In our house, Father’s Day is less about fancy breakfast-in-bed vibes and more about the children trying to tape a bow to my head while I pretend not to notice. So this year, I’m suggesting a gift that feels very “dad”, a keepsake tin packed with tiny handmade tokens and a truly heroic stash of cheesy dad jokes.
Think of it as an emergency kit for when Dad’s humour levels drop dangerously low. One token, one joke, and he’s back to making everyone groan in seconds. Beautiful.
What is a Dad Joke Survival Kit?
It’s a decorated tin (or small box) filled with:
- Handmade “survival” tokens kids can give Dad whenever he needs a boost
- A curated collection of dad jokes that are proudly silly and 100 percent eye-roll approved
- Optional mini treats like a teabag, a sweet, or a tiny note
The best part is that it’s not a one-and-done gift. It turns into a little family tradition. Someone hands Dad a token, Dad delivers a joke, everyone pretends they hated it, everyone laughs anyway.
Supplies (use what you’ve got)
- A small metal tin (mint tin to biscuit tin) or a sturdy small box
- Size guide: aim for something that can hold roughly 30 to 50 folded joke slips, plus 6 to 12 tokens, without forcing the lid like you’re closing an overstuffed suitcase.
- Paper or thin card (cereal box card works)
- Glue stick and/or PVA glue
- Scissors (and a grown-up for the fiddly bits)
- Stickers, washi tape, paint pens, markers, scrap paper
- Optional: ribbon, felt scraps, foam shapes, googly eyes (always)
- Small token fillers: paper clips, buttons, craft sticks (lolly sticks), pom poms, clean bottle caps
Tin tip: If the tin has a shiny coating and your stickers refuse to commit, lightly rough it up with an old nail file and wipe it clean first. It can really help everything stick.
Decorate the keepsake tin
1) Clean and prep
Give the tin a quick wipe and dry it. If it’s greasy or dusty, glue will sulk and slide off.
2) Pick a theme Dad will love
Let the kids choose a theme so it feels personal. A few easy winners:
- Classic Dad: ties, tools, tiny doodled moustaches
- Sports Dad: simple balls, stripes, team colours
- Snack Dad: doodled biscuits, crisps, pizza slices
- Garden Dad: leaves, bees, little flower stickers
3) Add a big front label
Cut a label shape from card (rectangle, shield, starburst) and let kids decorate it with markers and stickers. Then glue it to the lid or front.
Try one of these label lines:
- Dad Joke Survival Kit
- Emergency Dad Supplies
- Open for a Giggle
- For Serious Dad Moments Only
4) Seal it (optional)
If you’ve got non-toxic, child-safe decoupage glue (check the label) or a thin layer of PVA (used sparingly), you can brush a light coat over paper decorations to help them last.
Drying tip: leave it to dry fully before filling the tin. Overnight is ideal if you can manage it, unless you enjoy removing pom poms from elbows.
Make the survival tokens
These are tiny homemade vouchers Dad can redeem for silly, sweet, and practical things. Kids love the idea that they’re officially in charge of Dad’s happiness. Dads love the idea that it involves tea.
Token ideas (choose 6 to 12)
- One Big Hug token
- Five Minute Quiet token (worth its weight in gold)
- Tell a Dad Joke token (kids request, Dad must deliver)
- Pick the Family Film token
- Bring Dad a Drink token (tea, water, whatever keeps him upright)
- High-Five Parade token (everyone lines up, Dad walks through like a champion)
- Extra Bedtime Story token (Dad gets to do the voices)
- Help With a Chore token (set realistic expectations, we’re going for sweet, not legally binding)
- Kitchen Disco token (one song, maximum dad dancing)
- Snack Delivery token
How to make them quickly
- Cut small circles or rectangles from card (about the size of a biscuit).
- Write the token name on one side.
- Let kids decorate the other side with doodles or stickers.
- Optional: punch a hole and tie 3 or 4 together with ribbon as a “mini token chain.”
Little-parent sanity tip: Keep at least one token that costs Dad nothing. “One Compliment” is surprisingly powerful and requires zero clean-up.
The cheesy dad jokes
Now the heart of the kit: jokes that are clean, quick, and guaranteed to earn a groan. You can write these on little slips of paper, mini cards, or craft sticks (lolly sticks). If your kids are old enough, let them copy them out, because Dad will love the wobbly handwriting more than the joke itself.
40 dad jokes for your kit
- Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom? Because the “P” is silent. (Best for older kids)
- What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese.
- I only know 25 letters of the alphabet. I don’t know y.
- Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field.
- What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear.
- Why did the golfer bring two pairs of trousers? In case he got a hole in one.
- What did one wall say to the other? I’ll meet you at the corner.
- Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot.
- What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer.
- Why did the cookie go to the doctor? Because it felt crumby.
- How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together.
- Why did the banana go to the hospital? It wasn’t peeling well.
- What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta.
- Why did the bicycle fall over? Because it was two-tired.
- What time do you go to the dentist? Tooth-hurty. (Best for older kids)
- What did the ocean say to the beach? Nothing, it just waved.
- What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie? Sofishticated. (Best for older kids)
- Why did the math book look sad? Because it had too many problems.
- Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw the salad dressing.
- What do you call a dinosaur that is sleeping? A dino-snore.
- Why did the teddy bear say no to dessert? Because it was stuffed.
- What do you get when you cross a snowman and a vampire? Frostbite.
- Why are elevator jokes so good? They work on many levels.
- What do you call a boomerang that doesn’t come back? A stick.
- Why did the computer go to bed? It needed to go into sleep mode.
- What do you call a belt made of watches? A waist of time. (Best for older kids)
- What kind of tree fits in your hand? A palm tree.
- Why did the picture go to jail? Because it was framed.
- What do you call a cow with two legs? Lean beef.
- What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef.
- Why did the broom get a promotion? It swept the competition.
- Why did the egg tell a joke? Because it might crack you up.
- What do you call a can opener that doesn’t work? A can’t opener.
- Why don’t skeletons fight each other? They don’t have the guts.
- What did the left eye say to the right eye? Between you and me, something smells.
- What do you call a pony with a sore throat? A little horse.
- How do you make a tissue dance? Put a little boogie in it.
- Why did the astronaut break up with the moon? It needed space.
- What do you call a pile of cats? A meowntain.
- Why did the stadium get hot after the game? All the fans left.
If your family loves joke crafts, you can also tuck in something from our other builds like a family joke jar or add joke slips that match reusable lunchbox joke notes energy, but in tin form.
Fill the tin
Layering is oddly satisfying here. I like to do it in three levels so it feels like opening treasure.
- Bottom layer: a handful of joke slips folded up small.
- Middle layer: the survival tokens stacked together (or bundled with a rubber band).
- Top layer: one special note from the kids, plus one “Open first” joke.
Optional add-ins
- A teabag in a little envelope
- A couple of wrapped sweets
- A tiny notepad titled “Important Dad Thoughts” (which will become a shopping list)
- A small photo of the kids (wallet size)
Safety note: If you’re adding sweets and your kids are small, skip anything with choking risk like hard mints. Also watch small loose parts (buttons, bottle caps, little pom poms) if under-3s will handle the tin, because they have a magical ability to put everything in their mouths. Keep it simple. This is a laughter kit, not a suitcase.
How to give it
I’m a fan of the low-effort reveal. Set the tin by Dad’s mug or breakfast bowl. When he opens it, have the kids hand him the first token and demand he uses it immediately.
My suggestion for the very first token: Tell a Dad Joke. It sets expectations early.
Different ages
Toddlers and preschoolers
- Let them decorate with big stickers and tape.
- Use chunky “tokens” like pom poms or big card circles.
- They can “read” jokes by handing Dad a slip and shouting, “DO THE JOKE!”
Primary school kids
- They can write the jokes and tokens themselves.
- Add a “Dad Joke Rating” token: Dad tells a joke, kids rate it 1 to 10 groans.
Tweens
- Lean into irony. Make the tin look extremely serious.
- Add tokens like “One Car Ride With No Singing” and “Explain a Meme” (Dad tries, kids suffer).
Make it an activity
To make this more than a craft, add a mini game once the tin is gifted:
- Everyone draws one joke slip.
- Dad draws one token.
- Dad reads his joke, then the family helps complete the token together.
If your house enjoys structured silliness, you might also like our Pass the Laugh parcel game for a post-lunch Father’s Day giggle session.
Quick fixes
My stickers keep peeling off
Wipe the tin, lightly rough the surface with a nail file, then use a thin layer of PVA under the sticker and press firmly. Let it dry with a book on top.
The lid won’t close
Too many 3D decorations on the rim is usually the culprit. Keep chunky bits to the top surface of the lid, not the edges.
My kid wrote every joke as “POO”
Honestly? That might be the most realistic dad joke kit possible. Add a token called “Bathroom Humour Amnesty” and move on with your life.
One last thing
Slip a note into the kit that says what the kids love about Dad. Not “You’re the best” (though yes), but specific stuff like: “You make the best toast,” or “You do the silly voices,” or “You always find my shoes.”
Cheesy jokes are brilliant, but the real survival kit is knowing you’re loved, even when your puns are truly dreadful.
Happy Father’s Day, and may your groans be loud and proud.
