5 ways to help Dad out

(BPT) - Being a dad today brings with it many joys and challenges. From the kids' soccer games to tidying up the house to cooking healthy foods everyone actually wants to eat, it can be exhausting. Supporting Dad can make a big difference all year long, helping to reduce stress and save time. What can you do for your superhero Dad?

Spouses, partners, friends and extended family, show the favorite dads in your life a little love with these five ideas:

Be proactive: Mornings can be one of the busiest times of day for dads, especially if they have young children. Help him start the day on the right foot by prepping the family the evening before. Have kids pack their backpacks and set them by the door. Make lunches for everyone and place in the fridge for easy grab-and-go before school. Get all after-school activity gear organized. The more you do today is less he'll have to do tomorrow, and he's guaranteed to appreciate it.

Meal planning: Cooking is a lot of work. Throw in a few picky eaters, and it's a nearly impossible task. Help Dad out by cooking for a week so he can rest or do an activity of his choice. You'll likely learn a few things about the eating habits of your family and you'll be taking a big weight off his shoulders. Then consider taking a day or two each week and making it routine. For example, you could be in charge of Tuesday and Thursday dinners to streamline the busy weeknights. If you have older kids, consider having them take on one day a week as part of their weekly chores.

Smart technology: The LG WK7 ThinQ Speaker with Google Assistant built-in makes Dad's life more enjoyable, giving him a little more "me time." Dad can exercise to his favorite tunes with high-fidelity audio capabilities and improved vocal clarity thanks to Meridian Audio’s technology, or seamlessly call upon the Google Assistant for speedy info and recipes while making dinner. It differs from other Google Home devices by delivering powerful Meridian Hi-Resolution Audio and 24-bit up-sampling to sharpen subtle details and nuances of each track. Weighing in at 4.2 pounds, the WK7 is easily portable for wherever Dad goes.

Digital assistant: You probably can't afford to get him a personal assistant, but you can help him out by keeping joint calendars up to date and clearly communicating activities so everyone is organized. Having the LG WK7 is a lifesaver as well, because it comes with Google Assistant. He'll become the ultimate multi-tasker by using voice commands to set timers, ask questions, pull up podcasts and more. The built-in Chromecast makes it easy to control the speaker by smartphone if he prefers.

Household tasks: Maintaining a house is a job that never ends, and dads are taking on more and more of these tasks. Try helping him out without him asking. When he leaves, surprise him by cleaning the whole house. He'll delight at the surprise and breathe a sigh of relief when he returns home. Then, keep up the momentum by asking what one task he'd like taken off his plate. Once he answers, offer to do that regularly so it's one less thing for him to think about each week.

These five ideas can help you ease Dad's day and show him you care. That's something he deserves all year long.