After child support and rent on a two-bedroom, there isn't a lot left over for go-karts. That's fine. Kids don't need go-karts. They need you paying attention. Here's what's worked for us, plus ideas other dads have e-mailed in. The ones with a name after them came from somebody else. Thanks, guys.

Around the House

1. Make pancakes shaped like the first letter of everybody's name. The R's never come out.
2. Build a blanket fort in the living room and eat supper in it.
3. Teach them one real tool. Cody can use a screwdriver better than some guys on my crew.
4. Let them plan and cook a whole supper, start to finish. Hannah's spaghetti night is a tradition now.
5. Card games. Crazy Eights, War, Go Fish, rummy when they're older.
6. Tape-record a pretend radio show on the cassette player. Play it for Grandma.
7. Wash the truck together. Everybody gets wet. That's the point.
8. Start a jigsaw puzzle that stays out on the table between weekends. It's still there when they come back. (from Gary in Nebraska)
9. Write letters to their grandparents. Real ones, with stamps.
10. Rent a movie and make popcorn on the stove the old way.

Out and About

11. The public library. Free, air conditioned, and they each get their own card. Story time on Saturday mornings for the little ones.
12. Go fishing. A pond, some worms, a bobber. It doesn't matter if you catch anything. We never do.
13. Fly a kite. Iowa has never once run out of wind.
14. Walk a creek. Old sneakers, look for crawdads, fossils and neat rocks.
15. Go watch a high school football game on Friday night. Cheap tickets, a whole lot of noise, and a concession stand.
16. Find a free open house at the fire station. Ours does one in October. (from Mike in Ankeny)
17. Ride bikes on a trail. We've done a little piece of a rail trail every summer weekend.
18. The farmers market on Saturday morning. Give each kid two dollars to spend however they want.
19. Go to the airport and watch the planes take off.
20. Minor league baseball. Cheap seats, and kids can run around.
21. Drive out to see the leaves in the fall, and stop at an orchard for apples.
22. The State Fair in August, if you can swing it. Pack sandwiches and splurge on one thing on a stick apiece.
23. Go look at the Christmas lights in December with a thermos of cocoa. (from Terry in Missouri)
24. Visit a pet store and name all the fish.
25. Go to a museum on its free day. Call ahead and ask when that is.

Things That Take No Money At All

26. Lie in the yard and look at clouds or stars.
27. Go for a walk and let the kid pick every turn.
28. Let them teach YOU something. Cody taught me the names of about a hundred Pokemon. I remember four.
29. Look through old photo albums from when they were babies. They love this.
30. Make a time capsule for the year 2000 and bury it in Grandma's backyard. (Ask Grandma first.)
31. Have a talent show. Two-person audience. Everybody wins.
32. Read a chapter book out loud at bedtime, a chapter each visit. We're halfway through Charlotte's Web.
33. Go to the park and just play catch. My dad did it with me. I'm doing it with them.
34. Rake leaves into a pile and jump in it. Rake again. Jump again.
35. Draw a map of your neighborhood together. (from Dave in Illinois)
36. Sit on the front steps with a popsicle and talk about nothing.
37. Help a neighbor with something. Kids should see their dad do that.
38. Go to church together if that's your thing. Ours has donuts after.
39. Plant something in a coffee can and let it live at your place. Hannah's tomato plant is the best-cared-for thing in my apartment.
40. Just ask them how they're doing. Then be quiet and listen.