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With Father’s Day fast approaching, it’s time to start thinking about gifts for Dad. But what do you get for the man who has everything? Today, we look into the benefits of giving the gift of reading, particularly on Father’s Day, but also other special occasions too.
Father’s Day should of course be about expressing gratitude for Dad and everything he does for the family, but it’s also a great opportunity for a father to bond with his children. A good book is a great way to share positive feelings and create cherished memories together. In fact, one study even suggests that a child’s development is affected more by reading with its father than its mother. And probably most importantly, after another weekend spent running around after his energetic offspring, reading a story for an hour or two gives Dad a much-appreciated opportunity to put his feet up!
Creating a Dad and Child Bond on Father’s Day
Many traditional fairytales of course employ the archetypes of a distant kingdom with a royal family, usually with a princess in the main role. When father and daughter read such tales together, they can seamlessly transport themselves into the roles of king and princess, strengthening their unique bond as they work through the story.
For fathers and sons, finding common ground in a book is perhaps even easier. In addition to the more typical hero/villain stories on offer, dads can of course share their most memorable real life stories surrounding their favourite sports teams and players! To this end, sports history books are a great way to teach a young boy (or indeed a sporty girl!) about the history of their favourite football team or athlete, creating a strong bond between father and child which can then be transferred into real life, perhaps by going to matches or events together.
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Some bespoke personalised dad books even flip tradition on its head by making Dad the star of the story! These make a particularly thoughtful gift for Father’s Day, and besides, what better way is there to create a positive image of good old dad than by showing him as a superhero, single-handedly fighting off all the baddies?
Reasons Why Books Make Great Gifts For Special Occasions
Even past Father’s Day, books are the perfect gift for any special occasion, and provide particular benefits for both parents and children. Here are just a few:
Keeping Kids Occupied Over the Holidays
We all love spending quality time with our kids, but when they’re off school for weeks at a time, it can often be a challenge keeping their feet on the ground! Books are a great time-killer, keeping kids occupied, entertained and calm, as well as keeping the volume at a manageable level, for a little while at least!
Educating Kids About the Occasion
Special occasions have especially positive connotations for kids, probably due to time off school and lots of presents! But how much do they really understand the occasion you’re celebrating? Whether it’s Easter, Christmas or Hallowe’en, books are one of the best ways to educate your children about the history of the special day or period in question, adding an extra delightful layer to what is already one of their favourite times of the year.
Sometimes, kids may need a little nudge in the right direction to put down the toys and turn off the computer in order to learn, so to stand any chance we have to make it fun. Fortunately, this doesn’t automatically require dressing up as the “Holiday Armadillo”! In fact, Ross Gellar may have had better success with a personalised Hanukkah book. Some festive books on the market (which of course span other holidays too) include your child as part of the written narrative and the illustrations to really engross them and draw them into the story.
Creating Positive Memories
Involving your child in a positive reading experience on a particular occasion will create a positive association in their mind between that day and the good feelings they felt, the same way other presents do. For example, having a great time reading with Dad on Father’s Day might mean they find themselves looking forward to Father’s Day the following year.
Summing Up
If you’re looking for a considerate gift this Father’s Day, and particularly one that keeps on giving, look no further than a good book that he can read with his kids. And if that goes down well, why not consider doing the same for other special occasions too?