Five free gifts to celebrate Father’s Day

Father’s Day, or any holiday doesn’t need to be another reason to spend a lot of money shopping for stuff just so you have a package to wrap. In fact, most dads just want to feel appreciated on Father’s Day and that doesn’t even mean a $3 Hallmark card. The following ideas are guaranteed to make dad feel special on this one day of the year.

1. Most dads want to spend Father’s Day with family, but some dads just need a break from the weekend routine. If that’s the dad in your life, help him plan a little getaway before you all get reunited as a family. If he likes to go fishing, tell him to go and you’ll have a big lunch waiting when he gets back. What dad doesn’t want to be told that it would be great if he got out of the house to play some golf, knowing that a barbecue will be set up and nice cold beer waiting when he gets back. Top it off by telling him to invite his friends, so they can see how much he’s treasured as a dad.

2. What Father’s Day (or Mother’s Day) list wouldn’t include Breakfast in Bed. This is a particularly good idea if you have small kids since most of the charm of breakfast in bed is getting served by very small attendants. Later on, an old-fashioned pancakes and bacon breakfast, especially if that’s a rare thing in a busy household, is a good treat.

3. Give dad a bell to be rung to get all his wishes fulfilled on father’s day. Be forewarned to make up a list of acceptable and finite wishes or you’ll regret this gift after about twenty minutes. Let the list include three hot beverages, three cold beverages, 10 hugs, 3 requests for printed material or the remote, and any other of your dad’s favorites. What you add is up to you.

4. Make a slide show, movie or just ordinary photo collection of dad and the kids together. Psychologists say that people who surround themselves with reminders of happy times are both happier and healthier. Find photos with happy associations, which should be just about any photo before the teenage years.

5. Bake a pie, make cookies, fry him a bacon. It’s not for nothing that they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Knowing what he likes and making it for him can be one of the best presents for a dad to indulge in. Especially if you reassure him that having a big meal today can be balanced with going back to the salad diet tomorrow.