by Priscilla Benfield

Created on: June 14, 2009   Last Updated: June 19, 2009

Father's day is coming and it is time to think about what to get the dad in your life. There is a great assortment of cards in any drug store, ranging from funny to sentimental. The card is the easy part. The gift can be a challenge. Some of us have one dad to shop for, others have our own dad, perhaps our significant other's dad,grandpas, uncles, when you start adding up all the fathers on your list it can be overwhelming.

If you do have many dads to shop for,keeping it simple yet personalized would be the key. Determining the kind of gift to get will be easier if you think about the dad's likes and dislikes. Consider the dad's hobbies or interests. A gift card to a bookstore is a great gift for a dad who loves to read. A gift card ensures that you are not going to buy a book he already has. If you do not feel like that is personal enough, buy him a reading lamp. Maybe you have a dad in your life who likes to fish. If you are close enough to him,look for hints about what gear he might have on a wish list.

Another great gift is an even more personalized gift. Frame a picture of you with your dad. A digital frame that you can put multiple pictures in is another good idea. For the child or teen who wants to make a gift for dad, a scrapbook is a fun to do and special gift that a dad will treasure for years to come. Allow the child to have fun with crafting their own mini-album focusing on pictures of them. Encourage them to write captions for the pictures. Even dads love these kind of gifts.

Another gift to a dad is to have a father's day barbecue.It doesn't have to be fancy. Invite the dads in your life and their families.Have everyone pitch in and bring a dish, fire up the grill and you will have an enjoyable day sharing each other's company. Family is what makes a father's day a celebration.

Instead of the barbecue idea, maybe dad would like to spend the day with his children doing something special. A day sharing his hobby would be fun for any dad. Whether it is fishing or going to the see the local little league game, planning ahead is key to make this happen.

Many dads have plenty of gifts that were well meaning but they either don't have use for or just have too many of. Before you set out to buy the yearly tie or pajamas, stop and use your imagination. What would really knock dad's socks off? Then think how you can make that happen. Whatever you decide, it is your dad's day and remember just you spending time with your dad will mean a lot. Time is the best gift of all.

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