Three Relay Races for Dad's Day (continued)

Racquet Golf

Does dad love to hit the links in nice weather? Here’s a “golf” relay race that the whole family can play. Start with one lightweight bandminton racquet per team (a lightweight child’s tennis racquet will also do, or if you’re really stumped, you can try a thick whiffle ball bat). Then give each team a small (5-6”) inflated beach ball. Use the same size course as for “Dress Like Dad,” but this time, leave your laundry basket upside down to mark the far end.

To play, each team sends one racer at a time, in a relay. Keeping the beach ball no higher than your knees, bat it across the field, around the basket, and back again. First team to return all players, plus beach ball, wins the round!

“Dad ROCKS!”

This is a variation on an old favorite, “Egg Spoon Races.”  If you’re very bold, you can use plain eggs right from the carton. Most folks find, however, that hard-boiled eggs are a safer solution!

To play, you will need one large sauce spoon and eight eggs per team (okay, a couple of backups might be a good idea).  Use a non-toxic marker to mark your eggs with letters, one letter per egg, to spell D-A-D  R-O-C-K-S.  Use the upended laundry baskets to mark the end of your course, but this time, place the eggs in a shallow bowl on top. Each racer must run to the basket, scoop an egg with the spoon only (no hands!), and then, holding the spoon in front, race back to the starting line.  Players can pick up letters in any order, but by the end, the first team that can spell “Dad Rocks” completely is the winner! Leftover eggs can still be used for cooking, and eating, too, if they’re returned to a refrigerator promptly. (One note on broken eggs: for “hard core” playing, this might disqualify a team. For a fun-filled Father’s Day, we recommend a few strategic “backup” eggs. Replacements might slow a team down a little, but that way, nobody gets knocked out!)
 

No matter what games you choose on this happy day, do enjoy time together outdoors if the weather permits. Father’s Day was adopted as a time to celebrate family, and to help Dad know that whatever the ups and downs of a family’s days, he’s always loved and appreciated. That’s a great gift for fathers, and a wonderful lesson for all kids, too.