What to do with the children?

SnooDucks2052 · 2023-01-20T15:56:14+00:00

Parks, hikes, kites,fish. Beach,sledding,library, mall, zoo,museum, festivals, grocery shopping, crafts, yard work, bikes, frisbee, basketball, baseball,goodwill, google “stuff to do with kids near me, board games, work out. I do all that with my kids. You’ll figure it out and they WILL never forget it. I also teach the some days (I have a white board and they call me daddy teacher. Some days we bum around too

RideATX · 2023-01-20T15:59:22+00:00

At 5 & 7 I would still take them to a park/playground/splash pad in the summer at least once every weekend. Go to the children's museum if your town has one. Ninja gym, trampoline park, movies etc. You literally just have to come up with one tent pole event every weekend and then just hang out the rest of the time.

My kids are now 9b 9g, so we play basketball, throw baseball / softball, go to movies, play board games, Nintendo, uno etc. they are already getting to the age where they don't require constant attention, and by the time they're 12 I would imagine they'll just be hanging out doing their own thing with friends. Enjoy the time you have with them, it goes by fast.

nj_daddy · 2023-01-20T16:17:12+00:00

I have found that roller skating and ice skating are some of the cheapest multi hour activities out there that kids enjoy doing.

Easy box recipes like muffins or brownies are things that they can "help" make.

The library often has free programs geared towards your kids' ages.

Also your local college might have activities like the planetarium.

And if all else fails you can always play Roblox with them 🤣

freeagent2120 · 2023-01-20T19:29:45+00:00

Doesnt have to be what you deem fun stuff. Kids want to be around you. Get them involved in your weekend chores or hobbies, age appropriate hobbies of course. Or find something that interests them that you can all do together. Puzzles, music, volunteer work. The key is they want you and your attention. If you start out as being the “Disney” dad they will expect that all the time.

gtivr4 · 2023-01-20T19:41:15+00:00

Start creating some traditions with them. Every Friday is pizza and movie night. Or something that you are into, like if you are into cars, take them to a cars and coffee on Saturday morning.

DetroiterInTX · 2023-01-20T17:46:56+00:00

For winter, build snowman or fort (if there is snow of course), board games, movie time at home with popcorn, make pizza together, painting project (like the inexpensive bird houses from Hobby Lobby or Home Depot…

Key is just being there with them.

Mynewadventures · 2023-01-20T18:04:22+00:00

Just go outside!

Nature walks, etc. They are at the PERFECT age to fully enjoy that stuff

captainchippsixx · 2023-01-20T18:56:43+00:00

Playground. They love it. I chase them around or praise them for doing stuff. Then when they start playing with other kids you can sit down and relax with your coffee or energy drink. I miss those times:

I was the candy ogre. Meaning they couldn’t pass unless they gave me candy. My kids decided they would give me candy and then yell it was fake candy and run laughing.

Theedon · 2023-01-20T19:43:47+00:00

5 and 7, do a old fashioned treasure hunt. Make a map. Hide clues. Bury a chest with a surprise in it they can find. The treasure can be a gift card for ice cream or something cool they have been talking about.

ProcedureAltruistic3 · 2023-01-20T20:06:39+00:00

Last night it was just my 2 boys 5,3 and I. My 10 yo daughter was away with the other side. We decided on a movie night. I had them make tickets on construction paper, we made popcorn and took a bunch of snacks out of the cabinet, set up a concession stand and took turns working it and being the ticket takers, then watched the movie (well first half hour) and they fell asleep smiling.

knowfish · 2023-01-20T16:13:40+00:00

If you’re on Facebook join a local “moms” group. I’ve lurked in one since my divorce and it’s been an awesome resource for activity ideas, parenting tips, and other information. My local one is called the “_____ Stroller Brigade” but most communities should have one. I haven’t seen anything comparable for single dads like us

salty-sheep-bah · 2023-01-20T20:45:24+00:00

Fun age for magnet fishing and a cheap hobby to break into.

ForsakenGround2994 · 2023-01-20T16:52:35+00:00

Can you out them in sports? Will definitely occupy your weekends and then some.

SnooDucks2052 · 2023-01-20T21:31:21+00:00

Girl (daughters) like to be active too

Beamformer · 2023-01-20T21:51:29+00:00

As a kid (a few years older than yours) I looked forward to the routine we had with dad. He would grocery shop on friday, I got to pick out a mad or cracked magazine and give input to meals. Tacos, burgers, some fun, enjoyable food. Card games, TV shows, trips to the park, camping, helping with projects... a lot of it was cheap or free.

upvotersfortruth · 2023-01-21T05:00:34+00:00

Board games, zoos, hikes, sports, cooking together, reading them a series (CS Lewis or Harry Potter), movies, even yard work and chores - dad’s super power is to make anything fun.

Healthy-Prompt771 · 2023-01-21T06:51:04+00:00

Cook with them, make pizzas (you can buy the pizza dough premade), teach them easy breakfast things like French toast and pancakes. Take them to the park and stay off your phone aside from taking their pictures. There are some cooking classes on zoom for kids, they are around $30 if you are in the US but super fun. Check out Sur La Table. If you have large thrift stores near you, you can take them for board games and books. They usually have tons of both and you can give them each $5-10 to spend and see what they come up with. Then play with them when you get home. Movie night; let them each choose a movie on Netflix, make popcorn, turn out the lights and hang out on the couch with blankets. If you live near a city you can always google “this city for free January.” Some cities have free movies in the park. Lastly, drive ins are super cheap, and you can usually watch 2 movies in a row and you can bring your own dinner and snacks to save. The last option depends on how good your 5 year old is to sit through a movie.

If something works like movie night, or pizza night or thrift store shopping, whatever it is, make it your tradition. When you talk to them you can say “I found a new move for us, I passed by a new thrift store that looks like they have good board games…” It gives them something to look forward to every other week while they wait to see you.

azwildcat74 · 2023-01-20T17:10:32+00:00

Ask them what they WANT to do, listen, do it.

Commercial-Pick-2264 · 2023-01-20T23:22:13+00:00

Make it about them. Do what interests them and then introduce stuff you want them to experience. I have 13 and 16 years old. One boy and one girl. Totally different interests, but you will learn whats important to them as you bond with them. Yoilu may have activities in mind, but dont forget to be flexible. Remember its about them. With young kids, you need to find ways for them to blow off all that energy.

Alatornio · 2023-01-20T21:35:50+00:00

Lots of reading if with younger children. Instead of hide and seek I play treasure hunt where I hide a small prize in the house.

Summer lots of gardening, bike rides, sports, park, splash park, fishing.

Drawing, crafts, cooking. Teaching about chores.

Title	What to do with the children?
Author	FineTransition96
Upvotes	12
Comments	25
Date	January 20, 2023 3:49 PM UTC (3 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/Divorce_Men
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/Divorce_Men/comments/10h0a7a/what_to_do_with_the_children/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/Divorce_Men/what-to-do-with-the-children.1149620 https://theredarchive.com/post/1149620

Comments