I have read dozens of surveys and polls on what dads want for Father’s Day. I have asked male neighbors, friends, and random strangers what they would like for father’s day. And the results I got? ….. A huge amount of different answers! And it all boils down to what interests or hobbies they have or their work schedules or even how often they see the kids or grandkids.
Tools
Some men like to tinker and some like to hire any repairs out to professionals. If the dad in your life uses a hammer once or twice a year, tools probably aren’t on the top of his list of “wants”. But if he’s the type of guy who actually likes to go to garage sales for tools or can spend hours at a home improvement store staring and drooling over the latest tool (even if he already owns more than one of something), then tools or a gift card to that home improvement store would be appreciated. I recommend Craftsman tools.
Sports
Contrary to popular belief, not all men are sport fanatics. If your dad hasn’t shown any interest in sports before, chances are he’s not going to suddenly wish for tickets to a game or get too terribly excited over fishing gear just because you THOUGHT he MIGHT like to take up a new “hobby”. But for the dads who do like to fish, bowl, hunt, golf….or cheer their team on from the sidelines or from the comfort of their recliner, anything that pertains to the sport of their choice is perfect. Anything from tickets, to tees, to lures, or even a gift certificate to a sporting store are all items that a sports enthusiast would and could use. Here’s Yahoo! Sports “Top Ten Gift Ideas for Sports Fans“.
High-tech Gadgets
So I’m not the best person to talk about any tech gadgets… I still consider my cell phone that’s about three years old to be “high-tech”. But if your dad is a tech lover, here’s a list of gadgets from inexpensive to expensive.
Time
This is one area where the men I asked were pretty much evenly divided on their responses.
It seems like half the men I questioned said they would like a day where they could do whatever they wanted by themself….like sit in their chair, drink some beer, and watch sports all day or hit the golf course with the blessings of their family.
The other half said they don’t get to spend quality time with the kids or grandkids and would like a day where the family gathered, cooked on the grill and just spent time together. And then there were the men who said they’d like to do something they enjoy by themselves and then gather the family around later in the day….the best of both.
Clothes
Most polls I read said DON’T buy your dad a tie…..but some of the men I talked to actually said they would appreciate a new tie….again, it depends on your dad. Most men don’t enjoy shopping for clothes and really do like for the woman in their life to pick up clothing items they need or want. But stay away from the “cutesy ties” that dad probably won’t ever wear.
My (Non-Scientific) Top 10
TopYaps thier own list of “Top 10 Gifts for Dad“, but I decided to conduct my own little survey. Here’s the top ten responses I got from the men I asked…..
- A day of doing nothing
- Anything golf related
- Time with the family
- Video games
- Anything to do with grilling…from a new grill to accessories
- A good bottle of their favorite alcohol
- Tools
- Workout/running/bike gear
- Gift cards to home improvement stores/Starbucks/sporting stores
- Homemade items from the little ones (like pictures or cards)
Bottom line
What are your dad’s interests or passions? He’s your dad, you know what and where he spends his time on or wishes he could if he had the time or money. Build on what he likes and not on what the ads are telling you he’d like. And a card telling dad how much you love and appreciate him, or a phone call or a simple hug are always a great way to let your dad know he’s loved.