This year for Christmas, our girls did an epic job of gift-giving. Emma got Kate her favorite Phoebe Bridgers album on vinyl and Kate got her sister a stuffed animal that is the twin of our dog, who she misses desperately, away at college. 

Emma bought her dad an Atlanta-themed beer glass due to his obsession with beer glasses which is currently a water glass because, Dry January. And she gave me a puzzle that we put together over the break. Kate gave me perfume that makes me “smell like Aunt Susie” (truly a gift for all of us) and she bought her dad Hamilton tickets. 

All gifts were purchased with their own money. Even the Hamilton tickets. 

Each present was so beautifully curated for its intended receiver and the entire experience left me with a tingly joy that’s still with me. The most exciting moment, of course, was when Ryan opened the envelope containing the tickets to his favorite musical of all time, which is saying something because my husband loves every musical he sees. 

But it wasn’t just the musical itself, it was the fact that it was an experience. Long before he looked at me several years ago and told me that he wanted to focus more on experiences and less on stuff, he’d been a dad keen on spending time with his daughters. 

Father-daughter bonding can start early.

“Who wants to come run errands with Daddy?” he’d holler from the bottom of the stairs on Saturday mornings when the girls were still toddlers. 

Inevitably, they’d come pattering quickly down the stairs… or in Kate’s case, sliding down backward since she was barely walking but still wanted in. Eventually, when his little girls realized what errands actually were and they weren’t as easy to coax away from their favorite TV show, the promise of donuts usually did the trick. 

As their schedules got busier and Saturday mornings filled up with soccer games, group projects, and going to the mall (with their friends), the girls had less free time to hop in the car with their dad. No surprise, this is when he started coaching girls soccer, basketball, and whatever else they did. 

As they grew into teenage girls, it became more challenging for Ryan to get quality time with them. He became more intentional about creating and gifting experiences, set aside time for daddy-daughter dates, and made an effort to connect with them. 

The relationship between dads and daughters is deeply important.

Fathers have a uniquely important role in the lives of their daughters. We know from research that girls who have strong, healthy relationships with their dads tend to be more well-adjusted, emotionally resilient, and successful. 

Building into any relationship takes time, creativity, and intention, especially with teen girls. In addition to coaching, Ryan took them golfing (with high hopes and to no avail), out to eat at their favorite restaurant, and weekends that I was away were aptly named, “Daddy Daughter Funfest.” 

Now that our girls are young adults, things have changed a little. He still takes them to lunch, will swiftly spend a small fortune to see their favorite music artist, and sometimes still promises them a donut. But they require little encouragement, they like hanging out with him. He’s a great dad. And he doesn’t have to conjure up father daughter errands to run just to have one-on-one time with his older daughters. 

It was never really about the errands anyway. 

Like everything else, however, doing the same stuff can get old, and inspiration to come up with new things can be lacking. Creating a special bond between dad and daughter is important to your family values, but gone are the days when a simple tea party will do the trick. 

So I’ve created the list to end all lists! 

115 Fun Father Daughter Bonding Activities for Your Teenager

Your Teenager’s Bedroom

If your daughter is anything like mine, she spends a lot of quality time in her room. So why not help make that space as cozy, clean, and comfortable as possible? By helping create her perfect space, not only will you strengthen that father-daughter relationship, you’ll probably be her own personal hero. 

1. Paint her walls a new color.

2. Help her clean her room.

3. Organize her desk. 

4. Hang pictures. 

5. Find or build new shelves. 

6. Paint an old piece of furniture a new, fun color. 

7. Transform her little girl room into a teen hangout. 

8. Paint a mural on her wall.

Teach Her a New Skill

Every dad has plenty to teach his young girls and with teenagers, it’s even more important. There’s a lot a kid needs to learn before she moves out. When you turn skill-building into father daughter bonding, you strengthen your relationship. 

9. Teach her how to change a flat tire. 

10. Show her how to check the oil.

11. Make sure she knows how to do laundry.

12. If you have a manual car, teach her how to drive a stick shift. 

13. If you have a special hobby, like woodworking, share that with her. 

14. Take some time and teach her about personal finances (maybe do this one while also eating ice cream).

15. Teach her how to play chess (which brings us to the next section…)

Games

Playing games is such a fun way of spending time together. And kind of like driving, sitting, and playing a game allows for freer conversation. When you’re not looking at each other, whether your gaze is outside or pulled toward a gameboard, you’re more likely to talk.

The teen years can be tumultuous ones, and making plenty of time and opportunity to chat is more important than ever. Creating a light atmosphere by doing a fun activity gives your teen daughter a safe space to relax and have a great time, and she’ll be more likely to open up. 

16. Play board games. 

17. Play card games that she knows. 

18. Or teach her a new card game and play it together. 

19. Play a video game that she loves. 

20. Do a puzzle. 

21. Work on a crossword. 

Sports

Whether it’s working out, kicking a ball around, or cheering on a beloved team, when you’re doing something athletic, there’s no doubt that you’ll have a good time together while also creating a strong father-daughter bond. 

As our girls entered high school, it was even harder for Ryan to find time with the girls. He couldn’t coach their teams, so he tried to find other ways to connect with sports. Helping Kate practice lacrosse, going for a hike with Emma, or dragging them to a baseball game were just a few of the ways that he spent time with them during this important transition. 

You’ll need to find the best activities for your family, but here are a few things to try:

22. Walk around the neighborhood.

23. Go take a hike. (Literally)

24. Run together… you could even train for a race. 

25. If your daughter plays a sport, practice with her. 

26. Go to a local sporting event– let her pick! 

27. Get tickets to watch your favorite team. 

28. Go ice skating.

29. Head to your local park– bring a soccer ball or a kite. 

30. Go for a bike ride. 

31. Find a new activity and try it together, like rollerblading or yoga. 

32. Take her golfing. 

33. Or play miniature golf instead. 

Mix it Up in the Kitchen 

You don’t need to be a culinary whiz to bond with your daughter in the kitchen. The most important thing is that you find something you can do together. And who knows, you might even end up making a delicious family meal! Check out these breakfast ideas for inspiration.

Whether you’re handing down a family recipe or experimenting with something new, making food together is such a good opportunity to spend special time together, have a lot of fun, and create something delicious… or at least (hopefully) eatable. 

34. Make homemade pizzas. 

35. Bake brownies.

36. Find a recipe online and make it together.  

37. Play “Chopped.” (Give each other mystery ingredients to create a dish.)

38. Decorate cookies. 

39. Make dinner for the family. 

40. Make these kitchen sink sundaes. 

41. Throw a father daughter dinner party and invite friends. 

Day Dates

Daddy-daughter dates can be as simple or extravagant as you want them to be. The idea is to spend time together. It can be a few hours or a whole, special day. Everyday things like a trip to the grocery store or running errands can be an easy way to carve out time. You don’t have to create the perfect day, sometimes just being in a different environment and doing something basic together can be all the excitement you need.  

Then again, it doesn’t hurt to plan something really spectacular every once in a while. Here are a few fun ideas:

42. Go for brunch. 

43. Head to the movie theater and watch a new release. 

44. Have dinner at her favorite restaurant. 

45. Go to an amusement park and ride all the roller coasters. 

46. Browse through a bookstore. 

47. Go to an event she loves, like a Minecraft Convention or poetry reading. 

48. Take a day trip to a new city. 

49. Plan a fancy lunch date. 

50. Get ice cream. 

51. Go to the zoo. 

52. Have a picnic.

53. Do something adventurous like bungee jumping.

54. Go horseback riding. 

55. Go to the gym and workout together or try a group class like bootcamp.

56. Try rock climbing. 

57. Go bowling. 

58. Pick some apples (or whatever fruit is in season). 

59. Go fishing. 

60. Get pedicures. 

Road Trip

When you’re looking for more than a quick trip, an overnight or even a long weekend could be the perfect way to spend valuable time together. These teenage years are fleeting, getting away with your girl for a few days can be a good idea, especially if you don’t spend as much time together as you’d like. 

61. Roll up your sleeping bags and go camping. 

62. Take a weekend trip to a big city she’s always wanted to see. 

63. Plan a trip around a concert or favorite musical. 

64. If you’re really brave, hop in your car, drive, and see where you end up!

65. During a family vacation, find opportunities to go off and spend a couple of hours together. 

The Local Art Scene

In nearly every city, there are new places to visit. You don’t have to travel far to enrich your lives with cultural experiences… the next great idea might be in your very own town. 

66. Check out local cultural events and choose something to do. 

67. Visit the library. 

68. Spend a Saturday afternoon downtown and just see what’s going on. 

69. Get tickets to the symphony. 

70. See a comedy show. 

71. Go to a book signing. 

72. If it’s the holiday season, go to a light show. 

73. See a play.

74. Wander around a local art gallery. 

75. Take a class together: cooking, pottery, dance.  

76. Go to a museum. 

77. See a concert together. 

78. Pretend you’re tourists and take a tour of your downtown (a Segway or a food tour is a great way to go). 

79. Take a photography class. 

Keep it Simple

You don’t need to wait for a special occasion or Father’s Day. There are plenty of fun things to do… even in your front yard or your very own living room. 

80. Have a movie night– let her pick. 

81. Show her one of your favorite shows or movies from back in the day. 

82. Watch a sporting event you’re both into. 

83. Make s’mores in the backyard. 

84. Have a living room picnic.  

85. Watch her favorite TV show together. 

86. Find a TV show you both love and binge it.

87. Read the same book and talk about it– a book club for two. 

88. Wash the dog. 

89. Clean up the yard. 

90. Plant flowers and work in the garden. 

91. Do some projects around the house. 

Give Back 

We all know that the best way to feel good about ourselves and experience deep gratitude is to be generous in spirit. This is the perfect time to give your teenage daughter new opportunities to give back and be a good role model for her.

In many high schools, volunteer hours are required for graduation, which makes for an excellent excuse to spend this kind of time together. 

92. Ryan routinely volunteers at Fully Furnished Ministries and this year Kate joined him. 

93. Go to a local animal shelter. 

94. Stock shelves at a food bank. 

95. Serve food at a shelter. 

96. Collect canned goods for the local food pantry. 

97. Raise money for a local charity. 

98. Hand out bottles of water and granola bars to the homeless. 

99. Pick up litter– on your own or join a community clean-up. 

100. Help a neighbor with yard work. 

101. Bake cookies for a friend. 

102. Make a meal for someone going through a hard time. 

Go Back to Your Own Childhood

Maybe Dad loved building as a kid, drawing, or playing a sport. Whatever it was, sharing that with your daughter can build a strong relationship.  

103. Build a birdhouse.

104. Get an intricate Lego set and build it together.

105. Draw or color (adult coloring books are the bomb). 

106. Make a model airplane. 

107. Teach her how to play golf. 

108. Explain the rules of football or baseball. 

109. Find a craft you can do together. 

Lean into Love Languages

Is her love language quality time or gifts? Maybe it’s acts of service, words of affirmation, or physical touch. Whatever it is, being a loving father sometimes means speaking her love language. 

110. Let her plan the day, and do whatever she wants. 

111. Surprise her with a clean room or by doing her laundry. 

112. Buy her that water bottle she’s been wanting. (Yes, another water bottle. Water bottles are also a love language.)

113. Write her a letter or leave her little notes; tell her what makes her special. 

114. Give her a hug, just because. 

115. Hold her hand while you take a walk. 

It feels like just yesterday that she was riding on your shoulders or dancing with her feet on yours… it goes by so fast. So treasure the years you have, take advantage of the moments when you can grab your keys and tell her to hop in the car, and more than anything else, more important than the perfect day or even the perfect ice cream sundae, always let her know how much you love her.