Can you believe Father’s Day is already just over one week away?

I love preparing for Father’s Day – a dedicated day to show my husband how much I appreciate him, and to help our children express how grateful they are for their daddy.

I often struggle with how to express this intense appreciation and gratitude. We just want it to be a special day honoring the one who is so special to us.

Last year, we gave my husband a photo desk calendar, celebrated with a family meal, and our 3-year-old son gave a framed set of interview questions and answers. This year we want to shake it up a bit. Here’s a few ideas we’ve used in the past or are considering for this and future years.

(Note: if you are my husband reading this….this might be a good place to stop or be unsurprised this year)

11 Ways For Mamas & Kids To Express Gratitude On Father’s Day (And Every Day)

1.Photo Calendar

Many photo services offer a calendar in both full size and desk varieties (I prefer Shutterfly calendars – 50% off thru June 5, 2018! Order for all the dads in your life and get free shipping with orders over $39)

2. My Daddy Is

Ask your child questions and prepare to be amazed by their answers. We made our own, but one of these free printables will work: My Dad’s Superpowers, Father’s Day Printable Book, Father’s Day Interview Poster.

3. Coupons

This may be generic, but coupons are a worthy gift if your children (or you) actually plan to fulfill the promises given. If you give a coupon book, encourage your husband to use them! Make your own, or use these free printables – Father’s Day Coupon Card.

4. My Daddy and Me Book

We made a board book filled with activities our son loves to do with his daddy using the printer, full sheet labels and a plain book.  Not into struggling with full-page labels? Make one online.

5. Father’s Day Photo or Collage

Use signs and the camera to express your feelings in a card – or even better, frame it and wrap it as a gift. We have used this for birthdays and many holidays. Check out other online examples: Father’s Day Photo, Scrabble photo, We love you daddy feet, Father’s day photo collage, D-A-D framed photos.

6. Kids Art Work

Let children paint on canvas like our son did for Mother’s day. Or, try one of these other dad-crafts: Following in Dad’s shoes, Daddy art, Daddy mug (make your own with an industrial sharpie)

7. A special touch

Regardless of your gift plan, small touches can make any day special. My husband bought me a growler of cold press coffee before Mother’s day. It might not seem like much, but he knows me well and it was a small gesture that went a long way.

What does your husband like?

8. A child-daddy date

Think of an activity your child can do with daddy, perhaps something they’ve never done before. What do your children like to do with their dad?

• Baseball: snag tickets to a minor or major league baseball game
• Golf: send them to hit a bucket of balls at the driving range or  them to play putt-putt
• Art: send them to a painting class or to the children’s theater
• Cook: father-child cooking class
• Camping: rent a campsite or for the less-adventurous (or young ones), set up a backyard camping experience, marshmallows and all
• Music: tickets to a children’s concert or pack them a picnic and send them to an outdoor free concert
• Fishing: prep the fishing gear and send them to fish on a dock or rent a boat and pack the car with gear and life jackets
• Family fun: do the dirty business of filling all the water balloons and have a family game of balloon toss (or just have a water balloon fight), family picnic in the park,  camping trip, hiking

9. Help the kids cook a meal

Help your children pick and prepare a meal or special dessert for daddy. Try to let them do as much as possible.

10. Plan a no-kids date

Just from you. Because you appreciate all he does and you love spending time with him.

11. The Father’s day week

Ambitious, I know. Why a full week? Because dads are dads EVERY DAY. One day just isn’t enough. So why not make it seven? We should express gratitude every day. Start a week before and end on Father’s Day, or start on Father’s day and go for seven more. Flood them with love and gratitude for a 7 full days – handwritten notes, artwork from the kids, maybe a coffee growler, special meals and extra hugs. Make this year’s Father’s Day week one to remember!

P.S. To my husband…if you’ve read this far…don’t be expecting every single thing listed here 🙂 Love you.