Retirement is an important milestone and an emotional phase for your dad. Following a strict work-life routine for years and supporting the family were not easy things to do, but now that it is all over, the transition is not always a happy one. He needs all the support, love, and concern from his family.
Why is it Important to Celebrate this Milestone?
Sure, you don’t need a big party to express your love and concern for your dad, but a family get-together with all members present is nothing short of a big celebration. It’s time to express your gratitude, love, and support. You can help him cope with this new change, give him some happy moments, and boost his confidence for the next phase of his life.
Retirement is not something we all take very lightly. Your dad may not feel thrilled and, perhaps, he may be going through a difficult time as he adjusts to his new leisure routine and free time. So, why not set the mood cheerful, and make him feel special and loved?
Choosing Retirement Gifts for Dads
Choosing retirement gifts for dads is a major part of the celebration. You’ll want to give him something that not only expresses your love but can also come in handy and fit in his new routine.
Here are a few things to consider while choosing a gift.
Think About What He Enjoys Doing
We all have our hobbies. Even if we’re not doing them yet, we all envision ourselves doing things we love after retiring. Surprising dads with retirement gifts relating to their dream hobbies is a great way to show that you pay attention and you know much about him.
Choose Tool Kits
Tool kits are excellent retirement gifts for dads to pass the time. Your dad would have plenty of time on his hands, and what is better than a tool kit of his dream hobby? Tool kits are useful; they keep you busy, and the experience of fixing, creating, crafting or repairing is too satisfying. It would make him feel productive.
Set a Budget
The first thing to consider when buying retirement gifts for dads is the amount you’re going to set. Go easy on your budget and select a gift that doesn’t have to be very expensive but reflects your thoughtfulness and love.
Pool Resources
If you have an expensive retirement gift in mind that your dad would surely love, but you can’t afford it alone, why not ask other family members to contribute? Instead of everyone buying cheap gifts, pooling resources and getting a big item can be more useful for your dad. Doing so would reflect your family unity, and he would surely appreciate the combined effort from all his family members.
Ask Him About His Plans
You might be unaware of his plans after retirement, so it won’t hurt to discuss with him how he is planning to spend his time. You could get plenty of gift ideas after hearing his plans, and doing so could help you choose a gift that can help him on his way to his next phase in life.
Discuss with Other Family Members
This one is important. Discuss, especially with your siblings, what gift they are planning to give. You all grow up with the same father, and probably know his plans after retiring; the last thing you’d want is to give the same gifts. To save you the trouble, it’s a better idea to discuss with your other family members what they are planning to give.
Types of Retirement Gifts for Dads You Should Choose
Here we have separated different types of retirement gifts to help you choose the best one for your dad.
Stereotype Gifts
These are the usual gifts you would have seen people giving on retirement parties. These may be a pair of glasses, a mug, wine bottles, a framed photo, t-shirts, or any book.
It isn’t to say these kinds of gifts are no good for the retiring person. In the end, what matters most is the sentiments associated with the gift. So, you can choose this kind of gift but keep in mind you have better options while staying within budget.
Travel-Related Gifts
We often hear parents making travel plans to their desired part of the world after retirement. Considering this, perhaps gifting a ticket or a paid travel plan to his favorite place is the best idea.
This kind of retirement gifts for dads, like paying for the tickets or bearing the hotel expenses are very much appreciated, and we bet your dad would be really happy about it. However, this can be costly, and not everyone can afford them. So, while these are great, you don’t have to do it if you can’t afford it. Besides, there are plenty of other gift options that won’t put a dent in your paycheck (which we’ll talk about in a sec).
Hobby-Related Gifts
After spending years of hard work, it’s time to focus on the things he’s always dreamed of doing. And with this in mind, gifting your dad with something related to his hobbies is a great idea.
Hobbies are not only a great pastime, but they are also a way to spend your time productively. Whether he already has a hobby or is in search of having one, you could show your support by giving him a gift that suits his interests and preferences.
Sentimental Gifts
In the end, whatever you choose, it should convey your true feelings to your dad. Make him feel loved and appreciated. Whether you are choosing an expensive gift or opting for something easier on the pocket, it is the thought behind the gift that matters.
Give dads retirement gifts that you know he could cherish forever, something to commemorate his working days, something that has value and means something. Giving him a sentimental gift is much more special than giving an expensive one.
Gifts to Avoid
As there are some gifts you should choose for your dad’s farewell to the workforce, there are certain gifts that you better avoid.
Here are a few retirement gifts you better not give.
Any Gift with an Insensitive Comment
Remember, it’s a very critical phase in his life. He may be feeling old and in need of reassurance. Any gifts like shirts or mugs with insensitive comments relating to his age or retirement should be a big no-no.
Gag Gifts
These gag gifts may seem funny to you but he may not have the same sense of humor, and most importantly, he may be dealing with too much emotional turmoil to get your jokes. So better keep those gag gifts to yourself.
Best Retirement Gifts for Dads
If you’re still stuck on what to give your old man, we have made the job easier by handpicking some of the best gifts for your dad’s retirement.
Vivere Double Cotton Hammock
Retirement is the time in one’s life for relaxation and to focus on themselves. And what better way is there to tell your hardworking dad it’s his time to relax than to give him a gift like a hammock? You can carry this along on holidays, to picnics, camping, or it could simply be placed in the backyard to get the most of the weather.
The Vivere hammock comes with a space-saving steel stand; you won’t need trees to set it up. The steel stand allows the user to adjust the height according to preference. It also has hooks that allow for adjustment on how high or low you want to lay.
Available in three different fabrics–cotton, polyester, and weather-resistant sunbrella–the hammock comes with firm polyester strings that lasts longer than cotton ones.
Book Holder and Travel Pillow
Unlike the younger generation, who prefers to pass the time on laptops and smartphones, the older generation prefers spending time reading a good book. This book holder that doubles as a travel pillow is an excellent choice for the dad who loves books and travelling.
The book holder and travel pillow by The Book Seat is perfect for carrying along while traveling, as it is specially-designed to mold and shape itself so it could sit on any angle or surface it’s placed in.
It is embedded with polystyrene beads, which enables it to perch on any position without falling. That makes reading in beds, cars, planes, or anywhere easy and comfortable.
Holding a book constantly in one position can be uncomfortable, especially with age. But this book holder would save your dad from pains in the back, shoulders, or hands. It would also free up his hands while reading, allowing him to multitask.
This book holder comes with storage space for mobile phones, tablets, glasses, or other such items. It could also be simply folded to become a comfortable travel pillow. No doubt a great choice to gift your dear old dad for his time of relaxation.
Samsonite Winfield 2
If your dad is planning to travel to celebrate his retirement, show him you wish him a safe and happy journey by gifting him, an elegant suitcase to accompany him on those long trips. It is not only a practical gift, but it is a thoughtful one, as well.
This lightweight hardside luggage from Samsonite comes with durable spinner wheels for easy carrying and travelling. Let your dad know you want him to travel in style with the luggage’s elegant brushed structure that is hard to leave scratches on, even after long travel trips.
Its interior also holds plenty of space for the heavy packer. It has crossed straps to keep everything in place, in case of jumps or falls. It also contains a privacy curtain with a zipped section for organizing important belongings.
Samsonite Winfield 2 has super sturdy spinning wheels, making travelling for your dad easy; all he needs to do is a little pushing. This luggage is a perfect choice for your dad, and is useful for him on all types of travel trips.
Garrett Ace 300 Metal Detector
What can be better than a new hobby after retirement? Metal detecting seems fascinating, and he might be holding off his plans for too long. Now it’s time to surprise him with a complete metal detector kit along with its complete accessories.
Whether your dad is just starting this hobby or is a pro at it, this metal detector is a great option, as it’s compatible for both. The Garret Ace Metal Detector comes with a complete submersible coil and includes three accessories–easy stow headphones with adjustable volume control, environmental cover cap, and search coil cover.
This water-proof detector can detect as deep as 12 inches, and can even detect silver and gold.
This is definitely a great choice to surprise your dad on his retirement day.
Dremel 4300-5/40 High-Performance Rotary Tool Kit
Carving is an excellent hobby with lots of inner satisfaction. There’s some kind of pride and a boost to a man’s ego knowing that he’s created and carved some excellent wood and metal pieces. This power tool kit from Dremel comes with all you may need to fulfill your dad’s craft-making hobby.
It includes all types and sizes of sharp cutters, which are perfect for shaping, howling, grooving, and slotting soft metal, plastic, and wood.
The drill machine comes with a powerful motor that gives excellent performance even in demanding applications, and the best part is it can be adjusted to the speed level wanted or required.
Mobo Triton Pro Beach Cruiser Trike
What can be better than a tricycle to make your dad’s quick trip around the town? With a lot of time on hand, he sure can make use of this tricycle to have fun on beaches or any other place.
The best thing about this adult tricycle is it combines exercise and fun. It’s an excellent choice for your dad to stay active and enjoy the outdoors. Not only for exercise, this tricycle is great for leisure rides, quick trips to the market, and even taking the dog out.
You won’t have to worry about your dad’s safety or his inability to balance in his old age, as the three-wheeled bike does not require balance and it provides unprecedented stability. With dual joystick steering, maneuverability becomes easy with simple hand movements.
This tricycle is also something your dad would love to ride in because it is designed to ensure the comfort of the rider. It has an ergonomic recumbent seat that provides cushioned back support. It also has an adjustable frame to accommodate the rider’s height.
Another plus of this gift is that it’s excellent for heart patients and perfect for minimal stress exercising.
BodyBoss Home Gym 2.0
A strict office life, on top of a busy family life, probably hindered your dad from having time for working out. And with starting late in the game, he may not like to follow a strict gym routine and wants to exercise with his rules, time, and choice.
If he is either a fitness freak or someone who expressed his wishes to work out, a home gym is a perfect gift for your dad, but make sure he goes slow and he’s building up his stamina first before embarking on an extensive training program.
This BodyBoss Home Gym is everything you might be looking for your dad. It comes with a resistance band to help in all sorts of resistance training programs, and provides a healthy and safe alternative to heavyweights.
This is good for the dad who’s looking to shed off some extra pounds or just tone the body muscles.
Leather Journal Writing Notebook
Here is another great gift that can accompany your loved one on his travel trips. This antique-styled leather journal is great for taking some interesting notes while traveling, and he can make use of it in any way he likes, especially if your dad is the writer or sketcher type.
This leather journal is most perfect for travels, as its texture gives a soft and comfortable grip. It also has creamy, unlined pages made from acid-free recycled papers, making it one of the most sustainable notebooks in the market.
This notebook could be used for drawing, taking down ideas, writing poetry, or anything else. This one is a special gift for the pen and paper enthusiast dad who loves writing down his wonderful memories or ideas, so they remain there to be cherished forever.
PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 Wood Lathe HSS Chisel Set
Woodworking is a satisfying hobby and needs time, patience, and special tools. This chisel set from PSI Woodworking is another great choice for the dad who’s a crafty, carving type.
This set includes eight essential chisel pieces that are suitable for all skill levels. They all have beautiful wooden handles that are ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip, and high-speed steel blades perfect for detailed turnings. If your dad has always been the do-it-yourself kind of fella, and he wants to create woodcrafts, this gift is perfect for small projects, like turning pens and bowls, to even larger ones, such as chair and table carvings.
The chisel set packaging even comes in an elegant wooden display box that is perfect to be presented as a gift on celebrating a retirement milestone.
TACKLIFE Garden Tools Set
Gardening is a great hobby, especially with its healthy, refreshing, and very satisfying benefits. If your dad loves to spend his time in your backyard or intends to pursue farming, why not give him a gardening tool set? It’s a perfect gift for horticulture enthusiasts.
The Tacklife Garden Tools Set is made of heavy-duty stainless steel that is durable and rust-resistant, perfect for working on all types of soil. All the tools have perfect rubberized grips that are easy to use and handle, and they do not put much restraint on the wrist.
The gardening kit includes everything that you may need for tending your plants, like a weeder, two types of trowel, bypass pruning shears, a soil scoop, and a cultivator. All these are perfectly assembled in a washable and durable tote bag, made of heavy cotton and polyester, for portability and easy storage.
Now that your dad is retired, it’s time for him to practice the art of serenity and calm mind, and what better way to let him do that than to cultivate his own garden?
Conclusion
The retirement gifts for dads that you choose should not only reflect your love and concern, but it should also be useful enough for your dad to help him adjust to these new changes in life. Make sure to convey how happy and proud you are of him on his retirement day.
Choose retirement gifts for dads that are worth his time, may it be a gift that would support an existing hobby or a new activity you think he would most definitely enjoy, particularly one that he’s shown interest in.
