Father’s Day can be a difficult day when your dad has died.

For some people, it leads to a wave of sadness and anticipation. For others, it can feel like just another day until a card display in a shop window or a social media post catches them off guard.

If you’re supporting a child whose dad has died, you may also be wondering how to acknowledge the day without making it harder.

The truth is that there’s no right or wrong way to spend Father’s Day after a bereavement. Some people want to talk about their dad all day. Others prefer a quiet distraction. Some people do a mixture of both.

If you’re looking for ways to remember dad on Father’s Day, here are some ideas that can help you feel connected to him.

One of the easiest ways to remember dad on Father’s Day is to spend part of the day doing something he genuinely enjoyed.

That could be walking a favourite route, watching his football team, going fishing, working in the garden, listening to music he loved or visiting a place he took you when you were younger.

For children, this can also be a gentle way of learning more about who their dad was beyond photographs and stories.

Sometimes what people miss most isn’t the person themselves, but the everyday moments they shared with them.

A Dad Stories Jar is an activity for families, children and teenagers.

You can write down funny memories, things your dad used to say, favourite jokes, habits, life lessons or moments that make you smile. Fold them up and place them in a jar, then spend Father’s Day reading a few together.

For younger children, adults can help by writing the memories down for them.

You can find more creative activity ideas for bereaved children and young people here.

Memory boxes work really well for children, but adults often find comfort in them too.

The box could include photographs, letters, Father’s Day cards, tickets from days out, drawings, small keepsakes or anything else that feels connected to your dad.

The aim is to create a space where memories can be stored, revisited and added to over time.

For children who worry about forgetting their dad, memory boxes can be especially reassuring.

Not everybody wants to visit a grave or memorial site on Father’s Day, and that’s okay.

Sometimes the places that feel most connected to a person are the places where life happened.

A favourite café. A football ground. A beach. A park. A holiday spot. Somewhere he took you as a child.

Visiting somewhere that reminds you of your dad can help you feel close to him.

Writing a letter can provide a safe space to say anything you wish you had before your dad passed.

You might write about what’s happened since he died, things you’re proud of, things you’re struggling with, the football score or just how much you miss him.

For younger children, drawing pictures or writing short notes can work just as well.

The letter doesn’t need to be shared with anyone. The value comes from expressing thoughts and feelings that might otherwise stay bottled up.

Many families worry that talking about somebody who’s died will make grief worse. In reality, many bereaved people find comfort in hearing their loved one’s name and sharing memories.

Father’s Day can be a good opportunity to look through old photographs and tell stories about your dad.

Children especially benefit from hearing these stories. Every memory shared helps build a fuller picture of who their dad was and the role he played in their life.

Sometimes remembering together can feel less lonely than grieving alone.

Some people find comfort in using Father’s Day to do something positive that reflects who their dad was.

That might be helping somebody else, volunteering, supporting a local cause he cared about or raising money for a charity that meant something to him.

The activity doesn’t need to be big or public. Even a small act of kindness can feel like a meaningful way to honour his memory.

After a bereavement, families can struggle because old traditions no longer feel possible.

Creating a new tradition can help.

Perhaps every Father’s Day becomes a day for sharing favourite memories, visiting a special place, cooking a certain meal or doing an activity your dad enjoyed.

New traditions don’t replace the person who has died. They just create a new way of keeping them present in family life.

The most important thing to remember is that Father’s Day doesn’t have to look a certain way.

Some people find comfort in activities and traditions, while others prefer to keep the day simple or not acknowledge it at all.

If you’re trying to remember dad on Father’s Day, there is no right or wrong approach. You don’t have to be productive, positive or strong. You don’t have to post on social media or mark the day in a particular way.

You are allowed to spend the day however feels right for you.

At The Laura Centre, we support children and adults following the death of a parent, sibling or child.

If you’re finding Father’s Day particularly difficult this year, you don’t have to carry those feelings on your own. Our team is here to provide a safe space to talk.

To learn more and access help, call us on 0116 254 4341 or email info@thelauracentre.org.uk.