Updated 6/2/2021:

Struggling with what to get the dad who has it all?! Below we’ve shared some of our team’s favorite Father’s Day gift ideas, from heartwarming personalized gifts to unique yet practical finds that can be found online. Just be sure to check shipping options and place your order in time (Father’s Day is June 20th)!

Since many parks and playgrounds are still open to the public during this time, you can arrange park playdates with a neighbor you know or with family members that have children. We recommend keeping playdates limited to one other family at a single time, and connecting only with that one family (and their children) for the next few months. It is not the best idea to arrange playdates with several different families, even if you are meeting them one at a time. The key is to limit exposure, which means limiting the number of people you and your children are interacting with.

According to Wendy Proskin, M.D., pediatrician at Westmed Medical Group, it's probably possible for older kids to have safe, socially distanced playdates, but not for children younger than 3rd grade who do not yet understand the concepts of personal space and social distancing. While parents know their own kids and what they are capable of, Dr. Proskin suggests more supervision than pre-COVID playdates.

Another good idea for an outdoor playdate is scheduling times for your children to ride their bikes in the neighborhood around the same time their friends are bike-riding. This will encourage social wellness while social distancing.

A good rule of thumb is if your child has a hard time keeping his or her mask on, an in-person playdate is not a good option for you. If you do opt for playdates, be sure to encourage frequent hand-washing and pre-sanitizing playground equipment for your children embark on their outdoor adventure.

2. Virtual Playdates & Dance Parties

Whether your child wants to virtually meet up with a group of school friends or simply chat one-on-one with buddy for a few minutes, virtual interaction can help their overall well-being. Apps, websites, and services like Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp and Marco Polo make it possible for kids to have some digital time with friends.

Younger children will enjoy Facebook Messenger for Kids, which allows children to chat, play games, and add funny filters during their video calls.

Some ideas for when your kids are video-chatting are: reading to each other, dancing to the same music, working on a project together, or simply sharing ideas on what tv shows they are watching, etc. For older kids, their social lives are all online anyway, so it might be an okay time to think about relaxing screen time rules.

3. Start a Book Club or Craft Club

In addition to video game systems like Xbox Live or Nintendo Online that can be played with friends virtually, apps like online game site Pogo allow your kids to play some of their favorite board games, such as Monopoly and Yahtzee. 

Do your kids prefer card games instead? Let’s Play Uno allows them to play Uno with friends for free. Pokemon Go is another game that lets kids to interact with friends and track their activity in the game. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the game’s manufacturers have made adjustments to the game that bring the Pokemon closer to home.

5. Cook & Dine Together

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