This Grandma’s mantra for gifts for Father’s Day is the same as Mother’s Day and such holidays. Gifts from children to parents and grandparents should be inexpensive and preferably homemade.
The best Father’s Day gift is a backwards homemade coupon book where the giver, the child, gets to redeem the coupons too. We all know the coupon book a child makes for the parent or grandparent where they promise to do homework or give extra hugs and kisses. This
Grandma thinks that this is too much work for the recipient parent or grandparent. It transfers the burden of remembering to use the coupons to the one who receives it, especially at a time where remembering the location of things, much less that they exist, can be a challenge and stressful or life is just too busy.
This Grandma thinks that a coupon book for the child or grandchild to give at Father’s Day should have two copies: one for the child and one for the recipient. The book should contain what the child or grandchild would like to do with the recipient, father or grandfather, and sprinkle things to do with things like hugs and kisses. For example, the grandchild might want to go to a ball game with the father or grandfather, get ice cream or frozen yogurt, or the grandchild would like to go to the toy store and get one toy worth a certain sum. If course, it should be sprinkled with fun and games, and activities the two can do together. To be fair to the recipient, the activities should not only be one the child wants but what the parent or grandparent would enjoy as well.
The book can contain as few as six coupons but more than twelve can be a burden. The child will need help from an adult, of course, and grandma can do one for grandpa and the father of the child, so long as the mother of the child agrees in advance. Grandma can do one on behalf of a baby grandchild too. However, not only make sure the mother of the grandchild is on board and ask her if she would like to be listed as a coauthor, consulting about ideas to include, but not requiring any work otherwise.
When the two copies are finished, both the giver and receiver get one on Father’s Day. The child has the right to redeem any or all and who redeems the most wins a special prize the next Father’s Day. The rules can be created to suit each individual family. We know who the winner is likely to be and what is also likely is that the child will be anticipating the next Father’s Day, and remembering the day, since a special prize for the winner child will be waiting, icing on the cake of also getting a coupon book full of goodies for the next year.
Now that you have the best homemade, this Grandma’s idea for best Father’s Day gift, Real Simple has some other great ideas for Father’s Day gifts, as usual, clever and inexpensive.
Here are this Grandma’s favorites among the 9 recommended personalized gifts for Father’s Day:
If the father or grandfather has a hobby, Real Simple tells you to go to Etsy for personalized items. Explore the website for inexpensive homemade items. This Grandma just purchased from a vendor at Etsy and the experience was wonderful.
Real Simple recommends: “Personalized Fishing Lure: With this lure on his line, he’ll always be thinking of his family-even when he’s gone fishin’. Customize the silver lure with up to 8 characters: just enough space for “Love you” or “Best Dad.” To buy: $20, etsy.com.”
They also recommend this company for personalized golf balls:
“Personalized Golf Balls: Looking for a gift that isn’t, er, par for the course? Dad will feel like a member of the PGA with a bag full of balls marked with his monogram or favorite saying.” To buy: From $13, golfgalaxy.com.
If the father or grandfather is a sports fan, this gift is great for a father or grandfather’s office or den:
“Ballpark Blueprints: Dad may think he knows the ins and outs of his favorite stadium, arena, or golf course, but these detailed prints really break it down. The hand-drawn “plans” include each park’s unique architectural details, like capacity, elevation, and more. Available in two sizes.
To buy: From $60 (unframed), ballparkblueprints.com.” If the father or grandfather loves to man the grill, with summer coming, think out of the box for this clever gift:
“Custom Steak Brand: Dad can’t truly claim to be the grill master until he’s got this tool in hand. Simply heat the iron, which has enough space for his first and last initial, and press to sear the monogram into a steak or chop. To buy: $65, amazon.com.”
Five out of nine are winners with this Grandma. A total of six fabulous inexpensive ideas.
Happy Father’s Day!
Joy,
Mema
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