Comments on: 11 Best Father/Son Activities

By: Troy

Troy — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:59:29 +0000

While I think that all of these above activities are great way to spend time bonding with your children, I’d like to add a few more points.
Being aware of how your attitude and demeanour affect these “young students of life” is critical. If you are throwing tantrums, screaming at opponents and otherwise acting like an ass can we expect anything else from our kids? Model good behaviour. While I was fortunate in a way to have some of the above experiences with my father, I don’t look back on much of it fondly due to his attitude. I can now realize that much of his view of the world stemmed from his own self loathing and rage but as a child it is not easy to have perspective. I submit I may have benefitted more from spending less time with him while he tried to sort out his issues.
Nobody is perfect and we all have work to do. Just remember though, these kids are watching and learning from us. Really the activity you engage in is secondary to what YOU bring to it in behaviour and attitude.
In addition, I’d like to suggest learning a new skill to you with your child. Having them watch how I fail, struggle, practice, persevere, overcome and succeed at something is among the most valuable lessons I have taught my two sons. Modelling.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:58:35 +0000

My father (1970-80’s) always took me often with him to the grocery store, the farmers market, flea markets, auto parts store, the hardware store and yes K-mart (oh those blue light specials). We might even stop at the Dairy Queen for a treat. What better way to teach/discuss things with your son/daughter. Let them see what others are doing, how people shop, how to find a bargain, learn about money, learn about different products (tools, auto maintenance stuff, etc) and even how to negotiate. You would be surprised of all the lessons a kid will learn on such an outing by seeing, talking about things and just watching you. Even if its window shopping. I have been doing this with my 3 year old for a year and he can talk about all sorts of things that most five years olds know zero about. Their minds are like sponges. You can never start to early having them follow you around.

By: YoHuckleberry

YoHuckleberry — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:35:15 +0000

When I was about 11-12 my father, brother, and myself had a small weekend business picking up old skids (or pallets) from where he worked or picking up huge bundles of cardboard and recycling. And we split it up 3 ways after expenses, which usually just included gas and a Hardee’s Chicken Biscuit. It taught me about hard work, saving money, and handling my over-active self professionally in front of the 60 year-olds who were forced to work on a saturday. Nothing makes me feel more proud than the memories of those world-worn men telling my dad what a “bang-up” job his boys did. And he would just say “I know.” Nothing makes you feel more like a man than busting some knuckles, getting the job done, AND getting the respect of those who have done it for years. I never liked getting up early on saturdays but I also didn’t know any other 12 year olds with $400 at home in the piggy bank.

As for the issue on Scouting. Do it. The scout law says that “A scout is reverent.” It doesn’t say as to what religion. My dad worked all the time and had health problems to boot, but he never missed a campout. And he didn’t crowd us. He watched from the wings to make sure we were doing things right and that no one would get hurt. Thanks to his help and encouragement I’m an Eagle Scout today and I getting nothing but praise for it. If you’re going to get your son into scouts you should be there as much as possible or else he just feel like you dumped him on some strangers in the woods.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:25:56 +0000

My parents Divorced when I was twelve and ever since It’s never been the same between my father and I. I never really got to have a real relationship with him even before that, but I know if I ever have a son I’ll be sure to do better. Scouting is definitely one to do. It will teach your kid a lot.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:42:04 +0000

Another project that can work out really well is making a simple wood go kart. Kind of like the “Leave it to Beaver Go Kart” but safer. I worked hours and hours with my Dad on all sorts of wood projects, and boy I would have sure loved a wood go kart.

They are simple enough and can be built safe enough too. Great bonding times especially when trouble shooting engines and drive systems. I learned a ton when we used to fix our wood chippers and lawn mowers. I would have loved working on a go kart with him too.

By: Al Smigielski

Al Smigielski — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:49:18 +0000

Two activities I remember very fondly was “rough housing”. Although my mom was not that keen about it, as something always got knocked over. Each Saturday evening after bath time, and in my jammies it was time to hug dad good night, but I knew it was different on Saturdays, after watching the wrestling from Marigold Gardens. My dad grabbed me and we wrestled just like on TV. It was great exercise and a lot of physical fun.
The other activity was playing card games usually poker or pinochle, It wasn’t as exciting as wrestling, but it gave us long periods of time to talk, inquire about “what ever.” school, work, plans, problems, feelings, and sex.

By: sumptin' different

sumptin' different — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:21:44 +0000

I think these are all great suggestions IF your son is into them. If not, your son will probably regret or even strongly dislike these activities. My dad recognized that his sons were quite different (polar opposites, actually), He would travel around with my brother’s sports team and encourage him in his abilities. My father would also help me create and put up ham radio antennas and go to ham swapmeets with me. He wasn’t terribly into ham radio, but he knew that his boys were different and that he could adapt to their interests. That’s a true dad, not one that thinks he has to do a set number of activities to “be a man”.

By: Scottso

Scottso — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:58:50 +0000

I did a lot of these things with my son Evan, but today he doesn’t even talk to me, he must take after his Mother!

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:21:24 +0000

Great article. I’ve done most of these with my father (I’m 19 at this point). So I’m old enough to have a bit of perspective, but not quite “grown up” yet. I wouldn’t trade the conversations I have with my father while on long drives, hikes, chair lifts, etc, for anything in the world.
My father used to be a ski racer, and this past spring he brought me to Jackson, Wyoming to participate in the Jackson Hole Town Downhill. While I literally learned to ski before I could run, this was my first competition. I was on a pair of 196cm Fischer SG monsters borrowed from a friend (I’m 5′6″ and 135 lbs), and this course was super steep, technical, and composed of bulletproof ice. I toyed with the idea of giving up before I even started until my 52 year old father dove confidently onto the course on his 1980s 225cm skis. The racers around me, including Tommy Moe (won gold in the ‘94 olympics, my childhood hero), chuckled approvingly at his old-school tenacity. Suddenly, I wasn’t so nervous, anymore. I gained some new respect for my father, overcame fear, did something arguably manly (hurtled at ~60 mph down “the mini-hahnenkamm”), and met my childhood hero. Thanks, dad.
I’m posting this story because it’s nice to reminisce, but also to try to inspire those of you who are fathers to follow this article’s advice and spend some time with your son. He’ll appreciate it.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:21:37 +0000

Did 7 of 11 with my Dad. Don’t have kids myself but notice a LOT of parents these days attend EVERY game that their kid plays. When did this start?

By: Erik

Erik — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:44:00 +0000

There is no better lesson than helping your dad fix something as a kid. My dad could literally fix ANYTHING. I still don’t know how he does it, but even just holding the flashlight as a kid has given me the confidence and desire to try to figure out fixing things on my own, and I hope to pass that onto my kids. Can’t put a price on the ability to fix something. Gives you some control over your world. I know friends who have never changed their own oil and wouldn’t even know where to begin. That seems crazy to me.

By: John

John — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 21:08:03 +0000

This is a great article. The important point of it all is not the activity, it is the time spent with the kids. If you don’t hunt, fish, or do sports, so what? SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN. I have 6 kids, 4 girls and 2 boys and I can assure you that the litmus test of manly manhood is going to Home Depot (the holy temple of manliness) with a barbie doll in hand in order to match the colors of the doll’s dress for your daughter’s bedroom.

Chances are you will NOT have the same interests as that of your kids, big deal. There are thousands of things in this world to do that everybody can enjoy, a real man would find one for the sake of his kids. No harm either in trying something new to the both of you, who knows, maybe it will become a lifelong activity or end in a total disaster, either way it will bring memories and bonding.

By: Maria Jones

Maria Jones — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:52:35 +0000

“There are also other supplementary programs geared towards promoting incomes and consumption. Funding is certainly not a problem for the Chinese government as the government is in fiscal surplus and has the largest fiscal reserves, currently at US$1.95 trillion, in the world. Moreover, given the high savings rate and low loan-to-deposit ratio with the banking system, there is ample room for the government to raise debt.

By: Stuart

Stuart — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:08:57 +0000

About Scouts… if you don’t want your son in Scouts for whatever reason, consider checking out the Merit Badge books from the public library (usually in the children’s section) and doing the projects with your son (or daughter). They are great project books about all kinds of subjects.

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:14:37 +0000

My dad and I did alot of the things on this list and they were some of the best times i had while growing up. Fishing, sporting events (if you consider racing a sport), camping, the thing i remember most is the barber shop. My barber’s name was Bozie and I’ll never forget the times my dad and I spent in that shop (right next to the dentist so that area was sort of a love/hate thing for me.) I would add shooting guns at the range, it’s fun, and I learned a lot about guns that way. Also, I would agree with adding woodworking and art. There was a post that said something about golf, I’d like to add disc golf.