Whether you have recently moved, or have been living in your area for a year or two, the reality is that having children changes your date life. You cannot be spontaneous because you have to schedule and set up a babysitter. Dating your partner, whether married or not, improves communication and the relationship. When you are confident in your relationships, you are less prone to stress and have more confidence. The benefits of dating are clear, it’s having the time and ability to go on dates.
What about a date at home? This requires a little planning ahead to gather supplies in some cases, but the key is to plan for uninterrupted time together. After the kids are in bed, and with cell phones or anything distracting off to the side – it is time for some alone time. Plan a few of these dates this fall for some fall-themed fun.
Movie Night
This one requires the least amount of planning except knowing what you want to watch and making sure you have your chosen film available for streaming or able to download.
If you are both fans of horror films, this may be the thing for you. When the kids are in bed, time to turn on a horror film. You can even set up Bluetooth listening on some devices now so you can use headphones instead of the sound shaking the entire home or waking up those sleeping children. Turn on The Shining, the Halloween series, or I Know What You Did Last Summer via your favorite streaming device.
Fall is the time for football for many families. If you are looking for a football movie, check out Remember the Titans, Blind Side, Rudy, and Friday Night Lights.
If a fun mystery movie is more your speed, check out Sleepy Hollow or Murder on the Orient Express.
My personal favorite for fall because of the murder-mystery but can be watched all year is the 1985 film Clue. The film is based off the card-game and has a star-studded cast that will leave you laughing throughout.
Puzzle Night
While not specific to fall, a puzzle date night is great when the temperature is cooling, and you are looking for a fun way to spend time together indoors. If you have a puzzle at home you have been waiting to build, this is the perfect time to build it together. Perhaps you are not normally a puzzle family – check out your local Buy Nothing pages or ask on neighborhood pages if anyone has puzzles they want to give up. Or, plan ahead and find one of interest to purchase online or find in a thrift store. Doing a puzzle together allows for flow of conversation, building on communication all while working on those skills needed to build puzzles.
Reading Together
Like the days of radio, reading together out loud is a fun way to spend a date at home. By choosing a book by Agatha Christie, you can solve a whodunit together. Take turns reading and make up fun voices for each character. It is a fun way to spend time together, laugh together and solve together. And there won’t be any radio commercials for Ovaltine while doing it (Oh yes, A Christmas Story).
Pumpkin Painting or Carving
Consider a pumpkin competition of painting or carving. Each adult getting one pumpkin to design and go to town! Or make it a team effort and work on a more intricate design that you may normally choose for a family or bigger gathering for pumpkin carving.
Game Night
Spending time together playing a game like Scrabble or even the more lengthy and complicated Risk, are fun ways to spend time together. Use board games you have at home to make it a free date at home or check out your local Buy Nothing pages for anyone giving away games. Or hit up your local thrift shop for fun games (just make sure that all the pieces are there before purchasing).
Cook Off!
A fun way to mix up a date night at home is a cook off. If you have young children or babies with early bedtimes, making dinner together is a fun date. Since it is just the adults you can make it a relaxing meal together. Or maybe make your favorite meal that you can’t normally do due to time constraints. This could be a fun way to spend time together, plus have a meal. A pretty fun date, and all at home!
This may be difficult if you have older children who have later bedtimes. If that is the case, make it a dessert bake off. Find a fall recipe you want to try and make it a competition – make two different spins on it. Or make it a teamwork exercise by making it together. Once made, enjoy a yummy treat together.
Cozy Fort
While building a fort with couch cushions may seem like an activity for younger kids, adults can totally make one too! And maybe even with better construction materials. Build a cozy space together. Maybe put pillows and a blanket on the floor and hang a blanket for a tent of sorts. It’s a perfect place to read together, or maybe play a game.
Either game night or reading night can be done together at an outdoor firepit if the temperature allows. It can be a fun way to step outside the typical home environment and add ambiance with fun lighting.
