Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

12 Great Ideas for Parent-Child Date Night

By

Life gets busy. Stopping every so often to connect with your family and nurture relationships is vital to building a strong family unit.

While you might already take the time to bond with your spouse, it’s also important to connect with your children. Having one-on-one time can help you to talk about the tough stuff or create sweet memories. Use our ideas as a starting point for great parent-child date nights.

12 Great Ideas for Parent-Child Date Night

Dinner and a Movie

A sweet spin on a classic. Dinner and a movie is a sure-fire winner. Instead of going to a fancy place with white tablecloths, opt for a kid-friendly spot. A local diner can make good meals fast and the menu is usually pretty easy. Next, head to the theater to take in a new movie. If there isn’t anything playing, pick something to stream or rewatch a favorite movie at home.

Take a Hike

Getting outside will accomplish 2 goals. First, you’ll get some exercise and fresh air. Second, you’ll have your child all to yourself in the wilderness. Find a kid-friendly hiking trail near you and go. For added fun, pack a picnic with sparkling grape juice or seltzer water.

12 Great Ideas for Parent-Child Date Night

What ideas do you have for a parent-child date night?

Strike!

Bring your best game at the bowling alley! Most military bases have bowling lanes that offer shoe rentals and games at discount prices. Since bowling alleys usually have a snack bar, indulge in hot dogs, nachos and candy. You could make this a regular parent/child date and track who wins the most. There are also tons of bowling leagues to join.

Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

If bowling isn’t your thing, catch a few strikes at the baseball diamond. Whether you are going to a major league game or catching your local college team, baseball games are a great time to connect with a sports-loving kid. Buy some popcorn, cotton candy and, yes, Cracker Jacks to make the day extra special.

This type of parent/child date could be repeated for basketball, soccer, football and other spectator sports.

I Scream for Ice Cream

Parent-child dates don’t have to be expensive or over-the-top. Something as simple as grabbing a few scoops of ice cream together can be wonderful. You could head to your local favorite and order the usual. Or find another spot with rave reviews and take a short road trip.

Paint Night

While there are definitely many adult versions of this, some companies also offer a more family-friendly version. If not, this might be something to suggest to your PTO as a fundraiser. Laugh and be silly with your child as you both create beautiful works of art!

Take a Class Together

Wherever you are, there are sure to be lots of places that offer specialty classes. Many specialty stores also offer classes to customers. Find something that you and your child are both passionate about and enroll today. You’ll be learning a new skill and have regularly scheduled time together.

Play Hooky

A great way to build a bond, especially with older children, is to play hooky together. Call into work and pick up your child early. Then go out to lunch, grab a coffee and swing through a few stores. It will feel like you’re breaking the rules together and give you great one-on-one time when the crowds at the mall are smaller.

Beach Day

Yes, it can be fun to bring the whole family to the beach. It feels even more special when you go alone with your child. For starters, there will be less stuff to trek to the sand. Second, relaxing on the beach together or splashing in the waves can help you to start conversations and connect.

Roller Coasters

This is a more extravagant date but is super fun if you live near a theme park or have a fair in town. Take your child out for the day, or night, to ride a few thrilling rides together. Just remember to eat the tasty theme park treats after you take on the roller coasters.

Cultural Immersion

For the child that loves art, theater and music a parent-child cultural date might be the way to go. Pick a museum, concert or play to attend together. After, talk about your favorite moments or artworks over lunch.

All About Me

For this parent-child date, let your child take the reins. Let your child plan all or part of a day together. From where and what you eat to the activities, your child will be calling the shots. This is a great way to figure out what makes him or her tick.

An Important Parent-Child Date Tip

Make sure that you are creating dates based on your child and his or her interests. Taking an art-obsessed child to a baseball game might not go over too well.

It’s also important to remember to consider your other children. Arrange your dates so that your spouse is with your other children. Be sure to spread the solo time around evenly as well.

What ideas do you have for a parent-child date night? Share them in the comments!

5 Easy Meals to Make When Your Spouse Is Deployed

By

A reader recently asked for meal planning suggestions for when her service member is gone for deployment. Most of us prepare normal meals while the entire family is home, but once a spouse deploys that goes out the window. It certainly does in my house at least.

My husband likes to eat a full meal made up of a meat, 2 vegetables and a starch. That takes a lot of forethought to make a menu, purchase the groceries and cook.

When my husband deploys, that worry goes out the window and another one enters my mind.

What am I going to feed my 3 year old that does not like to eat? What can I prepare that takes the least amount of time and effort but is still healthy?

I feel like I waste so much food because it is hard to cook for just the two of us. So what’s the solution to eating healthy and not wasting food? It’s meal preparation.

It can be daunting coming up with ideas for meals. The key is to plan ahead so you aren’t staring at the fridge at 5 p.m. wondering what you’re going to make. Ask friends for suggestions, pick up a cookbook or scour Pinterest for recipe ideas.

Here are 5 meals to cook for your children when your spouse is deployed.

Chicken Pot Pie Casserole

Megan Porta from pipanddebby.com has a delicious chicken pot pie casserole recipe for an easy weekday dinner. You can get a head start on it by chopping the carrots and onion the night before and storing them in a Ziplock bag in the fridge.

No need to worry about making the pie crust. You can pick up a refrigerated pie crust at the commissary.

Related: DeCA Dietitian Encourages ‘Thinking Outside the Box’

It only takes a few minutes on the stove before you pop it in the oven. That gives you plenty of time to catch up on how your child’s day.

Once they’ve tasted it, this casserole will become one of your favorite go-to meals.

30-Minute Skillet Lasagna

Who has time to make lasagna from scratch when there are kids running around? Forget all the layering; Samantha at Five Heart Home walks you step by step through a fantastic 30-minute skillet lasagna. Italian meals tend to feed an army, but this recipe feeds only six.

Don’t worry, it freezes and reheats great if there are only a few little ones to feed besides yourself.

Chicken Taco Salad

The Pioneer Woman will have you laughing as you cook up this tasty chicken taco salad. Her humor is fantastic. Follow her recipe for a fun dinner everyone will enjoy.

Yes, it is a salad and while many children don’t go crazy over salad, what child is going to turn down chips with dinner? Prepare the ingredients ahead of time and then let the kids mix their own salad.

Muffin Pan Frittatas

When planning your meals for the week, don’t forget breakfast. I like to sneak vegetables into my son’s breakfast without him knowing. This muffin pan frittata recipe is a winner. While it calls for asparagus and bell peppers, you can change that up with vegetables you prefer. I like zucchini and broccoli.

Pussycat Pizza Recipe

I love this fun cat pizza recipe Jennifer Cheung posted on Kidspot. You can consider yourself worldly after making this one as the recipe is from New Zealand. Note that it says to heat the oven to 220 degrees Celsius, that translates to 425 degrees. Let your kids decorate their own cat face pizzas. They’ll have fun in the kitchen with you and the pizza will be gone before you know it.

These are a few delicious meals to try with your children. Search for other kid-friendly meals in the MilitaryShoppers’ recipe database or pick up a recipe card at the commissary in the produce or meat section.

What meals do you prepare when you are cooking for only yourself and your kids during a deployment? Share your favorite recipes with the MilitaryShoppers’ recipe contest.

Books to Read to Your Military Child

By

As a mother of military children, I know they have to go through situations that other children don’t. One of the best ways to help them is through books. Reading about other children going through what they go through while having a parent in the military is very helpful. We have always had books like this around our house to look at before and after deployments.

Books to Read to Your Military Child

What is your military child’s favorite military book?

Some books talk about deployment. Others deal with moving, starting a new school and finding friends in a new neighborhood.

You can also find books on other stressful situations that your kids might have to go through such as making new friends, bullying or working through family issues associated with life as a military family.

Books to Read to Your Military Child

Do you read books about moving before starting a PCS?

Here is a list of books to read your military child, broken down by age group:

Preschoolers

Young children need picture books to help get the point across. They are easy to read and help the child learn more about military life through short stories.

  • H is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet by Devin Scillian. This book talks about the different branches of service and military life. It is a great book to have when starting out on the military journey.

  • Daddy’s Deployed by Bridget Platt. The only military book of its kind: Daddy’s Deployed is a completely customized children’s book for those with a parent deploying. The book features the name, gender, and physical attributes of, not only the child, but the parents as well!

  • A Paper Hug by Stephanie Skolmoski. A sweet story about a boy whose Dad has to go away on a deployment. The book talks about the different emotions he goes through. It is a perfect book if you are about to go through a deployment or separation.
  • Lily Hates Goodbyes Jerilyn Marler. Lily has lots of feelings during her father’s deployment. Sometimes she is angry. Sometimes she is sad. Sometimes she cries. Sometimes she yells. Through it all, her mother tells her that these feelings are normal.
  • Coming Home by Greg Ruth. This is a great book for the end of a deployment. The pictures tell the story and in the end you find out that Mom is the one that was deployment, not Dad.
  • The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Help your small children prepare for a move using the cute Berenstain Bears to tell their story. This would be a great read to help prepare small children for an upcoming move.
  • Big Dan’s Moving Van by Leslie Mcguire. This book explains to toddlers and preschoolers how the packers will put all your household goods into boxes. But there is no reason to worry because you will see all your toys again– at your new house. 

School Aged Children

They can read some of these books themselves but it is also nice to be able to read with your military child.

  • Countdown ’til Daddy Comes Home by Kristin Ayyar. This book is about getting ready for a parent to come home after being away for a while. It has some great ideas for the kids and includes discussion questions to get them talking about what they are going through.

  • Soldier by Simon Adams. A favorite in our house, this book talks about soldiers, what they do, what equipment they use and is filled with a lot of detailed photos and diagrams. It can be a great resource so children can learn more about what their parent does for a living.

  • The Good-Pie Party by Liz Garton Scanlon. Three little girls are worried about saying good-bye to their best friend. But instead of having a farewell party, they decide to invite their neighbors to bake pies for a “good-pie party.” This is a tender and sweet book about moving.

  • The Moving Book: A Kids’ Survival Guide by Gabriel Davis. Although this book is not just for military children, they will get a lot out of it. It will help them understand a move and allow them to have a little more fun with the moving process. 

  • Why is Dad So Mad? by Seth Kastle. This book is about a Dad who is going through PTSD. It can be a great tool to use if that is something your family is going through and you are not quite sure how to explain it to your child. 

 

Teenagers

This age group needs books on military life too. It can help them understand and deal with some of the issues that come up in this lifestyle.

  • My Story: Blogs by Four Military Teens by Michelle D. Sherman, Ph.D., and DeAnne M. Sherman. This book follows four teens as they make their way through a parent’s deployment. The stories are fictional but are based on real-life experiences.

What is your military child’s favorite military book?