About two years ago, after seeing how busy our family life could get sometimes and also realizing our children were needing some more structured one on one time with us, my husband and I came up with our family tradition of one on one parent/kid dates. Each month one of us takes one of our children on a 'date.' Since we have three kids, it divides quite nicely with each month of the year...so by the end of the year each child has gone on four dates, two with each parent.
It's always fun to take a 'selfie' on our dates.
We still of course have many unstructured times where we try to spend one one one time with our kids, but our planned one on one dates have helped us make sure one on one time is consistently happening. And the kids love them. They always get so excited when they know their turn for a date is coming up.
At 'Pinkalicious: The Musical' with my little girl.
The dates are super simple and usually cheap. Sometimes my husband and I ask the kids what they want to do, and sometimes we plan it ourselves. Some of our past dates have included: dinner picnic and play at the park, go to a show together, visit a museum together, swimming, hiking, playing on the play place at the mall and getting ice cream, bowling, etc.
Ok Mom, I guess I'll take a picture with you. :)
I think it is so fun to spend one on one time with my kids. I have my time and attention focused on just them. I get to hear whatever they have on their mind or want to talk about, or ask them questions about the things they're liking or thinking about. Most of all, I love hearing them tell me how much fun they had. Dates don't have to be extra amazing or extra special or incredible. All that matters, and what the kids remember, is the special time they got to spend with mom or dad, just the two of them.
My little girl and I decided to be 'twinners' for our date.
What about you? How do you spend one on one time with your kids? If you have any good date ideas for kids that are simple, please share!
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