We present some games to you that are perfect for a brief break, after work, for instance, or for a weekend morning or evening, to allow dad and kid to take a breather and bond together. Both indoor and outdoor games are included – the choice is yours!

Outdoor Games: Sweat it Out!

1. ABC: Shoot some hoops in your neighbourhood basketball court and win the title of ABC Champion.

Activity:

In a basketball court, this game is played in the area known as the key*.

First, designate each hash mark* ‘A’ & ‘B’. The free throw line will be designated with the letter ‘C’.

Dad and child will stand at opposite hash marks, starting out at the lowest hash marks and take turns shooting the ball into the ring. Each time a player scores, he will move up to the next mark. The first person who reaches and scores from the free-throw line earns bragging rights as ABC Basketball Champion!

For an added challenge, the game can be extended to include shooting from the three point line* before ending with a free-throw. Designate the three point line ‘D’.

Equipment: Basketball or Football

*an explanation of the areas is shown here - http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/basketball1.htm (at the last two paragraphs of the page)

2. Frisbee Toss: This game develops great teamwork, the ability to match your teammate’s running pace and balance, and increase hand-eye coordination. The object is to pass a frisbee back and forth without dropping the frisbee, while running towards a target.

Activity:

First, mark out a designated start and end point across part of an open space. Next, Dad and child spread out and run towards the end point while tossing the frisbee back and forth to each other. The aim of the game is to run the distance as quickly as possible, while passing the frisbee without dropping it.

As the dad and child team get better, greater lengths, more throws and quick, criss-crossing runs could be added for added variety and challenge. Develops teamwork and cooperation in the beginner stage, while adding endless creative and fun possibilities as players improve and progress. Some of the advanced moves include no-look passes, where both dad and child have to develop a ‘telepathic’ understanding of one another on the field.

Needless to say, you will develop your stamina as well as satisfy your child's need to expend his energy.

Equipment: Frisbee

Indoor Games: Play it Cool

1. Can Shooter: Dad and child compete to see who folds a better paper aeroplane and is able to navigate it directly into the bin.

Activity:

Using sheets of unwanted used paper, dad and kid fold them into paper aeroplanes and attempt to fly them into a dustbin from a specified distance (for an easier challenge, you can substitute the dustbin for a hula hoop). Dad can also share his paper plane folding expertise with the children should he or she face difficulties. In a best of three series, father and child will have three planes each to fly into a dustbin or target. Each plane successfully landed on or in the target earns a point.

To turn the emphasis of this activity on to creativity, dads and kids could fold the paper planes for each other to throw as a test of ‘flying’ skill. In this scenario, mums can play judge for the contest.

Equipment: Used paper, Waste-paper basket or hula hoop.

2. Win, Lose or Draw: Guess the drawing with the help of clues. Hurry! You have only got a minute!

Activity:

Played in turns, father and child will each think of a word (usually of an object or animal). As a demonstration, the father will start the game and offer his clue about the chosen word by drawing it out on a piece of paper while the child tries to guess the word. The child will only have one minute to guess what the word is. The winner is the first one to guess five words correctly (do not forget the time limit).

Best played in teams, this game is perfect for the whole family to play together.

Equipment: Writing/Drawing material and blank paper.

3. Charades: Decipher each other’s actions and share in the memories.

Activity:

Also played in turns, father and child will agree on a theme, which can range from movies, to facial expressions and popular phrases or idioms. No additional clues are needed as father and child take turns to guess what the other is acting out. Time taken for each turn: 30 seconds.

Also best played in teams, this game is perfect for the whole family to create memories of fun, noisy times.

Equipment: Any cosy, comfortable space.

4. Board Games: For a quieter activity together, indulge in hours of fun with some board games.

Recommendations:

Dads, share the depth of your vocabulary with games like Scrabble and Boggle or challenge your child to a game of Battleship. Solve crimes together with Cluedo or even compete with each other with the Game of Life. To build your powers of logic and deduction, try MasterMind.

About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.