Inspiration from the Blogosphere: Father's Day

Often it seems like Father's Day gets overlooked...or at least I don't see as many posts as I do for Mother's Day. That's probably because the day is in summertime and we are focused on other things or, since school's out, there's are fewer people looking for ideas.

I've seen several posts or links to Father's Day ideas recently. Dads - or any male role models - always enjoy seeing handprint pictures and cards with drawings or shaky messages. But gifts that have everyday use can be seen regularly and incorporated in Dad's workspace or vehicle. Here are few ideas for homemade gifts for dads or other special guys (or gals) in a kid's life.

Our go-to gift for dads and others are Keychains (Brick by Brick). These are items that could be used every day. A child made me one once and I enjoyed seeing it (and thinking about her) every day as I drove my truck.

Another everyday gift is Bag Tag/Hang Tag...and keychains again (Pre-K Pages). The tag can go on a briefcase, toolbox, suitcase, or car mirror.

I wrote a post about this Embossed Frame for Pre-K Pages. This activity would be for older preschoolers and children but the results are really cool.

That post includes frames with stickers, too. Here is more information about sticker frames (Brick by Brick).

Or you could make Craft stick frames (Brick by Brick). We make them at Christmas but they would work for any gift giving time.

Dress up the Craft stick frame with nuts and bolts (Fun-a-Day).

Or convert that craft stick frame into Handprint Sun Catcher (Real Life at Home).

To put in any of those frames, or in purchased frames, take photos for using Dad's boots/shoes (I Heart Crafty Things).

Food always makes a great gift. This cookie gift (Pre-K Pages) combines cookies AND recycled item = Win-Win!

Another cooking gift idea: Barbecue Sauce (Inner Child Fun)

Just a few ideas from around the blogosphere. What have you seen that would make a great gift for a dad or other family member?

Our Fathers Day Gift

In a recent post I mused over what do offer for kids to do for Fathers Day. I liked several ideas and could not decide. Finally we decided to do a variation of the duct tape frame.

In our version we used foam frames, colored masking tape (wide and narrow), and stickers.

After completing frames, we drew pictures or wrote words in index cards to insert in the frames.

This turned out to be a good choice. Cindy was still not able to come so I was on my own again. This proved to be an activity that required little intervention from me.

And the final frames looked as if 6-year-olds had done them. Just as they should.

On a related note, something happened that reminded me of Aunt Annie's wise words regarding days like Mothers Day and Fathers Day. One girl stood at the table. She asked, "Are we going to talk about Fathers Day today?" (I had not mentioned Fathers Day at all.)

"Did you want to talk about Fathers Day?" I asked.

"No," she said. "Because my dad left. And I don't get to see my granddad much. He lives in [another city]."

"Well, you can make a frame for anyone you want," I said. "Maybe your mother. Maybe someone else."

"I think I'll make it for my granddad," she said. And she did.

It's important to make sure that every child feels included in everything we do.

Father's Day Is Coming

All around the blogosphere lately are ideas for Father's Day.

Last year we made keychains. The kids enjoyed it and we may do this again.

But I found these other ideas from my blogger friends. We may do one of these instead.

• A footprint bookmark (from The Seeds Network) - I could also see a handprint version as well.

• Duct tape frame (from Teach Preschool) - As an alternate idea, ask kids to draw a picture of themselves with their dads to put in the frame.

• Container of cookies (from Pre-K Pages) - We talked about using the short cans for kids to decorate and making trail mix to put in it.

• Father's Day Wordle (from Pre-K Pages) - maybe combine this with the duct tape frame

I like all of these ideas. We will do one of these but I'm not sure which one yet. 

Have you seen any other great ideas that I need to consider?