It’s been a while since my husband and I became parents and if I’m being honest, our date nights or even quality time to connect and communicate have been challenging. Before we had kids we had date night every week. Fridays and Saturdays were our days to paint the town! We would try new restaurants and go downtown and explore new areas of the city. As we work through challenges in our marriage we realize that making time for intentional communication, intimacy and rekindling the romance is important. Here are 15 date night ideas for married couples with kids.
1. At-Home Movie Night
After the kids are asleep, set up a cozy movie night with popcorn, blankets, and your favorite films.
Set-Up Tips: Create a theater-like experience by dimming the lights and using fairy lights for ambiance. Build a snack tray with popcorn, candy, and drinks. Choose a movie theme—classic romance, action-packed adventure, or nostalgic favorites.
Bonus Idea: Create a short trivia game about the movie you’re watching for added fun.
My husband and I did something like this, a while back every Friday night we did a movie date night in. We went through all the Marvel movies in chronological order and another time we did all the Star Wars movies in chronological order. It was a lot of fun.
2. Cook Together
Try a new recipe or recreate your favorite restaurant dish. Turn your kitchen into a fun cooking space.
Set-Up Tips: Choose a recipe you both haven’t tried before. Make it themed—like Italian night with homemade pasta or sushi night. Put on music that matches the cuisine.
Bonus Idea: Compete in a friendly “cook-off” where you each prepare a dish and vote on the best.
Bring the fun back into cooking. Cooking for a full household, day after day can become a thankless chore but this is a fun way to make less of a chore and spend some quality time together.
3. Game Night
Play board games, card games, or even video games for some light-hearted competition and bonding.
Set-Up Tips: Select a mix of competitive and cooperative games—classic board games like Scrabble, card games like UNO, or digital games like Mario Kart. Add snacks and a fun wager for the winner.
Bonus Idea: Try escape room board games or trivia apps for a more interactive experience.
My husband and I play a Nintendo Switch game called Overcooked. I like that it is a cooperative game and not a competitive one since Im personally not great at games. It was fun and challenging and really expanded our communication skills. Game night is number three on the list of simple date night ideas for married couples with kids.
4. Backyard Camping
Set up a tent, light a fire pit (or use candles), and enjoy s’mores under the stars—right in your backyard.
Set-Up Tips: Pitch a tent, bring out sleeping bags, and light up a firepit or use a portable heater. Toast marshmallows and enjoy making s’mores. Share ghost stories or listen to nature sounds.
Bonus Idea: Use a projector to watch a movie outdoors while snuggled in your tent.
If you live in an area that has all four seasons, you might want to take this date night idea out during the warmer seasons. My husband and I have personally not done it but some of my friends have and they love it. It is also something fun you can do with your kids (I know this is a post about date nights, therefore minus kids but maybe for another time).
5. DIY Wine or Beer Tasting
Select a few bottles of wine or craft beers, set up a tasting station, and enjoy sampling them together.
Set-Up Tips: Choose 4-5 types of wine or craft beer. Pair them with complimentary snacks like cheeses, chocolates, or charcuterie. Print out tasting sheets to jot down your thoughts.
Bonus Idea: Blindfold each other for a “guess the flavor” challenge.
This suggestion was made by a friend of mine and it sounds like such fun. I can’t wait to set up a charcuterie board with some wine and just connect with my hubs.
6. Take a Walk Down Memory Lane
Look through old photo albums, videos, or memorabilia, and reminisce about your journey together.
Set-Up Tips: Gather old photo albums, home videos, or letters you’ve written each other. Set a cozy mood with soft music and candles.
Bonus Idea: Create a new scrapbook or digital album together to document more recent memories.
Does it count as a memory lane date night when you are backing up your photos together? We often take hundreds of photos of our kids on a weekly basis and the average space that is provided is usually not enough so we take some time to back up and we love going through photos from 3-5 years ago and talking about “those days”. Of the 15 date night ideas this one my husband and I do as often as we can.
7. Take a Night Walk
Stroll around your neighborhood or a nearby park. The quietness of the night can spark deep conversations.
Set-Up Tips: Pick a safe, quiet route like a park or your neighborhood. Bring a flashlight or headlamp if it’s dark. Hold hands and take your time.
Bonus Idea: Bring a small thermos of hot cocoa or tea for a break midway through.
This one can be tricky because you need someone to watch the kids but walking and talking together is great for your health and for your relationship. I highly recommend taking walks together.
8. Spa Night at Home
Give each other massages, enjoy face masks, and relax with calming music.
Bonus Idea: Take turns giving each other massages and end the night with a relaxing bubble bath together.
Set-Up Tips: Set the scene with scented candles, calming music, and dim lighting. Use massage oils, facial masks, and a foot soak station.
Not everyone is a bath person but giving each other massages can be nice. I personally enjoy them but my husband says I am not strong enough so it just tickles but we tried it.
9. Creative Night
Try painting, crafting, or writing a story together. Let your imagination flow.
Set-Up Tips: Set up a crafting station with canvases, paints, clay, or other materials. Follow a YouTube tutorial for a guided session or let your creativity flow freely.
Bonus Idea: Try painting portraits of each other or creating a shared vision board.
Apparently this is a popular one, my husband and I are not the most artistic but you can always make tweaks and changes and do something like this. My husband and I might not be ones for painting portraits of eachother but we can find something I am sure.
10. Drive-In Movie or Outdoor Theatre
If there’s one near you, pack some snacks and enjoy a movie under the stars.
Set-Up Tips: Pack a cozy blanket, pillows, and your favorite snacks. If no drive-in is nearby, consider setting up your own outdoor screen with a projector.
Bonus Idea: Arrive early and play some car games while waiting for the movie to start.
There is one in my area and I’ve always wanted to go so we will definitely be putting this one on our list of to dos for date night.
11. Karaoke Night
Sing your hearts out at home or visit a karaoke bar for some fun and laughter.
Set-Up Tips: Use a karaoke machine, YouTube karaoke tracks, or an app. Choose a mix of your favorite duets, love songs, and upbeat anthems.
Bonus Idea: Turn it into a mini karaoke competition with categories like “Most Romantic” or “Funniest Performance.”
There are karaoke mics on Amazon that you can get with an app and just have fun with it! I remember when my husband and I were still in highschool and we would go with friends to karaoke places. Our go to song that we sang every time was “7 Days” by Craig David. It started as a gag for a friend of ours but it soon became a favorite to sing.
12. Plan a Future Trip
Dream about your next family vacation or a getaway for just the two of you.
Set-Up Tips: Bring out maps, travel guides, and your laptop for research. Make a list of must-see attractions, dream accommodations, and dining spots.
Bonus Idea: Create a Pinterest board or vision board for your trip and include specific savings goals to make it happen.
I love this. Planning for the near and distant future is something my husband and I love to do. We really enjoy exploring the if’s and where’s and how’s of our future together, it might be a vacation or where our family is heading. Make this a priority in your list of date night ideas and do it often!
Here is a free budgeting template, my husband (the accountant, the budgeting enthusiast) created for our household.
13. Explore a Hobby Together
Whether it’s gardening, photography, or learning a new dance, pick something you both find exciting.
Set-Up Tips: Pick a hobby you’re both curious about—like gardening, photography, or learning a new instrument. Gather the necessary supplies and set a simple goal for the night.
Bonus Idea: Document your experience and track your progress as you develop the hobby over multiple date nights.
This one can be a fun one. When it is hockey season, my husband and I usually watch our team play once the kids are down. Hockey is more his thing than mine but it can be really fun to watch together and sometimes I feed off of his energy and really get into it. This is one of those date night ideas for the win!
14. Late-Night Dessert Run
Head out to your favorite dessert spot or whip up some late-night sweets in your kitchen.
Set-Up Tips: Dress up or keep it casual and head to your favorite dessert spot. If you prefer staying in, make desserts like lava cake or chocolate fondue together.
Bonus Idea: Create a “dessert tasting menu” at home by sampling multiple small treats.
This one you will need a sitter but once in a while it’s fun to get out of the house in the evening without the kids. A late night dessert run sounds like much more fun than grocery shopping.
15. Stargazing
Lay out a blanket in the backyard or find a quiet spot outside the city for some romantic stargazing.
Set-Up Tips: Lay out a blanket in your backyard or drive to a nearby dark-sky location. Bring a star chart or use a stargazing app to identify constellations.
Bonus Idea: Bring a telescope if you have one, and prepare a playlist of ambient music for a dreamy experience.
This one doesn’t seem doable in the city as it’s hard to see the stars among the city lights. However, before my husband and I had kids, we went camping with some friends. While we were talking and drinking by the fire, we were able to see shooting stars. It was truly beautiful and my first time seeing stars that beautiful. So, if you’re able to do this on a summer night, when camping with the family but in the evening once the kids are down you might want to sit out and do some stargazing with your spouse.
I hope these 15 date night ideas for married couples with kids can be a starting point for you and your partner to spend some quality time together at home, low key but still wonderful. If you have any suggestions to add, I would love to hear them in the comments.
