The Age-Old Dilemma: What Does Dad Really Want for Father’s Day?

Most dads don’t really care about ties. They aren’t clamoring for fish lures, either, and they can get along just fine without a luxury shave kit. If you want to give your dad a welcome surprise this Father’s Day, consider something a little more intangible.

A Thoughtful Gesture

Actions speak louder than words, so instead of wrapping up a coffee sampler and dropping it off on your way to work, make your dad breakfast in bed and include a nice steaming cup of joe freshly made from a K-Cup pod, like those at 11^th Street Coffee. You can still give him the sampler, but it’ll be part of a bigger, more meaningful gift, so he’ll appreciate it a lot more. You can work backwards with many gift ideas this way. For example, instead of just renewing his Netflix subscription, plan a movie night for the two of you.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Everyone enjoys a good round of nostalgia, and you have the added bonus of being able to share stories and secrets from your childhood that he never knew. Pull out the family photo albums and get cracking. Describe as much as you can remember about each vacation and school portrait, and poke fun at all of the funny candids that you two have taken over the years. If you really want to make him laugh, you might also pull out the mullet pictures of his own high school years.

A New Experience

Studies have shown that new experiences are good for the plasticity of the brain. This is especially beneficial for senior citizens who tend to follow the same routines and get stuck in physical and emotional “ruts.” To keep your dad as sharp and social as he’s always been, give him a night on the town where he can do something that he’s never done before.

Quality Time with You

At the end of the day, no gift will be as precious as time spent with his children. It doesn’t matter if you’re having a grand birthday celebration at a local restaurant or just poking burgers on the grill in dad’s backyard. Father’s Day is about appreciating your old man for everything that he’s done for you, so clear your schedule of anything that isn’t him. You can give him that much after a lifetime of memories.

If you’ve been struggling to come up with the perfect Father’s Day gift, consider trying something a little different this year. Give him experiences and emotions rather than physical goods. You might be surprised by how much you both enjoy it.