We’re going to talk about date ideas that are fun for parents who are busy. As much as I enjoy being a mom, it’s important to me that Hubs and I spend time together talking about strengthening our marriage. It’s good for us and our children.
It’s not always easy to make date nights happen as a parent. You have a lot of other priorities that are competing for your time, attention, and energy. If you want a happy, healthy and strong marriage, it is important to make time for your spouse.
Here are 25 awesome date ideas for busy parents if you’re still searching for Valentine’s Day date night ideas.
Parents with busy schedules can enjoy these 25 date night ideas.
We have a variety of date ideas for you, whether you want to go on an adventure or prefer a quiet date.
You Have a Babysitter
Here are some adventurous, fun date nights to help you reconnect with your spouse.
Take a meal at your favorite restaurant
You could go back to a restaurant you frequented before you had children, or to a place that is more upscale. We go to places we cannot go with our kids when there are just us two. It’s a nice change of scenery, and is special because it’s “our place”.
Try out a restaurant that you have never visited before
Try a place you have never been before if you are feeling adventurous. If you have been to a place your spouse would enjoy, take them!
Dessert only
If you have a neighbor or sitter who can stay after bedtime, this is an excellent option. You can still do the usual nighttime routine with your children, but sneak away for a little while after they are in bed for dessert to a nearby ice cream parlor or restaurant. This is a great idea for me because I love sweets and a good baked treat.
Consider taking a cooking course.
Take a cooking lesson together instead of going to a restaurant and then enjoy the food you prepared.
Get a couples massage
It’s a wonderful way to relax together. You can also do it at home, without the need for a sitter.
Attend a musical or play
It’s a bit more expensive, but I love it. Check out the local performing arts centers and see what they have on. It’s not something we do often, but it’s so much fun when we do!
Attend a local sporting occasion
If you have local teams, grab tickets to a baseball or soccer match. This is a great way to get involved in the city and to have fun with your partner!
Escape Room
We don’t get to do this very often but it is always fun. This is a great activity for couples who enjoy puzzles and adventure.
Spend an hour in a trampoline or rock climbing gym.
Couples who like to be active will love this.
Mini Putt-Putt
With a little bit of competition, Mini Putt-Putt is a lot of fun. This is perfect for a nice day!
Race Go-Carts
This is a fun way to include some friendly competition in a unique activity that you do not often.
TIP: Most arcades offer a variety of activities in the same place, so you can try them all!
Grab lunch on the job
This is a great idea if you have school-aged children. You can also let your kids go on a one-hour play date while you have lunch with your spouse during the week. You can bring your own lunch or go out to eat.
Doing something spontaneous during the day is fun and makes the day more enjoyable.
Visit your city as a tourist
Take time to explore the city. Visit places that you would not normally visit. There are many things to do in your own neighborhood, including local restaurants, museums and parks.
Explore a nearby city on a day-trip
You can also drive a bit further and spend the day exploring a different city.
Take a trip together for a weekend.
A weekend away without children can be an excellent way to reconnect with your partner if you’re feeling adventurous. Hubs and I spent a beautiful fall weekend in Boston before the baby was born. It was exactly what we needed. We had a great time, and we were able to return home feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. It was wonderful to be able spend time together, talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company. This was one of my favorite vacations.
The Best Date Ideas at Home That Don’t Need a Babysitter
A sitter can be a real treat for busy parents. It’s not something they do very often. After the kids have gone to sleep, here are some romantic date ideas you can do in your living room.
Watch your favorite show or movie
Netflix and Amazon Prime have a lot of great choices for you. Grab some popcorn or ice cream, and enjoy a movie with your partner.
Bake Something Together
Why not make something together as part of your date? I love to bake and cook with my kids, and Hubs joining me is always a special treat.
Subscribe to Date Night in
You know how much we love Date Night in Boxes if you’ve ever been here. These boxes are a great way to prioritize date nights at least once a month. They always include fun activities, conversation starters and suggested menus.
Rewrite your wedding vows
Spend some time rewriting your vows. This is really romantic. What would the vows be like if you now knew what you didn’t then? You’re now parents. Re-write your vows to reconnect with each other and renew your commitment. You can also read your vows to each other.
Write love notes to each other
Who doesn’t like a classic love letter?
Together, read a book
I spent a lot of time nursing and holding our baby on the couch in our first few weeks and months as parents. Hubs would sit next to me and read out loud. We had never done it before but found it to be a very relaxing experience. We read Chronicles of Narnia, because it was something I had never done before. It’s one of my favorites.
Picnics are fun!
Spread out a blanket on the floor, and make it as comfortable as you like. Take your dinner or dessert to the living area and enjoy a picnic. You can easily combine this with your favorite movies or games.
Play together
Here, we love to play a good game of board. We’ve had a lot of fun playing video games that are karaoke or dancing-style. It’s always fun to play together. We never regret bringing out a game from the closet.
Your goals and dreams are important to you.
It’s good to check in with hubs to see how things have been going. Recently, we had the chance to do this as part of one of our Date Night in Boxes. It asked us to write our goals down, swap lists and read out the other person’s goals aloud.
It was a new experience for us. We were amazed at how much it meant to hear Hubs read out my goals. His goals felt like mine when he read them aloud.
Enjoy the outdoors
Take all the things that I mentioned above outside. Grab the monitors once the children are in bed and move them to the front porch or backyard. Relax in the backyard or porch swing. A change of scenery or fresh air can sometimes do wonders.
No matter what you decide, make date night a priority. It doesn’t need to be expensive or fancy. It only needs to be deliberate. Marriages that are strong don’t just happen. These date night ideas should help you get started or keep going with making date nights a priority for your marriage.