Want to connect with your kids on a new level? Parenting doesn’t always have to be about discipline and structure. Sometimes the best memories are made in the spur of the moment. So, here’s some super spontaneous ways to show your kids you love them.
My kids and I at the Salt Flats
It’s hard to find your inner child as a parent. As a mom, my five kids really just want me to play with them. Sometimes I need to put aside my calendar and to-do-list and just have fun with my kids while they are still young. Here’s 25 spontaneous parenting ideas to help you connect with your kids on a new level.
Connecting with your kids
Surprise your kids
Vacation – Wake your kids early in the morning and surprise them with a vacation to Disneyland or camping or wherever!
After-school treat – Place a cupcake, candy bar or donut with a small note for your child on the counter in the kitchen. When your child gets home, they’ll be thrilled.
Lunch date – Check your child out of school and take them out to lunch.
Start a food fight – Buy a day old cake at a bakery and have a food fight in the backyard.
Pet – Shock your kids will a new family turtle, lizard, bird or hamster.
Surprise party – Throw a genuine surprise party for the birthday boy or girl.
Early morning breakfast – Wake your kids up really early and surprise them with breakfast at IHOP or Denny’s. This is particularly fun on a holiday like Valentine’s Day or St. Patricks’ Day.
Gift – Presents aren’t just for Christmas or birthdays. Give your child a wrapped gift of something they’ve really been wanting, just because.
Clown – Swallow your pride and dress as a clown for your child’s birthday party
Yes Day – Surprise your kids when they wake up with a “Yes Day”. You have to do everything they ask (within certain perimeters) all day long.
Restaurant at home – Set up a restaurant at home, complete with a menu, kid-friendly food and a waiter (a.k.a, you).
Traveling treasure hunt – Tell your kids to get in the car and give them a clue that sends them on a treasure hunt all around town. Give them a surprise at the end.
Ice block surprise – Freeze gift cards to the dollar store in a giant block of ice and chip away at it with your kids.
A waiter ready to serve his kids some dinner
Play with your kids
Cooking – For an exciting parenting challenge, buy a real kids cooking set and let them cook an entire meal
Nerf War – Go to war with a family Nerf gun set at the park or in the house
Late night movie – Let your kids stay up way past their bedtime and watch a movie together.
Dinnertime Game – Play the Dinnertime Game while you eat meals with your kids.
Unbirthdays – Take each of your children out on an unbirthday each month.
Tickle fights – Throw a random tickle fight in the living room. Give your kids a 3-second heads start.
Mud fight – Fill your sandbox with water and have a mud fight!
Obstacle course- Create an obstacle course through the house and do it with your kids
Video games – Play Fortnite, Halo, Modern Warfare or any other video game for a full hour with your kids.
Sleepover – Build a snow cave and sleep in it with your kids all night long. If you don’t have any snow, sleep on the tramp with your kids all night long.
Lava Monster – Play Lava Monster with your kids at the park instead of sitting on the sidelines looking at your phone.
Experience coupons – Give experience coupons for birthday or Christmas instead of gifts.
Surprise cupcake with a note. Parenting win.
I hope these ideas help you connect with your kids during your parenting journey. What other spontaneous ideas do you have? Leave them in the comments below.
I’m a mom to five silly squirts and wife to one big squirt. I love documenting my chaotic life as I navigate motherhood one day at a time. Take a gander at my hodgepodge of mom ideas and parenting tips. Hopefully something will pique your interest. Enjoy!