With a newborn at home I am always looking for ways to give my 3-year-old some extra love and attention as we transition from being a family of three to a family of four.
One of my favorite things to do to foster connection when I have a new baby is to take my bigger kids on regular one-on-one dates or plan special activities just for them.
This post is sponsored by Chuck E. Cheese's.
Have you ever taken your kids on a one-on-one date?
I'm not just talking about your regular run errands together one on one time, but rather setting aside a time that is just for the two of you and working together to come up with a plan. Once we're on our one on one dates we try and put technology away and focus on each other!
Giving kids one-on-one attention daily through simple cuddle sessions or one-on-one activities together inside or outside of the house fills up their attention bucket and helps them feel a bit more secure... especially when things are a little crazy at home. By having kids help decide what you are going to do together, you give them a dose of power... which helps them feel like they have a bit more control of their lives. By giving my kids a little bit more attention and power, the power struggles seem to happen less often and our relationships get stronger, even during periods of transition... like with a new baby.
Some of our favorite one-on-one dates have included...
- trips to the ice cream parlor
- hiking a favorite trail
- trip to the park to play bocce ball
- a bike ride or a short jog together
- playing a board game
- going to get hot cocoa and coffee cake
- trip to get a popsicle or slurpee
- special one-on-one trip to Chuck E. Cheese's
- lunch date to our favorite burger place
- going to a movie
I like to vary our dates so that sometimes we do free activities and sometimes we spend some money.
This month our date was to Chuck E Cheese's! We wanted to play some games and enjoy lunch together. Chuck E. Cheese's was the perfect spot. Chuck E Cheese's has a yummy lunch buffet with a new adult-friendly menu, so we had a lot of fun!
We have only ever been to Chuck E. Cheese's for weekend birthday parties so had no idea how much fun we could have there midweek during the daytime! The lunch buffet is Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm so we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves for several hours until we had to pick my daughter up at school!!
The lunch buffet includes pizza, salad, and dessert and only costs $5.99 per adult & $3.99 per child. My son and I both loved trying a variety of pizzas and we even invited some friends to come join us for part of the time to make it extra fun!
Lunch Buffet options include Thin & Crispy Pizza and adult-friendly flavors such as Cali-Alfredo Pizza; Spaghetti & Meatball Pizza. Pizza is made fresh and is cooked to order for the buffet. Yum!
Dessert pizza- delish!
With all the fun games around I was surprised that my son actually sat down for lunch, but he declared the pizza "really yummy" and had more than one slice! Those are high compliments from this picky eater who rarely wants to eat anything... even pizza!
CHUCK E. CHEESE'S GIVEAWAY
Chuck E. Cheese's wants to let another Toddler Approved reader also enjoy an afternoon of fun so they have given us a $100 Chuck E. Cheese’s Gift Card to giveaway to one lucky winner! Find your closest Chuck E. Cheese's HERE
All you have to do is enter using the Rafflecopter below and tell us about your favorite one-on-one date with your kids.
You can find more details and deals by following Chuck E. Cheese's on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
Thanks Chuck E. Cheese's for sponsoring our one-on-one date this month and helping us enjoy so much fun together as we adjust to our new little one! All opinions in this post are mine.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese's. The opinions and text are all mine.
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I love taking the kids to indoor playgrounds! Chuck E Cheese would me such an awesome dat for me and the kids! Thanks for the chance!
we have done everything from libraries to festivals, but my favorite is our park days with ice cream afterwards.
I got to take my 5 year old son to LegoFest this year! It was just me and him and so much fun!
My daughter is almost 2 and we love our dates to our local Frozen Yogurt place!
Thanks for the chance!
I have been waiting/wanting to go on a mani/pedi date with my 3 year old daughter.
We go on bike rides all the time as a family, but I would like to take them to an amusement park. The youngest isn't old enough to appreciate it yet, and for what it costs, I want them to all enjoy it.
We love to get ice cream!
My son and I love to go the movies for a one on one date. My grandson loves me taking him to the park.
We went to a trampoline park which was really fun.
My kids like to get frozen yogurt with me.
I loved taking my daughter to a Home Depot workshop 🙂
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
One of our favorite one on one days is to going bowling! He loves it so much and always has so much fun!
Going to the zoo.
My one on one dates are usually staying up late watching movies, playing board games, eating snacks, talking and laughing. Thanks for the chance to win!
Leidy R rafflecopter form
Lately my little guys have been helping me in the garden. They enjoy helping me pick flowers and they enjoy helping me plant them as well.
My oldest son and I like to go to Sonic and eat. He's 20 and in college and works full time so this is one way we can spend time together between classes and work breaks 🙂
Lori
My favorite one-on-one date is always at Chuck-e-Cheese! My son is 6, and it has always been one of his favorite places. I love that it is so family friendly, and provides entertainment and food all in one!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
We also love free special events including the pet store and even just taking extra time to browse the toy aisle during a shopping trip.
We also love free "special" events including the pet store and even just taking extra time to browse the toy section in the midst of a shopping trip.
My kid's favorite date is either going to a park or going out for a treat like ice-cream!
I love taking my son to the children's museum
Kid friendly theatre productions are a fun treat for us. There is always time for ice cream too!
Jackie
I totally agree about one-on-one time with the toddler after baby comes! So important and so special. My little guy had a Chuck E. Cheese birthday party this past January and is already planning his NEXT birthday party there…:P
My favorite one on one is when I get to snuggle up with one of my girls and read books or watch movies.
One of my favorite dates with my son was going to Disney. We have so many memories, pictures and videos.
Summer I.
These are great date ideas for an older sibling!
I'm definitely going to take her to Chuck E Cheese!! Ice cream dates and free days at local play places will also be on my list. Thank you for sharing!
I love one on one lunch dates with my daughters! Sometimes we go to the childrens museum, or playgrounds- new adventures are always fun!
Taking my guy to the beach!
My favorite one on one date with my kids are the park or the movies 🙂 thank you for the giveaway!
Now that my daughter is getting older, we walk around the path in town and talk about life, then go have lunch together!
This is so important, even after the newness of the baby wears off. My boys love for me to take them to Sonic for a slush and then to the lake to skip rocks.
My son always asks me to "wander the neighborhood." 🙂 The two of us head out usually hit the park, maybe get a treat, always run into friends and just see where the afternoon takes us. I love it!!
I love any one on one time with my kids! Even just running errands with one of my twins is a special treat.
That is such a great idea! We like walking to the Bay a few minutes away, and wading in the shallow water with the fish. we bring our old bread for the birds. My toddler loves it, and with a new baby on the way this is perfect timing. Thanks!
My favorite date with my son is finding new parks to visit.