There’s no doubt that as a single dad you want the best for your children, and the quality of time you spend with one another should be about productive memories and of course bonding time in order to build long-lasting memories.
Thankfully, there are plenty of things to do that do not involve lounging around the house, and if you are on some type of a budget, you will find these sports outlets wallet-friendly as well.
You see, when my daughter was around 8 years old, I found myself having to get creative due to the lack of funds I had. Let’s face it, working part-time while going to full-time school depletes your funds to the point where I even considered visiting a food bank on a regular basis.
I have always considered sports and activities as some of the healthiest ways to bond with your son or daughter, so I compiled a list of the best sports for single dads and bonding.
Now some of these sport suggestions may or may not be exactly what you’re looking for, and that’s alright. Just keep in mind that variety is the spice of life, and the more things you can introduce your children to, the better able you are in cultivating those lasting memories we as dads are all are looking for.
Cycling:
If there ever was a great way to spend quality time with your children while benefitting from low impact exercising, cycling is a great way where you can do both.
Every kid that I know loves bike riding, and cycling itself forces the parent to get involved by way of monitoring and encouraging your young ones at the very least.
If you really want to bond, however, I recommend you find some nice trails – if possible – and go out and purchase a bike of your own.
If you really want to take bonding with your child to the next level, I recommend you go out and grab yourself a 2 seater.
I also recommend that you check with your child first because if you have ever seen the two-seater bicycle in action, it does look a bit awkward at first, so if you do have the opportunity to try it out for yourself first that may be the better option.
Another good pointer I can offer is that if you take the time and visit Craigslist, you can probably get some nice bikes that are gently used for rock-bottom prices.
I have purchased all our bikes second hand, and in my experience, they work just fine, and you don’t have to break the bank either.
Wrestling:
Wrestling is perhaps one of the oldest sports known to man, dating back several thousand years BCE, so why not take some elements of fun out of the sport and apply it to your own bonding experience with your children?
Before I had children, I used to think that only boys would appreciate the nature of play fighting and that girls would generally shy away from the sport.
Call me sexist back then, but when I had my first daughter, I was proven shamefully wrong…
True, boys tend to enjoy ramping up the intensity levels of the game, but if you have daughters they too can enjoy the game, especially if you aren’t afraid to throw a few tickles in the equation.
Like any game, by throwing some positive reinforcements in such as:
Wow you’re really strong!
Or better still:
I can’t believe how good you are, I can’t even hold you down!
It is sure to keep them active in the game while maintaining their motivation level high as well.
Perhaps, one of the best takeaway from the sport of wrestling is that it does boost their self-esteem, and it does teache them how to escape certain holds if heaven forbid they are ever in a physical encounter.
Ball Games:
What kid doesn’t enjoy playing baseball, and I have never met anyone kid who certainly doesn’t enjoy throwing a ball around and playing catch.
Quite literally, you could go out and spend less than $50 for some mitts and a ball and, in turn, enjoy hours of fun practically anywhere…
You could even combine this game with other sports like hiking or cycling by packing everything up in a handy backpack, and then when you find the right spot to play catch simply unload everything and within a minute you’re good to go.
I know first hand, that growing up without a father, there more days where I used to fantasize about having a dad spend some time with me playing a simple game of catch. As a dad, I’m sure you understand the notion that even the simplest things make a child’s world spin with joy.
My point? Never underestimate the concept of the simplest things in life can bring you the most joy, and I believe this is especially true when it comes to children. After all, the most important thing you can give to a child is your time and attention.
Climbing:
Back in the day, I remember as kids we would gather in groups as friends playing outside, and always looking for something new and adventurous to climb; and it really didn’t matter what it was – a tree, the school, hills – anything really that posed as a challenge.
Sadly, those days appear to be long gone amidst all the technological toys such as smartphones and video games.
Despite what appears to be a bleak outcome for the game of climbing, there are still some dads out there who have decided to continue on with this age-old tradition and pass the torch on to their children.
While not every dad may want to embark on their childhood memories by climbing actual trees, it’s good to know that taking your son or daughter to a rock climbing facility is fun like hell, and it serves as an awesome way to bond and create new memories.
And the best part?
It’s an awesome workout where you will quickly discover that you used muscles you never knew existed.
So go on, drive on over to your nearest rock climbing facility and have a blast!
Hiking:
Similar to climbing, hiking may not really be classified as a sport per se, but I thought to include it anyway because it’s an excellent way to get in great shape while bonding with your children as well.
Not only can you map out some great areas, but it provides a wonderful way to converse and get your kids to practically open up about life as well.
There’s something to be said about the outdoors that provides a natural euphoria while breathing in what mother nature has to offer, and that euphoria is then transmitted to you and your child while bonding.
And the really cool thing about hiking in the outdoors is that no matter what your income level is, all you really need is a decent pair of outdoor boot – or shoes – to enjoy a day of necessary bonding.
Conclusion:
Thanks for taking the time to read my post, and while I may not have listed all of the best sports for single dads and bonding, I feel that the ones listed are some of the most common sports that most dads enjoy with their children.
If you have any sports that you enjoy with your children that have aided in your ability to bond with them, I would certainly love to hear them, so please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
I am always looking for new ways to enjoy sports and the positive effects it does have between dads and their children, so your thoughts, experiences, and opinions matter a lot to not just me, but also my readers as well.
Cheers!
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