Effective Programs

Looking for some ideas to reach out to dads? Here are some examples of what organizations have been doing for fathers in their communities.

St. Christopher's House - Toronto, ON

The fathers and their children had a Picnic/BBQ at Toronto Centre Island in June 2011.  Fifteen fathers brought their children of all ages, their spouses and other family members to attend the Picnic/BBQ for a day of food, fun and to raise awareness of how important fathers are in the lives of children and the family.  Fathers and their children had a picnic/BBQ lunch and enjoyed spending time together, making new friends with other fathers who share similar life experiences and sharing stories with one another.  This provided the opportunity for fathers to come together to discuss their views and ideas on fatherhood in a welcoming and supportive environment.  The children enjoyed getting wet in the splash pad and playing with their fathers in a game of soccer.  During the Picnic/BBQ, brochures and information about the Father’s Support Group and pamphlets about healthy parenting were shared with all the parents.

There was a large group of fathers taking a leadership role in the development of this event.  All of the fathers in the group agreed to do the event at the Toronto Centre Island.  One father helped obtain the permit for the picnic site, two other fathers volunteered to barbecue, one father ordered the meat at a local butcher shop near his home and three other fathers assisted the staff in bringing all the supplies to the ferry and to the picnic site.  In the end, fathers commented that they felt engaged in the planning process and happy to be involved in organizing a great day for their families.      

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Milton Community Resource Centre

Three registered Saturday morning sessions were held for dads and their children 2 – 6 years were invited to participate in themed activities.  Each session began and ended with a short teaching circle providing dads with information about the program, resources and introducing/wrapping-up the session.  Topics: 

Dad & Me… Cooking

Creation of individual portions of healthy snacks: salad, “monster toast”, tuna spread and trail mix.  Take home material (a recipe booklet and a container of trail mix) encouraged participants to reproduce and extend the activity at home.

Dad & Me… are Scientists

An examination of the properties of materials and creation of some potions to take home: play dough, magic mud, tornado in a bottle and the cleaning of pennies with vinegar and salt!  Participants took home their creations as well as a mixing bowl and spoon and a sheet including activities that could be duplicated at home.  Refreshments included the making of making individual portions of butter to spread on crackers.         

Dad & Me… Building

Pre-cut bird wooden houses were assembled by the dads and children.  In addition, structures were created using mini marshmallows and tooth picks and old-fashioned pinwheels were assembled and tested.  Refreshments included a choice of fruit, cheese and crackers… build your own snack.  In addition to their creations, participants each took home the hammer they used and a sheet offering suggestions for additional construction activities.       

Circle of Dads

A special (separate) registered evening session was held for dads and their non-mobile infants during which participants enjoyed songs, rhymes, a story and a snack.  Take home material encouraged dads to engage in a range of pre-literacy activities.  Three registered Saturday morning sessions were held on October

 

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6th Annual Dad and Me Barbeque, August 2011

Superior Children's Centre, Wawa, ON

705-856-7354

Once again the Dad and Me Program held its annual Dad and Me Barbeque with a fun- filled barbeque at the Wawa Beach Front on Sunday August 14^th from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Fathers, Grandfathers and male caregivers were invited with their children to come and enjoy food, fun and prizes. It was wonderful to see so many new faces come out to enjoy this event!

We would like to thank our volunteers who helped with this event; we really could not have done it without the extra hands! Also thank you to Dan at Wawa Wholesale for the donations.

For more information call the Hub at  or drop in to 66 Broadway Avenue to talk with our staff.

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Lets's Go Fly a Kite!

Community Resource Centre - Killaloe and surrounding area, ON

613-757-3108

 

We hosted a father-child kite making day at Hoch farm in Killaloe on Saturday October 9 from 10am- 12pm.  Children and their fathers participated in designing and creating kites with the supplies available and then taking them to the Lion’s Ball near by to fly them. Families enjoyed lunch purchased from the local venders at the market. It was difficult to judge which kite was the best so prizes were awarded to all who participated in making a kite. A highlight from the day was when we went the ball field to fly the kites the participants stayed until 2:00pm, well after the event was over, having fun spending quality time flying kites with their children.

 

A fun result was that while flying the kites at the ball field, we had other families from the area that didn’t participate in the activity bring kites from home and fly them with our group. We also had a father from India who would make kites and fly them as a child.  That day he made a kite at home with his children and brought it to the ball field to fly.  It was the first time he flew a kite with his children.  It was a truly special moment!  We are thinking of asking him to help us with a kite making workshop in the future.

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Big Noise Father's Day Drum Workshop

Connections Program, Carleton Place, ON

A professional drummer provided a workshop for dads and their kids.  Throughout the workshop, participants learned to keep rhythm, play together, and make a joyful, harmonious noise.  It was open to fathers from all cultures and was used as a teaching method for respect for people, the drums, and rhythm.

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Santa Claus Parade

Pembroke Ontario Early Years Centre

 

613-735-7575 

The OEYC designed and entered a float in the annual Santa Claus Parade. The float was designed to showcase the Ontario Early Years Centre as well as key messages on the importance of fathers. The float included a large banner with the following key messages: 1) Fathers Matter 2) Fatherhood – The Best Job on the Planet.5 volunteers (dressed in well-known children’s characters) handed out 1,000 candy canes along the route of the parade. Attached to the candy canes were a copy of our program brochure/calendar and a copy of a handout on fatherhood.

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Breakfast with a Craft

Child Development resource Connection Peel

Brampton, ON  905-452-1973

Fathers and grandfathers attended with their young children; engaged inplay activities; mingling with one another; eating together; decorated photoframes; and participated in circle song and story time.  Photo’s taken were distributed to the  Dads on subsequent visits and many posted in our centre for all families toenjoy. 

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Let's Go Fly a Kite

Kids 'n' Dad

Waterloo, ON   519-342-1351

Father's Day event including the following: 

• Children’s activities includes a father-child walk around Waterloo Park’s Mini Zoo;
• Face painting; Free play; free family BBQ;
• Traditional Picnic games for families - prizes for participating
• Every child receives a kite to fly with their dad or parent 
• Tribute band played throughout.

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Dads Today

LAMP Community Health Centre

Toronto, ON   416-252-9701 ext 407

Dads Today offers fathers activities, parenting groups, and information/support that encourage deeper connections between dads and their children.

• Dads Time - drop in program for dads and kids two weekday evenings a week
• Dads and Kids: In Action - one Saturday morning a month (gym day, hike, read 'n' swim, etc.)
• 3 - 4 fathering groups focused on parenting skills for dads
• website and email connection
• Dads Count Family Matters annual conference