Father's Day: When Your Gift Speaks All About Love

Fathers are special people in our lives. Instead of worrying about how much money you spend on Father's Day gifts, focus on giving simple, creative gifts. Whether your kid makes a gift in his childcare program or you work together to come up with a unique present that you know Dad will love, it will mean so much to him to get a gift that comes from the heart.

• Framed artwork There is nothing quite as touching as a piece of artwork that a child made just for you. Select a few favorite pieces of kid artwork and shell out for nice frames for them. You can even pay to have the artwork framed professionally. Dads feel great about displaying these new framed pieces around their houses or in their offices.

• Hobby gifts Dads deserve to do something fun when they have a little time to themselves. Consider hobbies that your dad engages in on a regular basis or hobbies that he once pursued but no longer seems to have time to enjoy. A hobby gift can be as simple as a new set of paint brushes for oil painting or as complex as a new tackle box filled with assorted fishing supplies.

• Experience gifts Many dads live busy lives. More than anything, most of them want to spend more time with their children. Think about something that your child and his father like to do together and make it into a gift. For example, if the two of them have always enjoyed watching movies together, gift him a book of movie passes to one of his favorite theaters. Experience gifts give you the opportunity to create memories that will stick with Dad for years to come.

• Words of affirmation Have your child write down the things they love about their dad. They can put their words of appreciation on a card or their favorite memories into a collage. Ask them to write a letter to their dad showing how much they love him. Dad will appreciate this effort and will love displaying these words of affirmation at home or in the office.

• Acts of service Ask your child to make a favorite breakfast or dinner for their dad. They can secretly clean his car, the garage or basement to surprise him and offer to help him with his daily chores. These acts of service will help show love and appreciation for dads.