Show Dad How Much You Appreciate Him This Christmas

The Christmas holiday has special significance for dads. I love being a dad during the holidays; there is something special about watching the magic of the season unfold through a child's eyes and knowing that you are a major part of your child's joy. I am not ashamed to admit it, but I also love the gifts that come from my children. I have always appreciated gifts from my kids, but now that they are older, they want to give more than a nice tie or a Christmas picture that they drew in preschool. Unfortunately, dads can be one of the hardest people to shop for. This guide is designed to give kids and parents a hint at what dads are looking for this Christmas season.

Holiday Gifts for Dads For Less than $50

Date day

Why dad loves it: Dads are busy, and often they are not as connected to their children as they want to be. A perfect gift for the father who is working to provide for their family is an opportunity and excuse to slow down and take time out with the kids. Every year, each of my kids get me a gift card to my favorite restaurant for just the two of us. Because the money is already spent, there is not any excuse to not to take time out for a date. The two hours spent at the lunch or dinner will be rewarding and satisfying for both the adult and the child. The secret of this gift is that while the child is giving the dad a gift, the dad is giving back the gift of time the child.

iTunes Gift Card:

Why dad loves it: If you have a dad or husband that commutes, music, audiobooks, movies, or even a game to help pass the time will be welcome. The problem is finding something that he wants. An iTunes gift card will let dad buy the song or book that he is looking for. If he owns an iPhone or an iPod, he can even rent movies or download games. While some might consider movies, games, and movies guilty pleasures, they can be the perfect way for a dad to unwind and decompress during the commute home.

Holiday Gifts for Dads For $51 - $100

Logitech Harmony 520 Advanced Universal Remote

Why dad loves it: This remote is a powerhouse when it comes to controlling an entertainment center. The Logitech Harmony 520 gives dad control over 12 devices in their entertainment center including the TiVo, receiver, satellite receiver and DVD player. The Harmony 520 also allows for dad to set macros to control actions over several devices. For example, you can program a "Watch a DVD" macro that will turn on the correct systems, change to the correct channels and adjust volumes with the touch of a single button. It is phenomenal power in the palm of dad's hand. The Logitech Harmony 520 is available from BestBuy, Amazon, or any other major retailer.

Hitachi Maxell iPod HP-NC20.IPS Headphones

Why dad loves it: If the dad in your life is one of the millions that own an iPod or iPhone, then these Hitachi noise canceling headphones are a dream. They cut out external noise with active noise cancellation, but they do not require any external power supply. They plug straight into the iPod and draw power from the iPod or iPhone itself. The Hitachi Maxell HP-NC20.IPS headphones are a great for the commute or a relaxing lunch break. Nothing says "I love you" to dad like peace and quite. The Hitachi Maxell iPod noise canceling headphones are available from BestBuy, Amazon, or any other major retailer.

Holiday Gifts for Dads for More Than $100

Sony PS3

Why dad loves it: The dad in your life knows about high definition television and BluRay video. They also know all about the need to blast a few zombies or aliens after a hard week at work. The Sony PS3 is the perfect entertainment device because, for a budget price, you get a top-rated BluRay disk player and an amazing video game experience. Most BluRay players are running in the $200 - $300 range, and a game system is another $300 or so. The PS3 can be bought for $399. It is a great savings on two fabulous entertainment devices. In addition to the movies and games, dad also gets an MP3 player, photo browser, and web browser. It will be money well spent. The Sony PS3 is available from BestBuy, Amazon, or any other major retailer.