How to Celebrate Father's Day

Father's Day has been celebrated for over 100 years. It's also an event celebrated in many countries around the world, although at different times of the year. In North America and the United Kingdom, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in June.

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Help dad enjoy the day. Perhaps you'll let him sleep in this morning, or perhaps you won't badger him over something you'd normally badger him over. Whatever it is, let it be his day. Some nice ways to start it include:
- Making him breakfast in bed
- Bringing him the newspaper to read in bed
- Making his favorite pot of coffee

Make it a family event. Father's Day is by nature a family event. Use this opportunity to get everyone in the family together for a fun day. Think about including all the dads in your family, not just your own father. Could your celebration include husbands, would-be future dads, your uncles, and brothers? If so, do it—the more the merrier! And don't forget step-fathers—they're important too. You don't have to remain at home; you could go to the beach, a local park, a favorite spot of dad's!

Consider building the celebration around an activity you all can enjoy. Some ideas include:
- Having a family picnic
- Enjoying a family barbecue
- Taking dad to a favorite sporting event
- Go fishing together
- Go plane spotting or train spotting together
- Play golf together.

Be creative. When it comes to making gifts for Father's Day, perhaps steer clear of the traditional store-bought gifts of tie and socks. He's probably still got last year's socks stuffed at the back of the drawer. Expensive or typical gifts are not necessary, but the time and effort you put in to create a personalized tribute, will be deeply appreciated. Instead, let your own creative abilities shine and make him something special:
- Bake a cake
- Make his favorite dinner
- Make a gift basket and fill it with homemade candies, cookies, crossword or other puzzles you've created yourself, hand-crafted woodwork objects, etc.
- If you're artistically inclined, draw or paint a portrait of your dad from a favorite photo or from memory
- Write a poem
- Write a song and perform it.

Celebrate your shared experiences. Look at old photos of you and your dad doing fun things together. Take a walk down memory lane by creating either a photo album or a photo slideshow. You may be surprised at how many things you both have forgotten about and how much they mean to you.
- Especially if he doesn't talk much about his life, consider recording his voice or taking notes as you talk about old times or old photographs. Make his words and memories part of the family history.

Acknowledge the importance of fatherhood. Being a father is a tough job. Dads are responsible for at least one half of the financial and emotional well-being of the family. A thoughtful card, a letter, or short speech that expresses your love will benefit both you and your dad. Giving dad a heartfelt speech, toast, or card of genuine, loving words at the dinner table, or at some other point when all the family are around (siblings especially), will make this a poignant occasion. Here are some ways to prepare:
- Make a handmade card
- Write a letter
- Write a speech or prepare a toast
- Have all of your siblings explain why dad matters to them.

Make the day joyful. The most important aspect of the day is that you are present and attentive. It does not take material presents to make a dad happy—it takes showing your love, and reassuring your dad that you're proud of him and all he's done for you. For many fathers, the most rewarding part of being a father is feeling that your children love you, and the knowledge that each child is on a path to a successful future, no matter what age, and is coping well with the problems that life inevitably throws at us all.

End his "fun-filled day" by telling your father you love him. Don't forget his hug and kiss!

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EditTips

While your relationship with your dad may not always have been perfect, it shaped some elements of your life today. There will be inevitable conflict as a father tries to guide you to adulthood. You may resent times when your dad may have been strict but appreciate his efforts to steer you in a good direction. Fathers guide us in many ways: some we understand clearly at the time, others we may not appreciate until much later.

Don't forget the camera! Pictures will help you remember the day in the future.

Understand that becoming a father requires learning on the job. No one is born knowing how to be a great father.

If you feel that you've let your dad down in past, now might be a good time to tell him that you're sorry for past hurts. Remember that just as your dad was not perfect, neither were you. Use Father's Day as an opportunity to tell him that you love and appreciate him. When he is gone, you will wish you had.

EditWarnings

Avoid arguing. This is a special day, not one for bringing up upsets.

It is Dad's Day, not yours. Don't talk about things you like, or that you talk about a lot. Try conversing in things Dad is interested in more than you.