Whether you and your dad are great friends or hardly see one another, there is always room to strengthen your bond. Building and maintaining a strong relationship takes some time and effort. So, If you are looking for ways to spend more time with your dad and work toward a stronger relationship, try an idea from this list.
- Call your dad regularly.
The number one thing most dads want for Father’s Day is a phone call from their kids. That’s right, they just want to hear from you. Instead of waiting for this annual holiday, pick up the phone daily or weekly to give your dad a call. He will enjoy hearing from you and he will notice the effort you are making to reach out. He may even start calling you in return.
- Choose a new hobby you will both enjoy.
Spend some quality time together by picking something you both like to do and making a plan to do that thing. Be intentional about regularly doing this new hobby together. Fun ideas include:
- Doing something active together: biking, hiking, golfing, or playing another sport
- Spending time outdoors: gardening, starting a project, fishing, flying drones
- Being creative: woodworking, starting a collection, taking an art class
- Making an impact: volunteering together, helping a neighbor or family member, making a useful product
I can think of several things my dad and I would both enjoy doing together. I just need to be intentional about planning and implementing this activity.
- Learn something new.
Challenge one another to learn something new that is interesting to you both. Bond over a book about investing or an interesting period in history. Watch a documentary or take a cooking class together.
For a unique learning experience, have fun asking and answering fun Trivia Questions about Father’s Day to learn about the history of this celebration as well as interesting facts all about dads.
- Teach each other something new.
When you are young, your dad is your first teacher. As you grow older and busier, life gets in the way of some of these moments. Make a plan to teach each other something new. It could be as simple as a new game, how to make your favorite meal, or a more complex project around the house. Think about what you would like to teach one another and enjoy sharing your strengths and skills with one another.
- Notice how your dad expresses love.
If your dad is more quiet or not overly affectionate, take a closer look at how he expresses how he’s feeling. How has your dad shown his love for you throughout your life? You will appreciate this more if you understand and notice his love language. You may also be able to reciprocate this back to him.
Don’t wait for holidays to reach out to your dad. Grow and strengthen your relationship now. Start with a phone call and be intentional about making a plan for what happens next.
“There will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside us. One of those men is my father.”– Alison Lohman