Thanks to Gretta Keel from Sasebo, Japan for this most excellent Father's Day gift idea.

"Some dads are away from home and whether on a business trip or out to sea serving his country, I've found it's really comforting when the kids make Dad a survival kit."
-Gretta

What You Need:

• small box
• magazines
• scissors
• glue
• pencils
• crayons
• paper
• envelope
• string
• contact paper
• assorted goodies

What You Do:

1. Decorate a small box with a picture collage from magazines or drawings and secure it with clear contact paper.

2. What goes inside? What does dad need to remember that you are thinking of him?
   • Dad needs a photo of you, maybe surrounded by a homemade frame.

   • He'll need a paper heart to remind him you care.

   • A Band-aid in case he needs some TLC

   • A Quarter or a Phone card so he can call home. (or ride the pony at the store)

   • A home made ID card with your fingerprints on it so he knows what kid he belongs to.

   • A drawing of you and him eating Mom's cookies together or some other activity you share.

   • A piece of paper,and a stamped,addressed envelope, to mail you a letter

   • A Hershey's kiss (or a lipstick print on paper)

   • A personal item such as a rock, if you and dad like to collect them, or a fish hook taped to a card...

   • A cassette tape, with you telling dad a bedtime story.

   • An I love you dad note in your best printing.

   • A tracing of your handprint with a piece of string glued around one of the fingers, and words that say "Don't forget, I'm thinking of you"

   • One of your small toys, like a small action figure or doll. So he can think about playing with you.

   • Things you can never find when you need them, a rubber band, a paper clip, a thumb tack, a safety pin...

3. Put everything inside the box, tie the box shut with a ribbon or a piece of yarn and label it "Dad's survival kit"

4. You may want to put your dad's name on it if he's going to be around a lot of other people called Dad too.