The Unbreakable Bond: 8 Father-Son Activities To Learn And Grow Together

As a father, it's important to spend quality one-on-one time with your son. It gives you the chance to teach your son and mold him into the great man he'll one day be. You'll probably even learn something from your son in the process!

There's nothing more special than father-son bonding. Here are eight father son activities that'll strengthen your relationship.

1. Go Fishing

Fishing is a father-son classic. If you live near a lake or body of water, there's no excuse to not try fishing! It's affordable, you can do it almost any time of the year, and it's fun.

Fishing is a great way to teach your son patience. He may seem discouraged at times, but once he gets that first fish that'll all vanish. The look of excitement and pride your son gets looking at that first catch is truly unforgettable.

2. Play Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard is a great choice for father-son bonding. It's easy to learn, and fun for people of all ages.

You could even consider joining a shuffleboard team! Rising the ranks and beating other teams is a great feeling. It'll teach you and your son to work together, be good sports, and ultimately, how to have fun together.

3. Go Camping

Camping offers you the chance to teach your son a lot of valuable lessons. These include knot-tying, pocket-knife use and safety, navigation, and fire starting. What kid doesn't want to start a fire?

A camping trip will show your son how much you trust him with more "adult" activities. You're putting your trust in him with fire, food, tools -- things he doesn't usually have control over. Plus, camping offers a great opportunity to instill a lasting love of nature.

4. Get Grilling

Next time you have a barbecue let your son help with the cooking. Give him control of the spatula, teach him how to fire up the grill, and let him know what a cooked steak looks like. This will give your son a huge confidence boost when the guests fall in love with the food!

Make sure to involve your son in every step of the grilling process. This starts at the grocery store, where the two of you can pick the perfect meat together. Teach him every step of the way, and share your grilling knowledge!

A lot of kids take cooking for granted, and think of it as a "parents" type of thing. Grilling will teach your son what goes into cooking, and how to be appreciative of food. It may even start your son onto the path of becoming a chef!

5. Play Catch

The old "let's play catch, son" is a tried and true method of father-son bonding. It's cheap, it's easy, and it offers you and your son a chance to really talk.

The more you play catch, the better you'll both get at it. You'll see your son's accuracy, throw, and coordination improve with every game. This is a great way to watch your son grow before your eyes.

Playing catch also opens the door for many natural conversations. It's just you, your son, and the ball. Playing the game will lower your defenses, giving you a comfortable environment to talk about anything and everything.

6. Attend a Ball Game

Whether your son is a fan of sports or not, going to a game is always a great bonding experience. You'll bond over the food, the sport, and the atmosphere. Plus, this offers an opportunity to teach your son how the sport is played!

Getting your son his first game jersey is an experience he won't soon forget. It's a souvenir that will represent not only the sport, but the time you two spent together. He may even grow to love the sport!

You could even try going to see a less conventional sport. Think a skateboarding competition, demolition derby, or monster truck show. Who knows, the event might make a fan out of you!

7. Play Video Games Together

Video games are more and more normalized in our society. Once relegated to the world of nerds, gaming is now a hobby of most young boys. If you want to get on your son's level, it's time to game with him.

Playing video games with your son will show him that you appreciate his hobbies. It'll show that you understand games are more than a waste of time, or something that should be frowned upon. Best of all, there are tons of choices out there, meaning you'll almost certainly find a game you both enjoy!

Gaming lets your son teach you something about his world. This is a crucial step in any father-son relationship.

You could even try showing your son games from the past that you may have enjoyed in your youth. This will offer a cool look into the past for your son, and a great nostalgia blast. Bring a little of your world and his world together!

8. Work on the Car

Any activity where you can teach your son new tricks is sure to be a hit. Working on a car is one of the best options.

You can teach your son how to change oil, how to change tires, and the basics of maintenance. It'll show that you trust your son with grown-up activities, and leave him prepared for the real world. Plus, it gives you a great opportunity to talk and grow together.

You can work on your own car, or even buy an old beater to work on. Even if you don't know much about car maintenance, you could learn together!

Strengthen Your Bond With These Father Son Activities

Choose one of these father son activities and the bond between you and your son will grow stronger every day. Make time for bonding, and choose an activity you can regularly do together. Your son will thank you for it in spades one day.

For more on being a father, check out the rest of our blog. Contact us with any comments or questions.