, set up an ice cream sundae bar. No dessert could be simpler than the ice cream sundae—a scoop of ice cream, a sweet topping, a dollop of whipped cream, and a cherry at the top. Provide a variety of flavors of ice cream (make sure that Dad’s favorite flavor is there) and toppings (crushed cookies, small candies, sprinkles, nuts, crumbled candy bars fruit toppings, hot fudge, caramel topping, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and maraschino cherries).
Things to Do with Dad
With children, make a list of things that they can do with their dads or other special men in their lives (fly a kite, plant a vegetable garden, lie underneath the stars, build a birdhouse, play catch, make popcorn and watch a favorite video, pack a picnic, go for a bike ride, read a book or spend time on the computer together, etc.).
Treasure Hunt
Take a walk and pick up as many neat treasures as you can find while you are walking (like bottle caps and bits of wire). Make a picture with your findings and add some glue. Place it inside a frame with no glass.
Father’s Day Cards
If you’re having some trouble choosing a card, why not make one yourself? A handmade card or note from the heart speaks more of your feelings than the store bought variety. We have several card patterns from which to choose on our site.
Father’s Day Coupons
Make a book of tickets that Dad can redeem for things like “One board game with me” or “One free hug.” For a special presentation, wrap them up in a small box and tie with ribbon or yarn.
Games Day
Have a Games Day. Get together with a few other people and play games. Each person brings a favorite board game to share or picks an outdoor game everyone can have fun with like soccer or croquet.
Crown Dad King for the Day
Have children make Dad a crown. Get a big sheet of paper and draw a crown shape. Decorate it with glitter, yarn, ribbon, pom-poms, fancy buttons, sequins, or whatever you have on hand and staple it together.
To find other easy-to-make Father’s Day gift ideas, Father's Day poems or quotes visit www.kidssoup.com.
Jolanda Garcia is a former teacher and educational content designer. Her goal is to provide parents and teachers with quality resources to promote their children's development and creativity. Visit her websites at: Preschool activities and crafts , and Father's Day gift ideas
Father's Day is on the third Sunday in June.In 2008, Father's Day will be on June 15th. This article explores the origin of Father's Day in the United States and provides some ideas for selecting the perfect gift for your dad.
The origin of Father's Day is not clear. Some believe the first Father's Day service was conducted by Dr. Robert Webb in West Virginia in 1908. However, it was Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who proposed in 1909 to have a church service dedicated to fathers on June 5th, her father's birthday. Mrs. Dodd's father, William Jackson Smart, was a civil War veteran. His wife died early in childbirth. He refused to remarry and single-handedly raised his 6 children. Mrs. Dodd wanted to recognize the sacrifices her father made in raising herself and her brothers, and to acknowledge fathers everywhere. However, since her minister needed more time to prepare for the sermon, the father's day service was conducted on June 19th, a couple of weeks later. The state of Washington celebrated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day from then on. However, Father's Day was not accepted quickly by the Congress as a day of observance. It was not until sixty-two years later, in 1972, that President Richard Nixon officially established Father's Day as a national day of observance.
Father's Day has been widely celebrated annually thereafter. There are so many ways you can show your appreciation to your dad on his special day, and sending your dad a gift is a small token of showing your appreciation. Among the popular gifts for dad are Father's Day gift baskets, desk caddy, fruit baskets, cookies jar, coffee gift baskets, golf gifts, and specialty gifts for fishing, poker, movies, and NASCAR.
A great way to show your gratitude to dad is to send him a Father's Day gift basket. These gift baskets are filled with chocolate truffles, summer sausage, shortbread, cookies, gourmet coffee, almonds, popcorn, along with an inspiration book about fathers. Your message of gratitude will be clearly expressed to dad while he reads the book and savors the treats. If your dad works in the office, you may want to send him a desk caddy or an excecutive truck gift filled with savory treats. The treats will ease the stress of the work day. Moreover, Your dad will proudly display the desk caddy or antique truck on his desk after the treats are long gone. If your dad does not work in an office, you may want to send him a lunch box that he can bring with him to work. The stylish lunch box is filled with sausage, stufed olives, cheese, chocolate truffles, and all other delicious treats that actually make him want to go to work. Similarly, you can send him a pail of treats that he can bring with him anywhere.
If you are going to visit your dad for Father's Day, you may want to send him a Fathers Day BBQ gift basket filled with BBQ brush, tong, turner, as well as tortilla chips, nacho cheese spread, Everlast high energy drink, and your dad's favorite beef jerky snack. Your dad will just have to take out the grill, and will be ready spend his special day for a family BBQ together. Alternatively, you can send him a fruit basket. Fruit baskets are healthy gifts for any occasion. They are also great gifts for Father's Day. Organic fruit baskets make even healthier choices, since they are free from pesticide residues.
You can also send gifts according to your dad's hobbies. If your dad is a movie buff, you may want to send a movie gift basket filled with popcorns and other treats, he can just settle down, watch movies and enjoy. If his passion is in golf, you can send him a golf gift basket. If his passion is in fishing, you can send him a fishing gift basket, or a fishing creel filled with cookies, or other treats. Specialty gifts for NASCAR and poker are also available to meet your dad's favorite hobby. Finally, coffee gift baskets are great gifts to help your dad to relax and enjoy. Let dad know he deserves a break with a coffee gift basket filled with chocolates, gourmet coffee, and scrumptious treats.
In conclusion, there are so many ways to show your appreciation to dad. You can send him a Father's Day gift basket, desk caddy, fruit basket, lunch box, coffee gift basket, or specialty gift basket. He will love any of these gifts, and your message of gratitude.
Father's Day, also known as "Not ANOTHER tie" day, comes to us each June as we celebrate the men in our lives who are fathers, grandfathers or fatherly-figures. This article will show you that not only mothers deserve our appreciation! There are many facts, myths, and history associated with Father's Day, and we are going to share those with you as well as giving you some creative celebration ideas.
Father's Day was first proposed as a holiday in 1909 from an idea from Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
It was after Mrs. Sonora Dodd became an adult that she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so with support from the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA, she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. President Richard Nixon signed the law which finally made it permanent in 1972.
According to Hallmark, "Father’s Day is the fourth-largest card-sending occasion with nearly 95 million Father’s Day cards expected to be given this year [2006] in the United States."
Yet it is another statistic related to the day that is more impressive: While Mother's Day is the biggest holiday for phone calls, Father's Day is the busiest for collect calls. (The overall busiest day of the year for phone calls is the Monday after Thanksgiving.)
So what should you get dear old dad for Father's Day this year? Not a present from 1-800-COLLECT I hope! Actually, many polls have shown that neckties, cologne and underwear/socks were what they wanted the LEAST for Father's Day. Let's chalk that one up to "women not knowing what to buy for men". However what men DO want happens to be a pretty fascinating (if not a bit predictable) list.
Ranking number one on what men want for Father's Day is dinner out at their favorite restaurant - well they do have that saying, that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! Second on the list is electronics items - no big surprise there, men love gadgets. Also ranking up there in the gifts department are "time to do what they want" and "sports related items".
Of course, every father figure in our lives is a unique individual, and as with every other holiday, it should always be the thought that counts. If you think that soap-on-a-rope best expresses your emotional fondness, caring, and joy for the man in your life, by all mean, soap-on-a-rope it shall be!
This Father's Day, make sure you take some time out to remember and thank that special father figure in your own life, and let them know how much you appreciate their hard work and love.
Stephanie Davies is a 28 year old work at home mom to a 9 year old boy in Mid-Missouri. Her hosting company, Hosting WAHMs at http://www.hostingwahms.com offers premium webhosting from $2 per month and up, with an easy to use sitebuilder! She also loves to knit, build websites, and talk to people.
