Looking for ways to spice up the weekends or evenings with the family? Here's a little list of ideas for fun Family Date Nights for the Summer
1. Messy and Marvelous Celebration
2. Old-Fashioned Picnic and Fishing at the Pond Date
3. Fire Pit S'Mores and Spooky Stories Night
4. Secret Signing Night - Make signs with messages for family friends, coaches or teachers; dress in dark clothing and drive about town posting the positive message signs in their yard without getting caught!
5. Take the dog out on a date he would enjoy!
6. Volunteer at a local shelter or food bank.
7. Scavenger Hunt - create a list of landmarks or items around town to find then take photos in a race of the guys vs. girls.
8. Slumber Party in the living room (parents too, I even groan a little as I type this idea but I default to remind myself that we are making memories that the kids will not forget)
9. Late Night Lake Night - drift in a canoe, kayak or raft in the lake late at night
10. Unplugged and No Power Evening/Night - see how creative the kids can be in creating old-fashioned fun by candlelight.
10. Drive-In Movie Night - Drive-in movie theaters are becoming a thing of the past so if you can find one in your area be sure to take the kids before they no longer exist. Often times cities will host outdoor summer movies and I even read about a local pool hosting a floating movie night viewed from the pool!
11. Movie Under the Stars - at home with a popcorn "bar" and treats mixed together, cuddling amongst blankets and pillows.
12. Make Dream Boards - Scour through magazines, cutting out images and photos of places you'd like to go and things you'd like to do together with each family member adding to a collage to create a family dream board.
13. Game Night: A night of endless games such as Outburst, Scattergories, Bunco, Yahtzee, Monopoly or card games is always a huge hit at our house.
14. Homemade Ice Cream and Topping Bar - July 21st is National Ice Cream Day!
15. City Lights from Above - Drive to the best vantage point to see the city lights.
16. Fondue Night - Make cheese or pizza fondue and finish your evening with chocolate fondue!
17. Candlelight Fancy Dress-Up Dinner Night - with kid food or take-out
18. Make a fort as a family.
19. Grandparents Date Night - Celebrate the grandparents with an evening dedicated to them!
20. Host a Favorite Foods Party - Each guest brings their favorite food to share with the group.
21. Have a Christmas in July Celebration - Crank up the Christmas Carols and make your favorite Christmas treats and celebrate an evening watching Christmas movies or singing carols and exchanging white elephant gifts buried in your closet.
22. Frisbee Golf Date
23. Have a refreshing water fight with the hoses, water balloons, water guns and spray bottles!
24. Progressive Fast Food Dinner Date - Frequent numerous different locations for each component of the dinner meal.
25. Video Scavenger Hunt- make a list of movie clips groups must "film" then get to work making video clips as a family or on teams.
26. Neighborhood Kickball, Volleyball or Badmitton Game Night - We recently gathered with friends for a wild game of kickball and I must admit, I enjoyed racing around bases and trying to catch kicked balls.
27. Art Night - Create a canvas together as a family, make a chalk mural outside in the driveway or have each member work on art next to each other.
28. Skit or Charades Night - We have had so many good belly laughs from playing Charades and watching skits put on by our kids.
29. Just Dessert Night - I am already dreaming of this one!
30. Head to a nearby U-Pick fruit farm and spend an hour or two picking fruit then return home to make a sweet treat such as a berry crisp, peach sorbet or a blueberry pie!
