It seems to me that the older the kids get, the harder it is for us to spend time together as a couple on our own.
I must admit that I always thought it would be the other way round and that as they got older we’d have more ‘couple’ time together but actually, they go to bed later now which cuts down on time together on a night and when we do plan to go out it can seem a shame not to take them with us if we know it’s something we’d enjoy doing as a family.
But, we do need to make time together as a couple without the kids and we make sure that this happens at least two nights a week – no children, no electronics and no phones! Considering the little amount of time we have on our own together, we don’t want to spend half our night trying to decide what to do so I thought I’d write a list of ideas – a bit like the bored jar list I wrote last year although I’m not sure if I’m going to get around to actually writing them on lolly sticks like I did with the bored jar!
- Go to the cinema – promotions like Orange Wednesday can keep the price down on this a little bit.
- Spend the money you’d use going to the cinema on a DVD you’ve both fancied for a while and a bag of popcorn.
- Learn to do something together by going to a night class – cooking, dancing, a new language…. anything.
- Have a mini casino night by playing blackjack and poker together.
- Go to a comedy night together – our local one is cheap and there’s always at least one good act on. Even the bad acts are so funny that they make you laugh.
- Go to the funfair together – a funfair visits our town about twice a year and it’s a completely different experience without the kids asking to go on everything and wanting candyfloss/hotdogs/other random sugar filled treats.
- Pop along to a local pub quiz and see how you fare against the regulars.
- Write a bit of a couples bucket list and try and work through it together.
- Cook a favourite meal / cake together and sit and eat it in peace without the kids.
- Find your nearest crazy golf course and go see who’s the best.
- Get a massage book out from the library and practice on each other.
- Have a board game night together.
- Take the dog on a nice long walk together.
- Have a picnic – at home or somewhere outside.
- Play cards together.
- Go play laser quest together.
- Get together with your friends and have a bit of a come dine with me night.
- Do lunch – a date doesn’t have to be on a night.
- Ice skating can be a lot of fun although I prefer the hot chocolate we have when we’re done.
- It’s not just the kids who have fun on the XBox – we love playing against each other when they’re in bed.
- Go on a bike ride.
- If you have the same taste in music, you could go to a concert together.
- Have a homemade pizza and movie night.
- Treat yourselves to a spa experience – sites like Groupon regularly have these on offer so keep an eye out.
- Go bowling.
- Watch TV – sometimes the simple things are the best.
- Go to the car boot sale together.
- Play 20 questions – write 20 questions you want to ask your partner and take it in turns to ask away.
- Find a museum that interests you and go along without the kids.
- Go out for the day somewhere you’ve never been before and explore together.
- Go for a walk together by the sea and get fish and chips.
- Visit local landmarks together.
- Play truth or dare.
- Go geocaching.
- Pack a bottle of wine and two glasses and go watch the sunset somewhere.
- Why not get hold of a box set of a TV show that everyone’s talking about and have a TV marathon. We’ve just done this with How I met your mother and loved it!
- Decorate (probably wishful thinking on my part).
- Bake a cake together.
- Go out for a meal to a local restaurant but make sure you get the best deal by checking online for discount vouchers first.
- Take a bottle of wine and visit family or friends who you haven’t seen for a while.
- Do nothing but talk and catch up with each other.
- Go to a football match or another sports event.
- Try Go Karting or Quad biking.
- Sit and do a crossword together.
- Play rude word scrabble.
- If it’s snowing, build a snowman or go sledging.
- Wash the car together and don’t forget to make sure you splash your partner as often as possible.
- Have a look through some old photo albums and listen to some old CD – we did this a while ago and had a great night.
- Re-create your first date.
- Go to a theme park together without the kids – you can actually sit next to each other on rides! 😉
Anything else that I’ve missed?
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ninja cat says
wonderful list of ideas
TheMadHouse says
Oh this is lovely. It is my 19th wedding anniversary on Tuesday
@HappyHomebird says
Some lovely ideas – me and the OH have never had a date in 4.5 years! We are supposed to be going to a concert in May but getting anybody in the family to babysit is such a big deal so we may end up selling the tickets now. Humph!
Clare Mansell says
If 37 counts as a date night, we are having non-stop date nights and I have the paint in my hair to prove it! ;-P
Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says
We have made Friday nights our date night. We have some nice cheese, bottle of red wine and either watch a movie or something on tv 🙂 great list x
Steph says
Impressed that there are fifty! We went bowling recently – much to the amusement of our friends. But sometimes conversation can feel so forced over a meal? Date nights are essential, so thanks for this x
Bek says
So many great ideas, thank you! We always struggle for ideas. I love popcorn and DVD nights though.
Emmys Mummy says
Oh no…..I thought once they were older we would get more time. There is no home for me and hubby then.
What a great list
Michelle Ordever says
A great list of ideas! Having a date night every once in a while is so important in keeping the love alive!!
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Lucy dorrington says
What a lot of ideas, if you have one a week, that's practically a year taken care of, then you could just start again!
Sonya Cisco says
You wont be surprised to know going to see a gig is our favourite date night! More regularly though, we manage to persuade the teenager to babysit while we pop out for a meal. Fab list of ideas x
Kizzy says
These are great ideas, need to find the time for a date night now!
Terry says
Oh how nice!! My Hubs and I are going on our first date night in years!! I can use all the helpful tips I can get. Thank you.
Mums do travel says
These are all great ideas. You're right, it's really important to make time to be with your partner away from the kids.
Keri-Anne says
Great ideas. I love the idea of recreating your first date 🙂 x
Kerry says
Great idea, we don't get date night in our house but i will keep them in mind for the future! x
laura redburn says
so many good ideas! we spend plenty of time together, but rarely go on ‘dates’ ..i very much dislike the word, but i like the idea 🙂
activities4kidz says
Love these ideas! Having two toddlers who are rubbish sleepers means we get very little time as a couple! Can't even leave them with anyone to babysit as youngest is still breastfed!
Jo Bryan says
I love this, we have a date night, so important.
youbabymemummy says
So many ideas! I am tired just reading it all. We don't spend quality time on our own often enough x