If you’ve been around here for any length of time, you know we love to explore. Most of our adventures are done as a whole family, but we also try really hard to spend one-on-one time with the kids – we call it “going on a date”! Whether you call it a date or one-on-one time or something else entirely, quality time is so important to every relationship. So today I’m sharing the benefits of going on dates with your kids and how to make it happen!
The Benefits of Dating Your Kids
Improved communication
Kids need individual attention. It gives them time space to communicate away from other distractions and it lets them know we care about their contributions to the family.
Better behavior
Having a tough time with your kids’ behavior? It often comes down to them feeling seen and needing attention. Positive attention is the best kind to show them, but they’ll take what they can get. When you’re one-on-one with your kids, it’s so much easier to acknowledge their positive attributes. As a side note, when it comes to parenting advice in general, I absolutely love following Simply On Purpose on Instagram. Her tips are gold.
Happier parents
Going on dates with our kids also helps us as parents! We feel more connected, have kids who are more willing to help us out, and feel good about our own parenting!
How to Make It Happen
It’s not an easy thing to carve out time for dates with your kids. Here are a few ways we make it work.
Alternating dates with each parent
We choose a Saturday and Jon takes one kid on a date in the morning, while I take another in the afternoon. The next month, we switch!
Finding a sitter so both parents can go
It’s not always realistic, but if you and your partner have a chance to take one child out together it’s even better. They will absolutely love spending time with you without their siblings around.
Let the kids pick the activities
You’d be surprised how happy they are with a simple outing. Most recently, Foster asked to go to the library with me and Graham asked to go to the zoo with Jon. So easy, low cost (we already had zoo passes!), and they feel like they have a say in what they do!
Have suggestions ready if they can’t decide
No one wants it to be a stressful experience to choose a fun activity! If you’ve got kids who have a tough time making decisions, offer a couple of suggestions and let them choose. This keeps them involved in the process while limiting their anxiety over making a decision. Need an idea? The Selfie Scavenger Hunt is a great (FREE) way to spend some one-on-one time with your kids! And there’s an OKC-specific version if you live in the area!
Does your family make dating your kids a priority? What are your favorite ways to make it happen?
