Dads deserve to be treated to something special on Father’s Day, but they can be tricky to buy for. Here’s how different committees choose to mark the occasion.
Tasty treats
Zoe Macdonald: ‘We have sold personalised chocolates for the past three years and it works brilliantly. We buy Galaxy bars and put our own labels on them, with space for children to write their own message. If you buy chocolates from a supplier that has a sale-or-return policy, you can take some back if you purchase too many.’
Top tip: Make sure the ingredients and allergens of the chocolate can still be seen.
Katherine Roads Feander: ‘We contacted our local chocolate shop, who sold us delicious chocolate moustache lollies at wholesale prices. All we had to do was take payments and distribute the chocolates to each class. We made double our money back.’
Diane Ashford: ‘We took orders for personalised cupcakes made by a member of staff. The children placed their orders and collected them the Friday before Father’s Day.’
Marina McGee: ‘We ask a local baker to make allergen-free gingerbread men for us and package them in cellophane bags. We give out a large paper man (from Wilko) on which the children draw pictures of their fathers. These are then stuck onto the cellophane bags – they look really good.’
Creative crafts
Sally Page: ‘This year the children will be creating their own designs to be printed on mugs. There will be no outlay at all and we get a percentage for every mug ordered.’
Helena Farr: ‘We’ve sold keyrings, coasters, and cards that the children decorated themselves. This year we’re doing scratch art photo frames with a “for my dad” poem, along with a trophy design card.’
Emma Cooper: ‘We’re purchasing card frames from Baker Ross for the children to colour in. The school is going to create a decorative wordle for the centre. We’re going to ask for a 50p donation, but everyone will get one regardless.’
Great gifts
Sharon West: ‘In the past we’ve run a gift shop with presents costing up to £2.50. One year we decorated pint glasses with glass pens and baked them to make the children’s artwork permanent. This year we’re doing coasters.’
Diane Ashford: ‘We package items such as socks, smellies or keyrings in gift boxes, bags, or mugs wrapped in cellophane. It takes a bit of effort but it’s worth it, as the children and parents know these gifts can’t be bought anywhere else.’
Jodie Cox: ‘We buy gifts and sell them to the children. We get sweets, keyrings, mugs, funny glasses, socks, ties and pens, which we source from eBay, wholesalers or pound shops. We’re also lucky enough to have some talented helpers who make up craft items and frames. Items cost from 50p to £4.50. Children come into the hall throughout the day, with a time slot for each class. They choose their gifts, and we wrap them up.’
Carol Edwards: ‘We run a gift shop at lunchtime every day during the week before Father’s Day. We buy good quality mugs in bulk, wrapping all but one in advance so the children can see what they’re buying. We also buy Father’s Day cards, which the children purchase along with their chosen gift for £2.50. Each gift costs us around £1, making us a good profit. The pupils really enjoy coming to the shop and choosing a gift.’
NOTE: Concerned about upsetting children who don’t have fathers in their lives? Encourage them to use the occasion to thank anyone special – it isn’t restricted to just fathers. Take advice from your headteacher if you are in any doubt.
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