Mother/Daughter Date: Cool Crest & FroYo

Regular readers of KCParent.com know that we try to make it a habit to spend one on one time with our children. Sometimes that means 30 minutes a day just talking or doing a project together (anything from washing dishes to playing a game), but we also strive to include regular "dates" with our kids. This weekend, my husband and I took advantage of the holiday weekend to do a swap with our two oldest and get in two dates each on one weekend... Dad takes one daughter while Mom takes the other, and vice versa (baby tags along with the appropriate outing).

For me, that meant an afternoon at home with my middle daughter playing video games, reading books, and enjoying an ice cream cone. Then, another afternoon with my oldest enjoying miniature golf and frozen yogurt.

If you grew up in Kansas City, as I did, chances are strong you hold many summer memories of mini golf at Cool Crest. If you haven't been, this is a family favorite for us. This weekend, I took our five-year-old golfing and she had a BLAST. (Tip: Enjoy great coupons here, or consider buying a 10 game pass for $36... a nearly 50% savings... or on Mondays enjoy Unlimited Miniature Golf, 2 Go-Kart Rides and 10 Arcade Tokens from open - 6pm for only $10 per person. You'll discover more deals on the Cool Crest website).

Cool Crest features 4 miniature golf courses with mechanical hazards, water traps, and decorations ranging from the Statue of Liberty to windmills and dragons. The dragon with the opening/closing mouth was my daughter's favorite. But, the best thing about our "date" was that unlike our previous miniature golf outings as a family, where she was distracted by younger sisters with short attention spans, when she and I were alone one-on-one I was able to coach her and her skill improved... by the 17th hole she earned her first ever hole-in-one without help and she noted that her practice was paying off! Love that little lessons come packaged in a fun outing!

After miniature golf, we headed over to the nearby Yogurtopia (4277 Sterling KCMO) for some self-serve frozen yogurt where we created our own "froyo sundae" with a wide selection of toppings. You pay per ounce (39 cents/ounce), but it doesn't take much to enjoy a great treat!

That's the latest from our Mother/Daughter adventures. What are your favorite parent/child one-one-one outings?

Written by Kristina Light