Two Unique Gift Ideas Children Can Make for Father's Day

If you are looking for a unique way to get the kids involved in creating a gift for Father's Day, these two suggestions will get you on the right track.

One: Create a Homemade Lunch Box for Dad. This gift is unique in that you can customize it any way you see fit. You will need a traditional metal lunch box with a handle, paper with a sticky adhesive on the back that is designed for home computer printers, a computer printer, a tape measure or ruler, and whatever contents you deem appropriate to fill the inside of the box. You will also need a piece of ribbon and a name tag (or you can create a name tag) or a gift bag with tissue paper, to wrap the finished product.

Measure the size of the space between the handle and the opening latches of the lunch box. This is where you will be placing your finished sticker to personalize the gift. Once the size has been determined, create a label on the computer that will be the perfect fit. You can do this by scanning or using a picture in the computer, creating a label of your own with a Paint or Word program, or any other computer program you know will work. You may want to add a slogan, saying or sentiment to the label, such as "Happy Father's Day," "Dad's Survival Kit," "We Love You, Dad," etc. Print the labels on the adhesive paper. Cut the label and place it on the lunch box.

Now you want to fill the inside of the box with items that fit the theme of your sticker, or items that you know dad will really enjoy. You can put a deck of cards, a new CD you know dad would like, a personalized coffee cup, dad's favorite snacks, lunch gift certificates, etc. inside of the box.

Wrapping this present is easy too, all you need to do is tie a piece of ribbon and a gift tag on the handle, or slip it into a gift sack with tissue paper.

Two: Another great gift idea that is simple and fun to make for dad is a personalized coffee, latte or tea cup (depending on which he prefers) that the children create with just a bit of help from a pottery store. Find out which stores in your area allow children to create items and then fire them for you. Once you have done that, you will need to bring or purchase from the store a plain white cup (you can decorate a matching saucer as well, if you are creating a tea cup), Underglaze paints in the colors you would like for your design, paint brushes that are sized for the design you have in mind (you don't want a big paintbrush for fine lines and vice versa), a sharpened pencil, a small square of paper, a hole punch and a piece of string. Many stores will already have these items available for you to use if you are purchasing the firing.

Have the children draw the design they would like to paint onto the cup and saucer. They can be as creative as they would like to be here, making stripes, designs, optical illusions, etc. The next step is to paint the designs. Do not worry about the pencil lines, they will not show up on the finished project. If the children want a water color look on their finished product, tell them simply to use only one or two coats of paint. When the design is finished you simply turn it in to the store clerk or associate who will see to it that it is fired and dried accordingly. Return in a couple of days and voilá, you have a wonderfully personalized gift for dad to cherish. Create a name tag out of the small square of paper, punch a hole in the corner of it, insert a string and hang it from the handle. You can fill the cup with small packages of coffee or tea packets if you like. Or you could put treats inside, if you wish. This gift, however, will be greatly appreciated and loved even if given as is (with nothing inside of it).

Either gift idea is great because they both allow for the children to be completely involved in the gift crafting and giving, as well as allow them to add their personal touches and it allows for dad to receive a gift he can truly cherish as well.