8 things to do with Dad

Being a good Dad isn’t just about being around or providing for your children. To get the most out of parenthood you need to spend quality time with your children. This one-on-one time is essential for developing a strong paternal bond and will help strengthen your relationship over the years.

But what to do? Here are some ideas to get you started – some take just 10 minutes, others will take a whole afternoon, but they’ll all ensure you are having great fun together which is what matters most!

The bedtime routine: More often than not it’s mum who does the bath and story at bedtime. Shake things up once a week and have a ‘Daddy night’. Don’t feel you have to follow mum’s routine either – you can make yours special by adding in some fun bath time games or creating a secret bedtime club – something that will make your child understand that this night is special.

Have a games night: Choose one night a week and make it ‘games night’.  Rather than sitting in front of a TV screen with a games console, try some of the more traditional board games – snakes & ladders, Monopoly, Scrabble – they give you the opportunity to interact with each other and can provide lots of fun!

Go to a big game: You’re bound to have a team that you support – whether it’s rugby, football, cricket…take your child along to a match with you and make a big fuss of the event. Tickets are expensive, so you probably won’t do this every week, but even once a year would be great – it’s a very special occasion and one that your child will never forget.

Go on a camping adventure: There’s nothing like some bonding over a campfire. Girls and boys alike will love the thrill of camping outdoors and it’s a fairly cheap way of having a holiday. Choose a campsite with lots to do in the surrounding area, pack your bikes, waterproofs and a BBQ and off you go!

Have a DVD night: Take your kids to the DVD shop, let them choose a DVD to watch. Cook up some popcorn, get some treats in and then snuggle up on the sofa. They’ll love you for it.

Bake a cake: Kids love creating things and what could be better than making something you can eat afterwards? You don’t need to be pro in the kitchen to have fun with some basic cooking. Rice Crispy buns, cupcakes or a basic cake – you’ll find easy to follow recipes on the Internet or you buy simple to make mixes. Yes you’ll have lots of mess to clear up afterwards, but your kids will love every minute of it.

Go on a bug hunt: Rather than have your kids growing up fearing creepy crawleys, take them out to a park or forest and actively go looking for bugs. Bring a basic ‘bug guide’ with you and a magnifying glass and see what you can find. It’s a great way to teach your children about nature and the role that even the smallest insects have to play.

Day at the museum: Children of all ages are fascinated with museums – there’s something about all those dead animals, skeletons and ancient artefacts that really gets them going. Make a trip to you local museum and watch them having fun as they learn.