How to Reach Out to an Absentee Dad With a Father's Day Smiley

This year, the 3rd Sunday of June is marked red in most family calendars. This is the day families in the US and in other parts of the world celebrate fathers of all ages, and sizes. Other countries celebrate Father's Day differently; Christian countries have a long-running tradition of celebrating it during the Feast Day of St. Joseph who was the surrogate father of Jesus. Regardless of day and the manner it is celebrated, Father's Day gives tribute to fathers who, by differing degrees, have touched their children's lives.

However, not all children have fond memories of how they were raised by their dads; in fact some of them may have a vague recollection of how their fathers looked like. These are children who were either caught in the dilemma of divorce, or may have lost their dads to untimely demise, and either way deprives a child of the wonderful experience of how it is to grow and develop under the nurturing love and guidance of both parents.

How to Reach Out to an Absentee Dad

Regardless of how marriages turned out to be, most children of divorce still look forward to greeting their dads on Father's Day. Most fathers, despite of divorce and separation, still remain in contact with their children, but it could not be denied that the numbered days in a week for fathers and their children to bond aren't enough; even worse, when fathers live in another state or have new families. Distance can make hearts grow fonder, sometimes it makes hearts forget.

For children who would want to bridge the gap between them and their fathers, brought about by circumstances, distance or lack of time, Father's Day is the opportune time, as the effort does not appear "forced". Here are 5 unique ideas that would not cost much;, in fact, ALL of these are free:

1. Send in Father's Day Smileys in your email. Smileys or Emoticons are lovable images you can access on the internet that you can send in your emails. As there are animated smileys, what you lack in words to put on paper, animated emoticons can supply. It is understandable that distance and lack of time between children and fathers to bond can create a feeling of aloofness, even animosity and expressing love to long-lost fathers may not be easy. Cool smileys that come in various designs suited for Father's Day easily fills the void where your keyboard may simply falter to key-in words that clearly express your love to your father, despite of all that has happened.

Email smileys and see the difference between your email that has none and your email with smiley icons. Smiley emoticons for Father's Day Celebration come in lots of designs, but most email users prefer sending those Zaazu email smileys of a father with beer drink in hand, grilling steak and the "No. 1 Dad" on thick-brimmed glasses holding a coffee cup. There are many other Father's Day-themed smiley emoticons on the internet, but for a quick find, you may try Zaazu.com.

2. Avail of free-hosting, create your Father's Day Blog. Wordpress, Blogger, and Freewebs host blogs for free; would you not have time in your hands to create your father a blog for posterity?

3. Introduce your Dad to the fun world of online gaming. Unlike mothers, most dads find it hard to crack into their children's private worlds. Most of them do not possess the ability to transcend the emotional barrier that builds up due to circumstances prior and after a separation or divorce.

Children may also feel detached, as well as fathers who could be reeling in guilt. On Father's Day, it may be a good idea to meet up with your long-lost father and discuss, not the past, but your favorite online game and invite him to join you. Prod him on; oftentimes, this seemingly neutral landscape can be good for rekindling father-son/daughter bonding, which time and events may have dimmed.

4. Create your page in a social networking site and share it with Dad. Multiply, MySpace, Friendster and other social networking sites are the best social hubs where Dad can meet your friends and rediscover who you are. This can be special since you can celebrate its "anniversary" with your Dad next year. On MySpace and Friendster, you can play up your expressions with the use of animated emotions

5. Create your Father's Day Special on YouTube, starring you and your Dad. Gather old photographs of you and your dad, and remember a song you used to like, which brings happy memories back. Put them all up with some of your favorite quotes, and create a Father's Day Special that you and your Dad will remember for years. You can start a trend, too.

Happy Father's Day!

How Fathers Can Help Kids Succeed in School - Two Easy Ways That Won't Cost a Cent

You love your children, that's a given. You want them to be at least as successful in school as you were, maybe more so.

But sometimes you're not quite sure how to help your kids to become successful, right?

If this fits, please read on.

First, understand that as a dad, you are incredibly important to your children whether you live with them or not. Don't ever think otherwise. Even if society has labeled you a deadbeat dad, you are still important.

Understand that what kids need most from you actually doesn't take money, though providing for them financially is important.

Dads, here are two significant no-cost things you can do to help your kids achieve. It's best to start these at an early age, but if you didn't, it's not too late. You can start today.

1) Talk with your kids. That means more than asking "Did you do your homework?"

Instead, try conversation starters like "Tell me about..." or "What do you think about..." or "Describe..."

Then count to 10 very slowly in your head before you say anything else. Give them the time they need to gather their thoughts--teachers call that "wait time."

Listen carefully to what your child says and ask at least one follow-up question. "Why...?" is often a good one. Or try, "Yes, and anything else?"

Don't hesitate to use big words when you talk with your children. That's how they learn them. Kids need to hear words from your mouth, not the television, radio, or computer.

There was a study recently of how many words young children hear in their homes. What they found was that the average four-year-old in a welfare family has heard only a third of the number of words that a child in a professional family has. And a child's vocabulary at age three predicts their reading success throughout their school life.

It costs nothing to talk with and listen more to your children. Overall, be quick to encourage and slow to criticize as you converse with children. It's easy, with a little practice. You can do it.

And it's also good to sing to them, even if it's a little awkward at first. Let your voice convey your loving.

2) Read aloud to your kids. Part of the job of a father is to introduce kids to the world in safe and fun ways.

Reading books can do that. Books teach kids about words, history, geography, people, feelings, and science-well, just about almost everything.

It is especially important for boys to see men reading--often! This means both reading aloud to them and reading by yourself.

If you're not a big reader of books yourself, get magazines (appropriate ones!) or newspapers you like and make sure your kids see you reading them.

Children learn by watching what their parents (or adults around them) do and then copying that.

Realize you can help your kids be successful in school by just talking and reading with them. For as you know, scholastic achievement and success in life depends a lot on the ability to use language.

And finally, for the few short years your children are young, enjoy them wholeheartedly! That helps them succeed, too.

"Your children need your presence more than they need your presents."