Hello! It’s Veronica and I’m so happy to be here this month! Since Father’s Day is coming, I thought I’d share some ideas for Family Night with DAD! Why?! Because they are so very important, and so very awesome!! I’ve had a ton of fun ideas swimming around in my little brain, so it was hard to whittle it down. There are a lot of ideas, so just choose what would work the best for your family. I’m also sensitive to the fact that not everyone may have a father in their home, so feel free to adapt it for a grandfather or close friend. They could be your guest of honor for the night!
FAMILY NIGHT: Fun with Dad!
STORY: (As told by James E. Faust)
Our relationships with our dads are so important! This short story gives a powerful example of that.
“In 1989 there was a terrible earthquake in Armenia that killed over 30,000 people in four minutes. A distraught father went in frantic search of his son. He reached his son’s school only to find that it had been reduced to a pile of rubble. But he was driven by his promise to his son, “No matter what, I’ll always be there for you!” He visualized the corner where his son’s classroom would be, rushed there, and started to dig through the debris, brick by brick.
Others came on the scene–the fire chief, then the police–warning him of fires and explosions, and urging him to leave the search to the emergency crews. But he tenaciously carried on digging. Night came and went, and then, in the 38th hour of digging, he thought he heard his son’s voice. “Armand!” he called out. Then he heard, “Dad!?! It’s me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told ’em that if you were alive, you’d save me and when you saved me, they’d be saved. There are 14 of us left out of 33 . . . . When the building collapsed, it made a wedge, like a triangle, and it saved us.”
“Come on out, boy!”
“No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, ’cause I know you’ll get me! No matter what, I know you’ll be there for me!”
QUOTE: “A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” Billy Graham
DISCUSSION:
What does it take to be a “good father”? Have your kids go around the room and talk about “fathers” in general.
- Why are dads important?
- What do they do for us?
- What can we do to show our love and appreciation for them?
- Who has the responsibility to build that relationship? (Remind them that there are things THEY can do to have a better relationship with their dad. Dad’s need love, attention, affection…just like them.)
How well do we know our Dad? This game will help them get to know some fun things about him!
GAME: All About Dad
Sit in a circle. Place a small ball, toy or folded socks in the middle. Read the following questions (or create your own) and the first person to grab the object in the middle of the circle gets to answer. Dad lets them know if they are wrong or right. If wrong, Dad can give the correct answer. If correct, they get one point. See who can get the most correct!
Possible Questions:
What color is Dad’s toothbrush?
Where was he born?
What’s his favorite drink?
How much does he weigh?
How many hours does he work each WEEK?
How many years did he go to school?
What makes him laugh?
When he was little, what did he want to be when he grew up?
What is his favorite dinner?
How old is he?
What does he like to do in his free time?
If he could be any animal, what would he be?
What is his favorite sport?
What is his least favorite chore?
Who is his favorite superhero?
Where is the farthest he has traveled?
What was his favorite subject in school?
How tall is he?
What color are his eyes?
What do dads need most from us? Love and appreciation!! They do so much to provide, guide, support, teach and love. What do we give them in return? This activity will help Dad understand what he means to his family.
ACTIVITY: We Love Dad
Have everyone sit in a circle. Go around the circle and one by one, have each person say what they love and appreciate about Dad. Encourage them to say more than, “He’s funny”. Have them really think about him. What does he do for them? What has he taught them? How has he supported them? Give them a minute to think about it. Then start around the circle.
GAME: DRAW DAD!
Give every person a paper plate and a pen/pencil. Have them place the plate on their head. Instruct them that they will draw what you say, without removing the plate from the top of their head. At the end, pass the plates to Dad and let him judge which ones best resembles HIM! (After you read each item, give them a few seconds to draw it before moving on to the next.) *For really young kids, you could choose to let them keep the plates on their laps if that easier.
DRAW…
Dad’s body (including head, arms, legs, hands and feet)
His face (eyes, nose, mouth)
Hair
A hat
Shirt and pants
Stripes on his shirt
In one hand draw a phone
In the other a briefcase
Now pass them to Dad and let the laughs begin!
PRINTABLE ACTIVITY:
Download and print here. Let kids draw Dad! You could do this for Family Night, or save these as a surprise for Father’s Day. You could hang them in a doorway, on his bathroom mirror or deliver them with the delicious breakfast you’ll be making for him!
TREAT:
For the perfect ending to your Family Night, make Dad’s favorite dessert! Or feel free to try this yummy cake! Who knows, it may become his new favorite!
HANDOUT:
Challenge your family to find ways to show more love and appreciation for Dad during the next week. Print this out here and place somewhere in the house to help everyone remember!
For more Father’s Day ideas on OSSS, check out the following posts:
And for some other Family Night topics, here are a few past posts for ya:
52 Family Night Lessons for Every Week of the Year!