Themes & Activities

Father's Day
Open thematic poster

CHALLENGE OF THE WEEK, MONTH, YEAR
Here is an interesting challenge! Make sure you have a tie and a stopwatch on hand. Have each Dad who comes to the daycare during the week knot the tie. Time them to see who is fastest! (Open Father's Day Challenge) Print and display the results. The winning Dad can be crowned at the end of the week during a special activity.

CIRCLE TIME
Ask children to bring an object which belongs to their dad and a picture of him to the daycare. They can introduce their dad to their friends during circle time.

Suggestions for discussion:

Describe your father. What is his name? What is your grandfather's name?
Tell us about your father's job.
What do you like to do most with your father?
What is your dad's favourite activity?
What is your father's favourite meal?
Tell me about a fond memory you have about you and your dad.
What does your father do in his free time? Does he have a special pastime?
Does your dad play sports?
Which games does your father play with you?
Does your dad have tools?
Tell me about your father's car.
Which chores does your father do around the house? Groceries? Dishes? Take out the trash? Cooking? Mow the lawn?

AREA SETUP
Organize a "Daddy corner". Hang a picture of each child's father and grandfather in your construction/building area. Children will enjoy imitating them hard at work.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific corner. (Open picture game - Father's Day) Print, laminate, and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bins.

ACTIVITY SHEETS
Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets - Father's Day).

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

Word Flashcards

The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards - Father's Day) Father, grandfather, tools, shaving cream, garage, golf, hockey, tie, fishing, hunting, moustache, beard.

Soft voice
Record songs or kind words on cassettes or CD's. Have children wrap their creation for their dad.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

Tie Day
Invite children to attend daycare wearing one of their dad's ties. They can wear their tie all day long, just like their dad.

Camping
Set up a tent and camping gear in your backyard. Children will love pretending they are camping with their father.

Monkey Dad
A child is chosen to play the role of the Monkey Dad. He performs various gestures and actions and his little monkeys (the rest of the group) imitate him.

Hockey
Play hockey using a soft ball and noodles used in swimming pools.

Goalie
Place hoops on the floor (one per child) or draw circles. The circles must be large enough to allow children to move inside them. Give children instructions. For example, place your hands on the floor, place one foot inside your goal and one outside your goal, sit inside your goal, sit outside your goal, etc. After a while, say, "Goalies change goals." Children change circles and the game continues.

Renovations
Gather all the tools from the construction area and ask children to "fix" the toys, shelves, and walls in the daycare.

Tie Obstacle Course
Build an obstacle course using ties for children to walk on. Set up obstacles such as a dad's shoe for children to wear and attempt to walk with. Add a coat from a suit. Children can drape it over their shoulders. Have them slither under chairs or climb over them. Use whatever you have on hand (Ties, hats, shoes, toolbox, etc.). Maximize the use of different ways of moving about (crawling, jumping ten times, jumping in hoops, walking on a tie, walking around constructions boots, hopping, spinning, etc.).

Daddy says
This is a variation of the familiar "Simon Says" game. Give children instructions. They must follow them only if you say "Daddy says" first. Examples of instructions are: "Daddy says go to sleep", "Daddy says brush your teeth", or "Daddy says wash your hands", etc. If you do not say "Daddy says", children must stand still.

Daddy reads the newspaper
Deposit a pile of newspapers in the middle of the table. Invite children to manipulate them. They can crumple them or cut them.

Strong like Dad
Have children show off their muscles and pose like body-builders. Take pictures!

Lawn mower obstacle course
Prepare a small obstacle course using cones and other accessories. Children push a toy lawn mower around the course. The children who are watching encourage the child pushing the lawn mower by calling out his dad's name.

Dad's baseball cap
Children wear one of their dad's baseball caps for a day. Children can play catch and use the cap to catch the ball.

Shaving cream
Cover your arts & crafts table with a plastic tablecloth. Provide each child with a small quantity of whipped cream. Let them draw with their fingers.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Cotton candy
Set up a large container of water with bubble bath. Children enjoy creating beards or figurines with the bubbles. Variation: Weather permitting, fill a small pool with water and bubble bath. Children will play for hours!

Car wash
This calls for buckets and sponges! Have children wash small cars and trucks or other toys.

Fill it up!
Draw the outline of a street with sidewalk chalk. Draw a gas station too (or create one using a cardboard box). Children drive along your street in cars made of cardboard boxes. They must stop for gas, just like Dad!

ACTIVITY IMPLICATING PARENTS

Daddy's genealogical tree
(Open genealogical tree) Print a copy for each child. Have children complete the tree with their dad at home. Children can present their dad's family to their friends.

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

My Daddy's name is...
Name several men's names. When children hear their own dad's name, they run to a designated spot.

My Dad's voice
Have fathers leave a message on your answering machine. Listen to the messages with the group. Children try to recognize their father's voice.

I am strong like my dad
Have children weigh different objects and distinguish between heavy and light.

SOCIAL AND MORAL ACTIVITIES

Surprise phone call
Have each child make a surprise phone call to their dad's office.

Secret message
Children fill the inside of an empty toilet paper roll with messages for their father. We have prepared some for you (Open memo - Father's Day). You can also add candy. Wrap the roll with tissue paper and decorate. Tie each end with ribbon. Children can give one to their dad each day of the week.

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

A special snack
Ask dads to prepare something special children can share at snack time. Children will be proud to show their friends what their father prepared for them.

Sweets
Prepare special treats each day. Children may give them to their father. Some suggestions are heart-shaped cookies, miniature muffins with coloured icing, or small chocolates.

Edible tie

Material: Rectangular cake pan, knife, plate

Ingredients: Cake mix, icing, candy
Pour the cake mix into your rectangular cake pan and bake. Once the cake has cooled, trace the outline of a tie with a knife. Deposit the tie in a plate and cover it with icing. Use candy to decorate.

SPECIAL ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS

With children's help, organize a golf tournament for dads.
(Open - perpetual calendar Father's Day)

Invite dads to join the group around 3:30PM to participate in your golf tournament. Close the event with an awards ceremony. Children can award their father with their "Best Dad in the world" diploma (Open diploma - Best Dad).

Golf tournament
Set up a golf course in your backyard. Use containers of various sizes (buckets, ice cream containers, yogurt containers, large bowls, etc.). Place them here and there and place a rope or hoola hoop around each. Children each have a golf ball. They must attempt to hit the ball into the container while standing outside of the circle.

Variation for dads: Dads each have a golf ball and must attempt to hit the ball into the container while standing outside of the circle. Children are the caddies. They pick up their father's golf ball and hold on to it until the next round. The daycare worker is responsible for keeping count of how many tries dads need before succeeding. (Open crown) Print and decorate with children at the beginning of the theme. Crown the dad who tied the tie knot fastest while they are all present.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Gifts

Dad's favourite meal. Have children cut out items which make up their father's favourite meal from flyers. They can glue them to a cardboard plate.

Pocket container
Find small aluminum plates meant for plants. Pour plaster into the plate (or use homemade dough). Make an impression of children's hands. Allow to dry. Have children paint it and offer it as a gift. Dads may use it to empty the contents of their pockets at the end of the day.

Souvenir Book
Ask children to draw their father. Print as many copies as there are children in the group. Glue the portraits onto cardboard and cover with "Mac-tack". Attach the pages together to form books. Give one book to each dad.

Pencil holder
Use plastic containers or metal cans. Cut out a large strip of construction paper, large enough to cover the entire container. Decorate the strip before gluing it onto the container. If you wish, paint it using a mixture of ¾ parts glue for ¼ part paint.

Keychain
Use Model Magic dough (see educatall online store). Children shape a keychain for their dad. They can choose to make an oval or round shape, or any other shape they wish. Punch a hole for the chain. Allow to dry. Paint and varnish children's keychains.

A car
Use empty Kleenex boxes to make cars.

A watch
(Open watch models) Print, cut out and glue onto heavy cardboard. Use a large ribbon for the bracelet. Glue the watch onto the bracelet. To complete the craft, add a tiny piece of "Velcro" to the end of the ribbon. This will allow dads to tie their watch around their wrist.

Remote control box
Paint and decorate a small box.

A tie for Dad
Draw on a white tie using fabric markers.

A masterpiece for Dad

Children prepare a drawing or a painting for their father. (Open model - Father's Day Frame) Print, trace the model onto heavy cardboard, and cut it out. Children decorate their frame as they please. Frame their masterpiece. The perfect gift!

Toolbox
Provide each child with a large can (metal coffee can for example). Make sure it is clean. Use coloured craft paper to cover the can. Use double-sided tape or glue. Cut out family photos (which you discreetly requested from moms) and decorate the can with them. The perfect toolbox for dads!

Lunch bag
Children decorate a brown paper bag for their father.

Greeting cards

Tie card
(Open greeting card - Father's Day) Print and cut out the shirt and tie and have children color them. Cut a slit in the shirt collar where indicated. Fold the flap (at the top of the tie) and insert. Glue to ensure it stays in place.

A special letter
Prepare a post card or an invitation for a special outing for dads. Have children mail them.

Best Dad diploma
Prepare a card resembling a "Best Dad diploma". (Open diploma - Best Dad). Children can draw their fondest memory with their dad or offer them a certificate which dads can exchange towards loving hugs, cleanup services, help to clean out the garage or wash the car, a small massage, etc.

A generation card

Have each child bring a picture of himself, one of his father, as well as one of his grandfathers and great-grandfathers, if possible. Glue the photos on the top of a sheet of construction paper folded in two like a card. Cover with "Mac-tack". Write a message inside the card or use one of our printable greetings (Open greetings - Father's Day).

COLORING PAGES
(Open coloring pages theme - Father's Day)

SONGS & RHYMES

Daddy, I love you
by Patricia Morrison
sung to: London Bridge

Daddy you're my number one
Number one, number one
Daddy you're my number one
Yes, I love you

I have fun when I'm with you
I'm with you, I'm with you
I have fun when I'm with you
Yes, I love you

You're so strong you're my hero
My hero, my hero
You're so strong you're my hero
Yes, I love you

Dad
by Patricia Morrison
sung to: Row, row, row your boat

Dad, Dad, it's your day
Sit back and relax
Happily, happily, happily, happily
I'll take care of you

Have nice day!

Educatall team

Our job is to make yours easier. Do not hesitate to suggest themes you would like to see us develop. Let us know of any printable documents or tools which could be useful. Send us your comments and suggestions!

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