• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast

How to Really Celebrate Fathers Day

June 12, 2008 by Paul Banas Leave a Comment

Created in1908 in the United States, Father’s Day was originally invented to celebrate fathers after a deadly mine explosion in West Virginia, says Wikipedia.org. It was modeled after Mother’s Day, which was made a national holiday in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson. Father’s Day finally became a national holiday in 1966 when it was also defined as the third Sunday in June.

The original intent was not as a commercial holiday where you have to spend almost $100 on dad (National Retail Federation survey 2008). Here are a few ways to celebrate “father” on father’s day rather than just by giving more stuff.

Talk to him

Carve out time to talk to dad about his childhood. He has relived much of it recently through spending time with kids, and may have some stories to tell. Ask him to bring out old photos, slides and movies and spend some real focused time listening to him.

Plan ahead

Plan ahead to do something dad really wants to do. On Father’s Day, everyone goes to brunch or makes a big breakfast, but what he really wants might be to take a hike with the family or go out for a golf outing with his kids.

Record the event

Help him make a movie or a podcast of the day. Many dads are more sentimental than you think. Also, having pictures and movies around of good times are proven ways to stay happy. Here is a link to some “dad songs.”

Let him rest

Give him some couch time this Father’s Day. Many dads just want a nice nap on a Sunday afternoon in June when the sun sets late and there seems to be time to “waste.”

Plan a barbecue

Barbecue! Give him a break from the low-cholesterol diet and cook him up a good steak and summer side dishes, like when he was a boy.

Have a great Father’s Day and don’t worry about spending all that cash. He’ll appreciate the thought more than the tie.

— Paul Banas, Founder of GreatDad.com

Filed Under: Fathers Day

Paul Banas

About Paul Banas

Paul Banas is happy married dad of two great kids living in San Francisco. He writes now about kids, new technology and how the two interact for GreatDad.com and for Pregnancy Magazine (pregnancymagazine.com) where he is also the publisher.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
SIGN-UP TODAY to receive the only baby newsletter written by dads, for dads. Act now and receive a free copy of the popular GreatDad E-Book!
My baby's due date or birthday :
Profile picture
Privacy Policy and Terms
Baby Name Finder!

what's in a name

  • Show names for:
  • Boys
  • Girls
  • Either
Finding a name you can both agree on isn't always easy. Use our simple name generator to get started.
First Letter
Last Letter
Number of Letters
Origin
Find a name!

More to See

family under a cardboard

Over 40? The Five Types of Insurance You Should Have

October 22, 2022 By Contributing Authors

A Dad’s Guide to Bonding with Your Kids Through Computer Games

May 5, 2022 By Contributing Authors

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Footer

Hi mom!

Would you like to share this site with your husband or a friend?

Just enter his email address and your name below and we'll let him know all about GreatDad.com.

His email address
Your Name

Recent

  • Special Clarity session – $25
  • Over 40? The Five Types of Insurance You Should Have
  • A Dad’s Guide to Bonding with Your Kids Through Computer Games
  • 5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Surgical Procedure
  • How to get kids excited about dental hygiene

Search

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Copyright © 2023 . GreatDad