Father's Day gifts that don't cost a thing

Jun 11, 2012 8:00 AM by Lisa Steinke

Posted in Parenting / Parenting Tips & Advice

Make him a CD

Ask the kids to come up with a list of songs that they think Dad will love and help them burn them onto a disc. From tunes that remind them of great times they've spent together to songs they love and want to share with Dad, this is a gift he can listen to for years. The kids can even create their own artwork to put on the CD case.

Paint him a picture

Dad will love nothing more than a piece of artwork created by his child. Whether he hangs it in his mancave or at work, he'll love being reminded of them each day. The kids can even make it a tradition and give him a painting each Father's Day that he can add to his collection.

Say thank you

Father's day is a day to honor Dad so why not help the kids come up with clever ways to thank Dad for the many things he does for them? From writing him a letter or a poem to making him a homemade thank you card, the kids can use their creativity to make Dad feel special.

Gift the day off

The ultimate gift for Dad is a day where he has to do absolutely nothing. The kids give Dad a day off from his "Dad duties" and agree to take over his tasks. From yard work to washing the car to cleaning out the garage, the kids will do the work. Meanwhile, Dad gets to kick his feet up and relax.

Make a promise

The kids can create handmade IOU gift certificates that Dad can cash in on from this Father's Day until the next. From promising to give Dad a massage to making him his favorite meal, the kids will have fun coming up with the ideas and crafting the certificates and Dad will enjoy collecting his freebies.

Give him pictures

As parents, we're all guilty of taking a ton of pictures that never make it off our computers and cameras. Let the kids sift through your photos and choose their favorites to print out for Dad. They can put them in an album, a frame or make a collage.

Make him hunt for it

The kids will have fun creating a scavenger hunt for Dad. They'll write the clues that will send Dad on a journey from beginning until end. When he finds his final clue, the kids can hide his gift — which can be any of the ideas suggested here — from the CD to the gift certificates.