Father's Day treats for every kind of dad

To say that giving a tie to your dad on Father’s Day would be cliché is an understatement. The truth of the matter is, dads often have so many neckties already, most of which they probably chose themselves. The question then becomes, if not a tie, what’s the best Father’s Day gift to give my dad?

First things first, there are so many kinds of dads in the world that to generalize all of them or to box them into types is kind of limiting. However, for the sake of argument and for the purposes of looking for that perfect gift, let’s try classifying them by their ages and/or interests.

1. For new dads or dads under 45. Younger men often still perceive themselves as not that far removed from their childhood or their college years. They see themselves as either at the peak of their physical fitness or still pretty close to that peak. Therefore, it might be a good idea to get a dad who is in his early 20s to early 40s things that can keep him active and in shape. You may frown on giving a mere basketball, but guys love their sports and no basketball game can be played without a serviceable ball to shoot at the hoops. If you’ve got a little more of a budget or decide to pool your resources, a stationary bike or a treadmill is a good choice because it fulfils the young dad’s need to stay active while within the confines of home.

Quick alternative: Bond with your dad at a sports bar or just chill out at home by watching a game on TV together and then have his favorite pizza delivered. 

2. Techie dads. Most dads will always think of themselves as cool or on the cutting edge as far as technology. After all, they grew up watching cartoons, reading comics, or watching action movies that feature the latest gadgets or gadgets that have yet to hit the market. With that being the case, a Kindle Fire or a tablet computer could be your ideal Father’s Day gift for a dad who’s in his 40s to 50s because of the sheer coolness of how those gadgets look and the fact that you can download so many books onto their hard drives. That virtually eliminates the need for dad to buy paperbacks or hardcovers while also giving them something easy to carry around on a business trip.

Not-so-expensive alternative: Download your dad’s favorite tunes into his computer or his mp3 player.


3. Dads who already have everything. Lastly, fathers in their 50s and up have probably already established themselves in their chosen profession. They’ve achieved a certain level of success but are also a bit more old-fashioned than the techie dads of today. It thus wouldn’t hurt to give them a nice bottle of wine for them to cherish, or perhaps share with the family, on special occasions. You’ve got to obviously know what kind of wine your dad enjoys and with a little prodding (or some assistance from mom or some other relatives) that information can be easily gleaned.

Do-it-yourself alternative: Cook a meal for your dad.
 

All of these are good choices for your perfect father’s day gift, but nothing beats spending some quality time with that often under-appreciated half of your parental units. A simple lunch or dinner with dad to his favorite restaurant or a new place that you’ve just discovered will sometimes be more appreciated than any toy, gadget, wine, or trinket that you’re thinking of giving. Dads are like that. They often don’t need any grand gestures from their kids. Just an acknowledgment that you’ve been paying attention and appreciate them for the hard work they put into raising you is enough. No amount of ties can match that.