8 Father’s Day Adventures for Kids

Posted on: June 12, 2014  |  Posted in: Community Blog

8 Father’s Day Adventures for Kids

Instead of a boring neck tie or photos of the kids on a coffee mug, treat dad to what he really wants this Father’s Day: a fun adventure as a family. Whether hanging out in your own backyard or taking a short car, train, or bus ride, make the day a blast by bringing lunch or snacks and taking pictures along the way. You can always order the photo coffee mug afterward.

  1. Sports on the Beach – Pack a beach-friendly lunch and whatever sports equipment your family is into: soccer balls, Frisbee, badminton, or curling stones (not recommended). Make it a competition by dividing into teams. At the end give dad the award for Best Coach, MVP, and #1 Dad.
  2. Wilderness Hike – Have the kids help you pack a basic wilderness survival kit and a bunch of dad’s favorites for lunch. Grab maps for your journey have dad lead the way. Tip: Try not to complain if/when the whole family gets lost.
  3. Public Transit Adventure – Take a bus or train to a museum or historical site of dad’s choosing. Do: Let dad give a history lesson to the kids. Don’t: Let kids touch any mysterious substances in the bus or train car.
  4. A Day in the Yard – Have the whole family help with yard chores or work on the garden with dad. Grill a fun dinner and eat outside. As a final surprise, teach each of your kids how to make a cocktail for dad. Spending the night in a tent on the cold, hard ground is optional.
  5. Canoeing – If you have older kids, plan a canoe trip on a nearby lake or river. An outfitter can provide all the equipment. Just bring your own snacks, sunscreen, and the one true necessity for any canoe adventure: beer.
  6. Make your own Movie – Have your kids help you write a “script” of a story with a premise where dad comes in as the super hero to save the day. Assemble simple props such as a fake radioactive spider and a cape for dad. Have fun acting it out for the camera. Later, go to the theater, grab the popcorn, and see a movie of dad’s choosing.
  7. Baseball Adventure – Have the kids purchase or collect from around the house a baseball, bat, and glove and surprise dad with tickets to a baseball game. Pack dad’s favorite ball game snacks or raid the concessions as a family. Consider dressing alike from head to toe if you’re into that kind of thing.
  8. An Afternoon at the Zoo – For younger kids and dads of all ages, the zoo is a great place to visit animals and have fun together. Let dad choose the exhibits and activities, and grab a meaty dinner out afterward. Don’t: Compare dad to the apes. Do: See who can do the best animal noises; bonus points for elephant, whale, or red fox.

By Emily DiFrisco