The Ultimate Father's Day Bonding

Fatherhood can be an amazing journey filled with discoveries, growth, and guidance. Fathers play a significant role in the development of their sons and daughters, from their personalities to their habits. Quality one–on–one time engagement in meaningful activities can help mold the youngster in your life to grow into an adult you will be proud of, as well as build confidence that will last a lifetime.

According to Victoria Steese, MFT, a San Diego-based marriage and family therapist, communities experience positive outcomes when fathers are engaged in the upbringing of their offspring. "Positive and nurturing activities by fathers with their children models for girls what to expect from men in the future and sets an example for boys on how to be a good father," said Steese. 

Fortunately, San Diego provides fathers with endless opportunities to share a wide variety of activities with their children to not only strengthen their paternal bond, but also to create precious memories. So turn off the TV and your mobile devices. Let’s explore different ways for fathers to connect with their children, regardless of age.

Service Projects

Jonathan King further connects with his sons at the San Diego Baha'i Center, volunteering and engaging in spiritual worship.

Community service activities don’t just strengthen your bond, they provide an opportunity to contribute to our neighborhoods too. Acts of service not only strengthen the father/child bond, but they also provide an invaluable service to the greater community while boosting their self–confidence. There are countless volunteer opportunities in San Diego. Together, fathers and their children can serve dinner to homeless families at Operation Hope or organize food items at the San Diego Food Bank.  

Jonathan King greatly values the time he and his teenage sons serve the community. "Here in San Diego, me and my sons bond by attending devotional gatherings at the San Diego Baha’i Center to engage in spiritual worship. We also participate in a variety of service activities that are geared to transform our local neighborhoods, such as volunteering for the Bay Terrace Community Association. It is primarily an ongoing beautification project which gets much support from local teens and families."

Shopping

This may sound cliché, but girls, especially tweens and teens, love to spend time at the local mall. San Diego’s UTC and Fashion Valley offer a diverse shopping experience along with food courts with diverse and healthy selections. If you’re on a budget, accompany your daughter to a local consignment store—the fun is in the hunt! 

Camping

Never underestimate the great outdoors and its endless possibilities. Camping is a classic American pastime where fathers can teach their children how to start a fire, pitch a tent and navigate a compass. Gaze upward into the stars and open the mind to infinite conversations about the grandness of the universe.

Building/Modeling

Maxwell Varahramyan bonds with his father by building figurines.

Building sets and modeling figurines enhance creativity and imagination, not to mention mechanical skills. When 14–year–old Maxwell Varahramyan made his first model at age 3, he didn’t know the activity would help him connect more with his father. "Modeling is my dad’s passion and, over the years, I have made it mine too. We like building and putting pieces together. Me and my dad have been building together my whole life and I hope to keep it that way because it gives me a chance to learn more about him."

Nature Hunting

Scott Thatcher enjoys quality time with his two daughters as they swim the Cove to the La Jolla Shores.

Discover nature together. Take advantage of beautiful hiking trails, aquariums, and lagoons. Visit the La Jolla Coast for a snorkeling adventure or go whale watching at the San Diego Harbor. Let’s not forget a simple walk on the beach and building a sand castle with your child. Grab a couple of cameras and take your child on a "photo hike" to capture nature’s diversity.

For Scott Thatcher, San Diego’s beaches provide a perfect venue to break down barriers and strengthen the bond with his daughters, 12–year–old McKinzie and 9–year–old Morgan. "My daughters really enjoy all the beach activities San Diego has to offer. So much of our quality time is spent swimming or cruising skateboards all over our coastal cities. As they grow, sharing time builds trust and breaks down barriers that the child may be too nervous to discuss in a household setting. I find the outdoors in San Diego is the perfect place to foster strong family relationships and I am very fortunate to share them with my daughters."

Story Time 

Fathers with younger children can promote early literacy and development by reading to their children. Whether reading at bedtime or telling a story during a long drive, fathers can empower their children at an early age and boost their confidence along with their literary skills.

From infancy to adulthood, paternal attachment can make a difference in the life of your son or daughter. Spending quality time with children by engaging in simple activities provides opportunities to ask questions, big and small, about life.