Involving the Grands in Father's Day Celebrations!

Father's Day is coming! Why not involve the grandchildren in an activity for daddy or granddad or both?  A teacher friend posted a questionnaire she did with her students for Father's Day. I loved it, and decided it would be great for me to do with my grandchildren. They had made a book for their mother. Now it was dad's turn! Here is the questionnaire:

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​Questions about my Dad

1. What is something your dad always says to you?
2. What makes dad happy?
3. What makes dad sad?
4. How does your dad make you laugh?
5.  What was your dad like as a child?
6.  What is his favorite thing to do?
7. What does your dad do when you're not around?
8.  If your dad becomes famous, what will it be for?
9.  What is your dad really good at?
10.  What is your dad not very good at?
11.  What does your dad do for a job?
12.  What is your dad's favorite food?
13.  What makes you proud of your dad?
14.  If your dad were a cartoon character, who would he be?
15.  What do you and your dad do together?
16.  How are you and your dad the same?
17. How are you and your dad different?
18.  How do you know your dad loves you?
19.  What does your dad like most about your mom?
20.  Where is your dad's favorite place to go?

The procedure~

The kids were over one weekend in May. Their ages at the time were 8-12, so they were old enough for me to give each kid a copy of the questions, and send each to a corner to write their answers. That way they weren't swayed by their sibling's response. But this would also be fun to ask the little guys who aren't reading/writing yet, and you record their responses. The answers for dad can be sweet and sentimental, but they can also be good for a chuckle or two.

And you know what I did. I made a book. I think it just makes a wonderful keepsake for dad. But you can certainly just tuck the questionnaire, along with their answers, in a greeting card. Either way, what a treasure for dad or grandpa. 

Here are some sample pages from my son's book. As you can see, I just used photos I had on hand, or else some appropriate clip art.

Cover for book~

I then took the pictures I had used in the book, and made a collage for the cover:

The result!

My husband and I were traveling on Father's Day last year, so I wasn't with them when my grandkids presented their dad with the book. My sweet daughter-in-law snapped a picture of them giving their daddy the book. They gathered around him to listen to him read it. I think he was pleased. . . 

Gathered around Dad as he reads their book.

Sometimes grandparents have to take the lead! Parents are so busy with the day to day details of raising children. And this time of year is especially crazy what with their children finishing out the school year. Both parents are often working as well, so it's hard for mom or dad to sit down with the kids to do a craft or write with their kids to give to daddy or granddad. This is where a grandparent can take the lead. It's important that we as grandparents model this--that giving something of yourself, whether writing and creating, is the best gift you can possibly give a loved one. 

We enjoyed making this book, and I've tried to give you time before Father's Day to actually do just that. I have a Mac, so I used the iPhoto application. But here are some photo book-making websites:

​www.shutterfly.com

​www.mixbook.com

​www.pinholepress.com

I hope you'll find the time to get with your grandkids to create something for their dad, grandfather, favorite uncle or other "daddy" in their life. Just getting together with your grandchildren is great, and to create something for a loved one together is really special. And as I always say, please share your ideas and things you have done for Father's Day. We always love to hear.

"I want to congratulate all the men out there who are working diligently to be good fathers, whether they are stepfathers, or biological fathers, or just spiritual fathers." T. D. Jakes

​Also. . . remember you can use the contact page to write me, and I'll be glad to send you the questionnaire.