20 Father’s Day Ideas for Dads with Young Kids

From dads to grandpas to father figures, there are so many people to celebrate on Father’s Day. And there are so many ways to celebrate, which allows you to tailor the day’s festivities to the special guy in question — or, if you’re the person being celebrated, drop hints and even offer outright help in planning a day you’ll find most enjoyable. 

On the precipice of my 21st Father’s Day as a dad, I can attest that each one is different. Some years, I felt like I was drowning in diapers and just wanted an escape from parenting duties for an afternoon. Other June weeks were so busy that Father’s Day was a wonderful opportunity for our family to take a breather and enjoy family time together. 

Here, you’ll find family-friendly casual activities everyone can enjoy, as well as more adventurous experiences for those looking to create lasting memories. From lounging around the house to getting active in nature, there’s something for every kind of dad to make a Father’s Day with young kids truly memorable. (I’ve addressed this list to father figures, but pass it along to whoever’s doing the planning!)

Some dads like to start their special morning by lingering in bed and enjoying meal service delivered to their slumber quarters. Others prefer to flip the script, grab a spatula, and serve up a breakfast of champions to the whole family. Either way, starting Father’s Day off with the breakfast of your dreams is a great way to set a celebratory tone for the rest of the festivities. 

It’s tough to beat a few quiet moments outside in the morning. And whether attributed to science or magic, there’s just something about drinking a hot beverage outdoors that makes it taste exponentially better. Take in the fresh air, awaken the taste buds, and savor the start to the day.    

Pickleball, anyone? It’s a great multi-age sport and a lot of fun for the whole family. The same can be said for grabbing a basketball and challenging your kids to a game of knockout, whipping the football around the yard, tossing the frisbee back and forth, or dusting off the lucky mitt for a game of catch. Or perhaps an afternoon out on the golf course sans kids is the preferred play here. Regardless, working up a sweat in the name of fun and good-spirited competition is always a win. 

If channel surfing is more your speed, then there are plenty of sports movies that are fun for the whole family. Cool Runnings is a family favorite at our house. While not necessarily Oscar-worthy, it offers a welcome change of pace during the summer months and plenty of hilarious quotes to keep everyone giggling for days. 

Work as a family to plan the next great family adventure. A family conversation about where to go and what to do provides fantastic inspiration for a family trip board that you can add to throughout the coming months. If you love bookends, you can get a jumpstart on next summer and plan a trip that has your family adventuring over Father’s Day 2027. 

Admittedly, this can feel a bit like a setup for parental imposter syndrome, given that Bluey’s dad, Bandit, is the archetypal involved father. Like, is there a game that guy isn’t willing to play? Nevertheless, the show is an inarguable crowd-pleaser for all ages, with episodes that parents love and are likely to inspire several fun family activities. 

It takes a little planning ahead, but these paper chains are the quintessential summer craft. Not only do they look super cool, but they don’t require glue, staples, or tape. You could also make them extra functional by creating a chain the exact length of days to count down to the first day of school — every parent’s favorite day of the year. (I jest. Kind of.)

Nothing beats a good book. This is another one of those activities you can do solo or as a family, depending on your mood. Father’s Day might be the perfect excuse to get lost in a great book that feels nearly impossible to find time for, or to share a classic with the next generation. After all, have you really lived if you haven’t read Shel Silverstein’s poems aloud as a family?

Your skepticism is understandable. But mud kitchen rock food DIYs are trending on TikTok, and it turns out they’re a super fun craft that fosters imaginative play and makes for a great table centerpiece. It’s exactly the type of activity that Bandit would do with Bluey and the crew. It’s just that fun. 

Walking is such a great standalone activity, especially when you consider the conversations you can have while strolling. A sneaky added bonus? It’s likely to zap most of the energy out of young kids, setting everyone up for a lovely post-hike nap. Just make sure you wrap up the festivities before everyone reaches meltdown mode. 

Pull out all of those art projects that piled up throughout the school year. It’s time to enjoy how awesome your kids are with a brag board that showcases their work. Not only will they get a great confidence boost, but it also gives them a chance to walk down memory lane and remember some highlights from the previous school year. 

Digital photo frames are the new scrapbooks, and at least half the fun is going through old photos to decide which ones make the cut for the rotating public display. One of life’s great ironies is that we take more photos than ever, but most of them just end up in digital storage purgatory. Digital photo frames allow them to once again see the light of day, as well as light up our days by carouseling on a nostalgic loop. 

My kids find it hard to believe, but I used to be quite the gamer in my pre-parenting era. These days, my thumbs typically only get brief workout stints playing simple mobile games, but every once in a while, we will fire up Mario Kart as a family, and I get the opportunity to relive my glory years. This is one of the ideas on the list that is guaranteed to elicit zero grumbles from the kids and will have them wishing every day was Father’s Day. 

A throwback to a bygone era, this is one of those activities my dad reminisces about from time to time. Back when he was a kid, his parents would load him and his brothers up on Sunday afternoons to visit family — often unannounced. And they’d always be greeted with enthusiasm and hospitality. When I was a kid, he’d occasionally take my sister and me for an impromptu drive from Portland to Multnomah Falls or Mt. Hood. Our attitudes weren’t typically the best as we headed out, but we always ended up having fun with the change of pace.

My kids range in age from 9 to 20, and there are exactly two types of music they enjoy: current hits and pop hits from the ’90s and 2000s. It’s fun when we take turns choosing songs to play for each other. Just make sure to stretch first, because dancing and vigorous laughter will ensue, both of which can cause muscle strains in middle-aged men. 

Going out to eat can be kind of a pain, not to mention expensive. Grilling, on the other hand, is both fun and cheaper than eating out. Feel free to splurge on yourself — there’s no shame in you enjoying a juicy steak while the kids enjoy burgers or hot dogs. 

If you like getting your hands dirty outdoors, make sure your earbuds are fully charged, and then take free rein to mow, edge, and prune to your heart’s content. 

Not everyone is so fortunate as to live by an ocean, but lakes and rivers are common enough that most folks can enjoy a water-adjacent day within relative proximity. Pack some food, load up enough towels and a change of clothes for everyone, and go have some fun in the sun.  

Monopoly isn’t great for keeping the peace, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to agree on the house rules before starting a rousing game of Uno. But if you can find a game that everyone can agree they want to play — as well as how to play it — family fun is definitely in the cards.

End the day in a special way by getting a solid fire going for a relaxing evening outdoors. Hot dogs and s’mores are always a hit, and there’s just something about a firepit that encourages people to laugh and linger late into summer nights.