Today, I want to focus on date ideas for after the kids go to bed. There are really 3 types of dates for spouses with little ones.
- Dates that include kids (AKA family dates)
- Normal dates when you bring in a sitter and go out
- After bedtime dates
Why am I focusing alone on dates after the kids go to bed?
Well, mostly because I feel like this category takes the most imagination. When we first began doing ‘dates after the kids go to bed’, it seemed a little hard… like what fun can we have in our own home when we have to be super quiet and can’t even eat a nice dinner? out?
After traveling full time and a few months with no ‘alone’ dates, we found out real quick just how much fun at home dates can be!
Don’t get me wrong, I love “family dates” and we do plenty of them. In our home, we call those ‘family days’ and we try to plan them regularly. I believe family days are very important but I also believe that light hearted alone time with your spouse is important too, which leaves the other two date categories.
If you can’t afford a regular sitter or maybe you’re in a place like us, where it is just not doable, either way, incorporating “after bedtime” dates may be your solution!
Here are over 20 DATE IDEAS for after the kids go to bed
Now that your interest is ‘hopefully’ peaked, let’s get on to the actual date ideas.
- Board /card games We love phase 10 & monopoly deal (linked below)
- Listen to an audio book If you are a avid audio book listener, you have to check out SCRIBD. it’s an amazing book app subscription that does NOT limit the amount of books you can read or listen to according to payments. That’s right! It’s literally unlimited reading & listening for 9.99 a month! Check out my Scribd link below!
- Put together a puzzle Order a special photo puzzle from Shutterfly (link below) to celebrate an occasion or dig out a old faithful for free. * Sometimes dollar tree carries small adult puzzles for only $1.25
- Download game pigeon on your Apple smart phone. This can be a fun way to play games through “text”. You can easily continue the fun competition on lunch breaks etc. This is a fun way to stay connected. (Link below)
- Learn how to do something new through YouTube For even more fun, go ahead and begin the project.
- Listen to a podcast Download a free podcast app or use one already on your phone. Use the search bar to find a podcast category you both would enjoy.
- Listen to your favorite comedian Mine, Carl Hurley, is linked below!
- Read a book together, out loud (the old fashion way) Link below to a post on some of my favorite reads.
- Look at old photos Physically or even digitally (looking back just a year at phone photos can bring on a lot of reminiscing).
- Read old love letters or go through a memory bin together.
- Love comics? Save the Sunday comics up and read them all at once, together.
- Break a Guinness would record together You can find the latest book on Amazon (linked below) or you can find many of last years on Scribid!
- Put away the phones, dig out the blankets, make some hot cocoa , and have a certified cuddle & talk time on the couch. Sometimes it’s nice to just unplug and give each other your full attention.
- Make a meal together Me and my husband have yet to try this but I’ve read of many fun ideas including cooking together. Ideas include turning dinner into a competition or cooking with only the ingredients your spouse has chosen for you. You could also plan & cook a fancy candlelight dinner together. Need something easier? Homemade Pizza or milkshakes would be fun and easy with a little grocery store prep.
- Don’t want to cook? Uber in your favorite take out! Budgeting “date night” regularly into your life will help pay for little splurges this. Door dash & Uber are practically everywhere now days. I don’t recommend using their services as a regular convenience (when not needed) but I do think it is a great option for a date night after the kids go to bed.
- Sneak onto the front porch and enjoy a summer night Baby monitors are great for this, allowing you to enjoy the night without peeking in every few minutes.
- Star gaze While you’re on the porch, download a star gazing app and have fun finding the different galaxies.
- Exchange stories prepare a few questions to start the story session. “ What was your most embarrassing moment as a child” or tell me again about the time you got your drivers license (Some stories are worth listening to more than once).
- Look up some good clean jokes before your date and come prepared to exchange laughter or you could look them up together and exchange as you find them.
- Do you or your spouse struggle with holiday shopping? Anniversary, Christmas, or Valentines Day? Have a date where you shop for each other (online). You will both get what you love and have some fun doing it.
- Nancy Drew anyone? Okay, so I know it’s more of a teen thing but me and my husband love Nancy Drew mysteries. 😂. If you do not use the cheat sheets, Nancy Drew computer games can be a true challenge for even adults. Order one with my link below to try out your sleuthing skills on your next date night! Who wouldn’t love a mysterious mystery at the dark kitchen table while munching on chocolate chip cookies…
- Design your dream home There are so many designer apps and programs available , find a simple one and design your dream home for fun! If that feels too complicated, you can always use pen and paper!
- Plan a vacation Is there a special vacation you have dreamed of going on? Even if it’s a couple years away, have fun planning it out and don’t forget to plan “how you will save for it”. The first step to getting there, is to plan!
- Plan for a special occasion Vacation may not be a option right now, that’s okay! Plan a special day for your anniversary or the next holiday.
- Go on a virtual tour together Have you ever seen a virtual tour? They are amazing! And so many people are offering them for free now! I am super excited about our “White house” date I am currently planning ❤️
- Go on a car ride This will only work if your children are little and still fall asleep in the car. If you want to see how me and my husband went on a “car date” after the kids were “in bed” then check out my YouTube video below! This is a fun way to “get out”. Keep in mind, it will need to be planned with some flexibility in case the children don’t fall asleep as planned. If you love car rides this may be just your thing!
I hope this post has inspired you to strive to date your husband MORE, even in the challenging times of babies, toddlers, & little ones.
I believe staying connected with your husband, in all areas is very important in this stage of life. Don’t give up on dating when it becomes challenging. Remember, this is just a season of life and when it is past, you will be glad you didn’t leave any part of your marriage behind, including dating.
It’s so easy to turn in at the end of an exhausting day, with our marriage left on the back burner.
While I realize dating is not the foundation of a marriage, at the same time, it is often in this devoted time together that we find smiles, reconnection, stress relief, enjoyment and open doors to needed conversations.
Why is it, before we marry, we spend countless hours together with no particular reason, then once we marry, we think those hours matter no more?
When in fact, those hours do matter. They show each other that you still care, that you still want to be in each other’s presence, and that you still want to get to know each other more. That’s right, you never can know a person too much.
What if we have never dated?
I find that many married couples that do not “date” often, date without realizing it . What do I mean? For example, my parents don’t go on to many official “dates”. Yet, many times when I was growing up, they would jump at the chance to run to the department store, or grab a breakfast alone before us older kids even awoke. Why was this? They had set in the practice of cherishing those little bits of time together when they could talk, and just be together. They had made “dating” a part of their life and marriage.
It’s very possible you date regularly without the title. If you don’t, then hopefully, this post has encouraged you to start now!
In closing
I am by no means claim to know it all or be a professional in this area. The advice and tips I have given are taken from advice I have received multiple times from my elders, observation of other marriages such as my parents, and the lessons I have learned in the 8 years of marriage. Take my tips for what there worth and hopefully you can get at least a something worth while from them.
If you wish to receive this adorable “car date” printable (above) then just SUBSCRIBE here but don’t forget to confirm in your email to finish the subscription.
Happy Homemaking!
Related Post
phase 10 card game (paid link)
Monopoly Deal card game (paid link)
Carl Hurley Clean Comedian (paid link)
Nancy Drew computer game “silent spy” (paid link)
Scribd – Read books, audiobooks, and more 30 day free trial!
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