Still Social Distancing? Here’s How to Treat Dad to a Special Father’s Day Regardless

By Amelia Woolard

Father’s Day is special for many reasons. For starters, it’s a day all about the number one guy in your life: your dad! Second, even if you don’t have a close relationship with your father, it’s a great day to remember all fathers, grandfathers, and father figures, who devote themselves to raising children, grandchildren, and stepchildren. You simply cannot deny how Father’s Day is the perfect excuse to bring your family together, even if for just one day spent enjoying delicious eats and exchanging gifts. 

This year, you’ll have to celebrate Father’s Day socially distanced, and we realize that it can be quite upsetting for many. Though countless cities and states are slowly reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, many people are still choosing to stay at home, exerting an abundance of caution to avoid the virus. These unique circumstances make it all the more likely that you’ll be spending Father’s Day away from your family, or at least six-feet apart from them in an outdoor space. 

Bummed that you cannot celebrate Father’s Day in its usual fashion this year? No worries – uCribs has a few ideas if meeting up in-person isn’t an option! Here are 3 ways to celebrate your dad’s big day while socially distanced.  

Send a card or small gift in the mail. 

Have you ever noticed that the smallest things tend to evoke the most appreciation from your folks? Think about it: all those times you’ve washed the dishes without being asked, or checked the mail on your way in the door, we can bet that your parents responded with a huge hug and heartfelt “thank you.” That’s why we think you should adopt the “less is more” mindset when it comes to Father’s Day gifts. 

Though you might feel external pressures to buy your dad the latest tech gadget or another big-budget item, you have to admit that your Dad probably doesn’t need any more stuff than he already has – and, he certainly won’t care if you don’t ship a pricey item directly to his front door. (Hey, if anything, he’ll probably praise you for sticking to your budget!) Simplify things this year by dropping a nice card in the mail, or shipping a small gift attached to a thoughtful note. You can bet that your dad will enjoy the sentiment, especially if you’re separated by hundreds of miles.  

Watch a Father’s Day flick via Netflix Party. 

By now, you’ve surely heard of Netflix Party, the browser extension that allows you to watch anything on Netflix alongside friends or family members also using the platform. In fact, you might have already enjoyed quite a few films through the extension with your college pals, who are all living at home until in-person classes resume. As anyone who’s used Netflix Party will tell you, it offers a great way to socialize and pass the time, while remaining socially distanced, and that’s exactly why we recommend it—even more so if your dad is a movie buff. 

Depending on how tech-savvy your dad is, you might have to walk him through adding Netflix Party to his browser. But, once that’s handled, you’ll be set to stream and enjoy! What a Girl Wants, starring Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth, and The Week Of, featuring Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, are two solid options centered around dads, and both films are available on Netflix now. Better yet, the entire Back to the Future trilogy and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, two classic options every father and father figure is sure to love, are also currently streamable via Netflix.  

Throw a virtual party.  

With very few public spaces open for business due to the coronavirus pandemic, you’ve had to do pretty much everything online. In fact, you could say that you’ve put your high-speed Internet connection through the wringer over the past several weeks, whether through virtual dinner dates with your Mom or playing Jackbox games with friends on Zoom. Now, you can take your Father’s Day celebrations up a notch by throwing a virtual Father’s Day party for dear, ol’ Papa Bear.   

Throw Dad a small party he’ll never forget with video chatting apps, like Zoom, Google Hangouts, or FaceTime if everyone has iOS devices. Simply decide upon a time to meet up, prepare a party-friendly menu at your pad – cheese dip, anyone? – and get ready for an evening of catching up with everyone. You can even take things one step further by ordering delivery for your dad, so that he can enjoy a great meal without any meal prep or clean-up. After all, no one wants to do the dishes or take out the trash after their own party! 

Father’s Day offers a wonderful way for you to pass time with loved ones— and the big man himself. Given the current pandemic, however, it’s pretty much a given that this year’s celebrations will require some out-of-the-box thinking. These days, socialization is all about gathering in non-conventional ways – so, why not use these newly learned methods to your advantage and find a special way to pass time with dad this Father’s Day? With these suggestions, uCribs hopes to point you in the right direction. 

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