The Ultimate List of Date Night Ideas for Parents: Keeping the Sparks Alive
Date night ideas for parents can be tough to come up with, especially if you have young kids. It seems like every time you make a plan, something comes up and ruins it. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we will discuss some date night ideas that are perfect for parents who are trying to keep the sparks alive. Take your pick!
Why is date night important?
Date night is important because it allows you to spend quality time with your partner without the distractions of everyday life. When parents stop dating each other, it can be easy to drift apart. Whether you like it or not, kids can sense that tension and it can put a strain on you as a couple, and parenting. Establishing date night is a chance for you to reconnect with your partner and show your children a happy and healthy relationship.
Reasons parents stop dating each other:
- They’re too exhausted from taking care of their kids all day.
- They can’t find a babysitter.
- They don’t have the money to go out.
- They don’t have time for themselves, let alone each other.
After my son was born, my husband and I found ourselves in a rut. We were both working full-time and we had very little time for each other. Date nights became a thing of the past and we found ourselves just going through the motions day after day. It was around this time that I started to feel like something was missing in our relationship. I knew we loved each other, but I was starting to feel like we were just roommates. I decided to take matters into my own hands and start planning date nights for us.
At first, my husband was hesitant. He wasn’t sure if he could handle going out on a “date” with me after being at work all day. But I assured him that it would be worth it and that I would take care of everything. And so far, it has been! We’ve been able to reconnect and remember why we fell in love in the first place. If you’re finding yourself in a similar situation, here is the ultimate list of date night ideas for parents who are lacking in the relationship department.
How to find time for date night as parents?
This is a tough one, especially if you have young kids. If you’re both working full-time, it can be hard to find time to fit in a date night. One way to make it work is to schedule it into your week. Put it in your calendar and treat it like any other important appointment. This will help you to make time for it and to not cancel last minute. Another way to find time is to get creative with your childcare. See if a family member or friend can watch the kids for a few hours so you can have some alone time. You could also try hiring a babysitter for a couple of hours so you can go out on a date. If you are worried about the cost of a babysitter, there are a few ways to save money. You could try hiring a college student or you could also look into babysitting swaps with another family. Whatever you do, make sure you find some time for each other!
So without further ado, here are our top date night ideas for parents:
Adventurous:
- Take a dance class together
- Go rock climbing
- Visit a paintball field
- Go ziplining
- Visit a theme park
- Explore a new city or town
- Try out an Escape Room
- Visit an arcade
- Go tubing down a river
- Take some shots at a shooting range
- Visit a trampoline park
- Check out a driving range
- Go bowling
- Indoor go-karting
- Weekend road trip
Relaxing/Low-Key:
- Get a couples massage
- Bonfire and s’mores
- Cook a new recipe together
- Take a yoga class
- Visit a museum
- Go for a walk in nature
- Gaze at the stars
- Visit a winery or brewery
- Champagne and a bubble bath
- Go for a walk on the beach
- Take some golfing lessons
- Rent a movie and make popcorn
- Take a class together (cooking, painting, etc)
Inexpensive:
- Have a game night
- Make homemade pizzas
- Water gun fight
- Learn a new language together
- Have a picnic
- Create a bucket list
- Attend the local farmer’s market
- Watch the sunset/sunrise
- Play tourist and walk around your city
- Have a dance party in the kitchen
- Make a fort out of blankets and pillows
- Cook dinner together and then eat by candlelight
- Have a movie marathon
If you’re like most parents, you probably feel like you don’t have enough time for yourself, let alone your partner. But making time for date night is important for keeping the spark alive in your relationship. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive, just something that allows you to connect with each other. So whether you’re looking for something fun and adventurous or something relaxing and low-key, we hope this list has given you some ideas! Here is a free printable so you can start planning your date nights: Printable Date Night Ideas for Parents.
Do you have any other date night ideas that have worked for you? Share them in the comments below! And remember, even if it’s just once a month, making time for each other is essential!
Happy dating!