Fathers and sons have a special relationship. As a male adult, you understand men's unique — and under-discussed — difficulties in life. Doing fulfilling activities with your little guy is an opportunity to teach him the values and skills he needs to succeed. Father/son bonding also benefits your child’s development, giving him a sense of stability. Experiencing secure attachment with you is crucial in forging trusting relationships with others.
If your young man is too old for rough-and-tumble play, consider these summer activities to strengthen your bond and create lasting memories.
Going to a Live Sporting Event
A sporting event is entertainment when consumed electronically. It’s an electrifying experience when witnessed in person.
Every young sports fan dreams of going to a game for the first time and breathing the same air as their favorite athletes. Your boy can brag about it with his friends, boosting his self-esteem.
Cheering and booing with other spectators can make your son feel like a more significant member of a team’s or a player’s fandom. It can reinforce loyalty and enrich his sense of belonging — an ingredient of solid mental health.
Although summer isn’t the best time for fans because it’s the offseason of most major professional sports leagues, you can still choose from various nail-biting events — such as MLB and MLS games, NASCAR and IndyCar races, and UFC fights.
A gentle reminder — pick an event your child likes instead of what you fancy. He may prefer a different sport, so let him decide which ticket to buy to make it your son’s summer highlight. Bring home merch to memorialize this moment.
Building Anything With Wood
Woodworking is one of the best father/son activities for holistic development in children. It can improve your son’s hand-eye coordination, fine motor control and strength. Turning raw pieces of wood into picture frames, toy cars or even a tree house can be intellectually stimulating because it requires critical thinking and creativity to overcome design obstacles using mathematical dimensions.
Carpentry is a sensory endeavor. Wood species’ distinct aromatic profiles pleasantly engage the olfactory nerve. Feeling the contrast between timber’s warmth and metal’s coldness, dusting rough surfaces, and inspecting the smooth finished product are tactile activities.
Woodcraft is a practical lifelong skill. Knowing his way around hand tools can boost your son’s confidence. Understanding what goes into carpentry can give him a profound respect for woodwork.
Making Him Assistant Grill Master
Do you love smoking meat? Share your passion with your kiddo. Letting him peek behind the curtain can encourage him to play an active role in your next cookout.
Learning what constitutes a particular regional style — protein type, dry rub, sauce, sides and grilling wood — is enlightening. He won’t look at grilled goodies the same way again after being involved in the arduous barbecue process. This father/son bonding idea can mark his gastronomic journey and inspire him to start a culinary career.
Going Camping
A camping trip can lead to various father/son activities. Your itinerary can include fishing, boating, hiking, bird-watching, stargazing, hunting, wood harvesting and firecraft. Spending the night outdoors and learning various survival skills can be a transformative experience for your young man.
Make your adventure kid-friendly, though. If it’s your son’s a newbie, make this trip a primer on everything to keep things on his level. While doing everything may be fun, it can be taxing for your little man. This venture into the wild may be your first of many — avoid overwhelming him so he can fall in love with nature and not associate it with exhaustion.
Going Off-Road
If your son is old enough to ride an ATV, arrange a ride-on to experience the outside world in a new light. Operating such a vehicle allows your kid to revel in his independence and prove he’s mature enough to drive it safely. It gives a young teen the chance to get comfortable behind the wheel so by the time they’re ready for an actual car, the experience is less intimidating.
Moreover, an ATV makes a sweet gift. Owning anything of such value can help your son develop a sense of responsibility, even if he’s only in charge of cleaning. Teaching your son how to ride one is a given. However, your kid may still need to complete online and hands-on courses to get the green light from the authorities to operate it in public.
Dirt biking is similarly exhilarating for teenagers. Knowing how to ride an off-road motorcycle is a feather on your son’s cap. Conquering challenging trails makes it even more memorable — and safer because you can supervise your kid’s behavior.
Since many jurisdictions prohibit dirt bikes and ATVs on public roads, most utility trailers are made to easily load and transport small vehicles. Many campgrounds have off-road trails available, making it easy to pack some camping gear alongside your vehicles and plan out a full outdoor adventure weekend.
Volunteering at a Charity
Spending summer weekends making meals for people experiencing homelessness, doing the dishes at a soup kitchen, outfitting out-of-age foster youths’ apartments or picking trash at a beach isn’t most boys’ idea of fun. Still, consider this father/son bonding idea to teach your kid compassion and empathy.
Volunteerism can positively shape your child’s worldview, helping him realize he can be a force for good and make a difference in people’s lives. Raising a son with a soft spot for the less fortunate can be your source of pride. He’s your legacy, so whatever he decides to do when he becomes an adult directly reflects on you. If you wish your son to touch people’s lives, guide him on the path to altruism.
Convincing your child to do selfless acts instead of pursuing his personal interests can be tricky, so choose a charity that aligns with one of his passions to enjoy his civic life. Volunteering at an animal rescue is a stellar idea if he's into dogs or cats. Such a nonprofit relies on volunteers to keep its furry residents pampered while waiting for their “fur-ever” families.
Furthermore, your local government may have programs designed to encourage youth volunteerism. Signing up your kid for one can help him gain leadership skills and socialize with like-minded children.
Which of These Summer Father/Son Activities Do You Like Most?
Bonding with your son through meaningful activities is sound parenting. Although he’ll cherish anything fun you do with him, make every moment count by choosing these enjoyable, constructive pursuits.
