Creating lasting Valentine’s Day memories

Making our children feel special and loved is always a top priority, and it’s especially important around Valentine’s Day. Spending quality time together is one way to make our children feel cherished, and scheduling a date night with your child can build your relationship while making unique memories.

Finding the time for a date night with your child is only part of the struggle. Figuring out what to do once you set aside that time can also be quite the task. Many are the possible activities for a date night with your child, but simply spending time together is most important.

Finding your sense of adventure

Doing activities on your child’s level of enjoyment is key to making great memories. Does your child run high with energy and have a sense of adventure? If so, play laser tag, go to the trampoline park or do indoor skydiving, roller skating or rock climbing for an ideal evening together.  

These activities may or may not be your idea of a fun night out, but your child will enjoy engaging with you in the activities that bring him joy. And the inevitable unplanned or comical moments resulting from these activities will bring laughs for years to come. In the end, you might also be surprised by how much you enjoy getting a little crazy yourself.

Instead of planning a single date with your child, consider an ongoing activity you learn together, whether that be taking martial arts classes or learning a musical instrument. Learning new skills side by side can create an important bond, and your child will always remember the intention you gave to learn something together. There could even be some friendly parent-child competition to see who can progress more quickly in the skill.

Outings with a purpose

Being adventurous and learning new skills is one way of spending quality time, but it’s also fun to have more formal experiences and get dressed up for a night out. To that end, father/daughter dances are always thoughtful ways to make memories and make girls feel special.

Of course, going out to eat at a favorite restaurant is always an option for a date with your child, and it gives the opportunity to have a great conversation when you are not engaged in other activities. Consider making it a progressive dinner and visiting different restaurants for appetizer, main dish and dessert.

Another memorable date could be going to a fine arts performance. Not only will taking in a concert or theater performance together make an extraordinary outing, the experience will cultivate in your child an appreciation for the arts. Kansas City offers a wealth of opportunities to experience the arts, from events at the Kauffman Center to productions put on by local high schools.

Doing hands-on art together is always fun, too, so consider attending an art or crafting class or even going to a series of classes to see how your work improves over time.

Try checking out museums such as Science City and plan a day of activities while you are at it. In the past, my son and I have enjoyed parking and eating at Crown Center followed by going over to explore Science City, checking out the free train exhibit at Union Station and then taking the streetcar to the River Market. There is so much to do along this route we cannot do it all in one outing, so we’ve gone back repeatedly.

Another parent-child date idea might involve doing a familiar activity but with more focus and attention than before. Perhaps you have been to the zoo countless times with your child and groups of friends, but you might find it even more meaningful to go, just the two of you, and discuss your favorite animals and observations.

Local mom Michelle Aldrich says she enjoys taking her son to Brookside Toy & Science, where there are no electronic toys, and everything requires family interaction. She also enjoys bowling and riding the Ferris wheel together at Scheels, going book shopping at KD’s Books in Lee’s Summit and having family dinner nights with her son at Lulus Thai Noodle Shop.

Professional sports games are always great ways to bond and build lifelong memories. One of my favorite memories with my dad when I was growing up was going to Columbia for Mizzou football games and eating out before the game.

Hunting and fishing also provide hours of bonding time, the ability to teach a skill to your child—and it’s something you can continue to do together for years to come.

Low-cost ideas

Spending a quality day or evening with your child does not have to cost money. For a date with a young daughter, a tea party at home can be perfect. Making dinner or baking together is another way to enjoy special time at home without spending much money.

Game night at home is a simple way to make memories, so have a collection of games you can turn to whenever you have some downtime. Local mom Jennifer Foley says she enjoys card games and Candy Land with her daughter.

“Anything that can remove us from technology for a while is a win,” Foley says.

Hikes and bike rides are also inexpensive ways to make memories, encourage conversation and discover new places. Stepping away from the distractions of life and into the great outdoors gives special times to talk with each other. A date with your child could simply be a bike ride to McDonald’s for ice cream, but this could also become a go-to activity whenever there is something important to discuss.

When kids learn early on that you greatly value your time and conversation with them, they will feel secure in the foundation of your relationship and that fosters a delightful family closeness.

Allison Gibeson is a Lee’s Summit writer and mom who enjoys going bowling with her son.