Special Time Alone w/Children

I am better at boys than I am with girls so here is what I do with mine-
Lunch- two happy meals he gets both toys
play baseball/football/basketball/soccer in the yard or park
bike rides, rollerblades
Golf- not cheap but great for hanging out and talking- we go hit a bucket of balls every once in a while rather than a whole game
movies- they pick the movie

My son is 7 and my daughter is 9 and we do "date nights" every couple of months. With my son we go see a "boy movie" or do something he wants whether it be a game or just going to dinner or whatever. Ask him what he wants to do and a lot of times he will be able to give you some ideas to go off of.

go kart races, mini golf, set up a scavenger hunt, roll down a hill at a park then have a picnic, build a soap box race car, bike riding, rock wall climbing (indoor), roller blading/skating, bowling, mother/son music lessons. Really all of these can be done with either but boys may like some of these things more than a girl.

Ask him! He's old enough to articulate to you what he likes, wants, etc. Sometimes for us it's as simple as an ice cream cone, other times we've gone to the book store after a great report card, picked out a new book for doing a great job, etc.

Maybe your son would like for you to play with him? A game of basketball, catch and lunch at the park, fishing? Other ideas that are "gender neutral" going to the local pottery place and painting something together...I know this sounds kind of girlie, but they have lots of stuff and I've been surprise what the boys have done.

Since it's almost summer, check out Oaklee's Guide for ideas and events. I know my kids love all the local festivals, zoos, etc.

Most of all, I think just getting some alone time is important to talk and bond. Sometimes it's as simple as shopping for school shoes, bathing suits, etc.

Finally, consider joining a YMCA and letting the kids each have an activity that doesn't involve their sibling. Maybe he does swimming and she does gymnastics? It can be same day and same time. But it really helps the kids to have their own interests and friends without having the sibling or twin around.

My son and I have date night (or afternoon) once a month (he's 6). I sometimes take him out to dinner. He loves it and it's fun to sit and talk just to him with no other interruptions! Sometimes I take him to an early evening or afternoon show (recently a Chinese acrobatic troop was in town and it was very cool). Sometimes we go to the skatepark (my son loves to ride his bike there on the ramps) or we go on a bike ride together. He loves to ride his bike on local trails - dirt biking! The regular park works too - we bring a ball and play "soccer" or we bring a tennis ball and rackets and practice hitting to each other. Our town has free music on Fri nights in the summer and we have had date night out at the music. We have also gone out for ice cream and a walk together. Have fun with your son!

Well my son thinks everything fun has to involve food for some reason so if it is up to him I know he would say going to get frozen yogurt. Or, he really likes the ceramics painting places and he is normally not very "artsy" even. Another idea is mini golf or a movie...

I ask my kids, what they want to do with me.
Sometimes my daughter does not want to 'do' anything... except just talk with me about anything.
She likes to chat. Its her way to 'bond' with me and she feels closer to me that way.
She tells me all her thoughts and feelings and ideas.
My son, likes to chat too.
:)

Movies either at home or at the theater. Go out to eat with them. Take them to the park. My son (6.5 years old) enjoys going shopping as long as he can spend a lot of time looking at the toys. Or just staying home and playing board games with him or whatever he wants. Check out the zoo or a museum.

I agree with previous posters, ask him what he would like to do.

I think the best time is "floor time" with your child. Going out to a park with mini golf or just hiking along a creek can be interesting and bonding. playing on a playground or going to a minor league sports game are some ideas. The library "with mom" would work with my children. Having me to themselves is often what it takes. At 51/2 my son liked shopping for his things, and lunch, etc. My daughter would hate to miss a minor league sports game (with all the stomping and singing in the audience).
Floor time is sitting amongst the toys the child likes to play with and the child tells you what they do, and want you to do- and you do it. so he might tell you to build a road for his trucks, and stop you in the middle and do it himself (listening to you marvel at the "road getting so long! It looks almost as long as he does when he lies down", or "you put the tiny red caboose with the freight cars in front and Thomas the tank engine is going to pull them all..."). You'll interject on your own..."can I put a bridge here?" or, "will we make a canopy in case it rains?" to add spice to the play, and allow the child to decide if he wants to add the "spice" or not.
My daughter would put me at the "table" and she would be the waitress or the mother and I would play my part. In the process the kitchen utensils which were hardly ever used became the main process for mixing milk and butter (pretend could be water and stale bread) or (if real, then we had mac'n'cheese for lunch that day...
As the children created the play and I was directed, I learned what they were curious about and what they liked to be in charge of and how to be treated. From there, our relationship developed special inside jokes and a deeper understanding and respect that lived inside us during the time between the days of "floor time".

Great ideas! My oldest son loved to set up elaborate race tracks, roads, cities etc. We would pull out all of his hot wheels, match box cars, train sets, tinker toys, legos, blocks, you name it and set up these elaborate scenes that covered our whole living room, then play for a while. We also used to build really elaborate tinker toy structures (tall ships, ferris wheels, etc.). Sometimes we would make boats and try to float them in the tub or down at the local pond. He was really into Legos so I would find kits or download projects that were above his skill level and we would do them together.

What about playing catch? Or you could take him to a baseball game or something like that.

Go to the park and play. Go to the zoo. Go out for coffee (hot chocolate/steamed milk), Go for a hike in the woods. go birdwatching. Go to the planetarium or science center. Build with lego. Lunch is not just a girl thing :). Go to the bookstore (DS - 5 - loves this). Good to the farmer's market together. Cook a meal together. DS LOVES to break eggs, whisk pancakes and cut up fruit for Saturday breakfast. It doesn't really matter what it is as long as you participate with enthusiasm.

don't limit yourself by thinking 'boy' stuff and 'girl' stuff! most things that are fun for one are fun for the other, especially at this age. maybe not pedicures<G>. but lunch and shopping? you bet a boy would love that! just as a girl would love to go for a hike, or a round of frisbee golf, or fishing, or a go-kart ride, or tree climbing, or a trail ride on a pony, or flying a kite, or going to a movie or museum, or just sitting quietly alone with for an hour reading a book or watching birds.
it's good to make plans but don't get locked into 'em. if you're on your way to restaurant and see a sign advertising a magic show fundraiser and your child's eyes widen, turn around and go!
you're busy and have a lot of responsibilities. take the opportunity to let yourself be 5 for a little while on these excursions and lose yourself in the fun.
:) khairete
S.

All the answers you got are amazing, I think on doing many of them even if I don't have a boy.
I think that all the ideas can be for both (girl and boy) , he may enjoy also get his hair done with some fake highligts and gel spikes, or even go and shop for clothes.
When I met my husband we only wear brown and blue, he looked like a picture: The same, but I bring him to the dark side and now he goes shopping with us, lol.
I love the idea of cooking class.
There are many things that boys don't get to enjoy because is use to be for girls only, but times are super different and some of the greatest chefs are men.
Of course all the others are great: Sports, museum, lunch, movies or what ever he likes, but maybe try some of the things you already do with your daughter and he may like them too.

We split the kids alot. If one of us runs out to for a shopping trip or errand we take 1 and leave the other home with other parent. That way they are both getting individual time. At home I might go out back and jump on the trampoline with my son or we might bake something together. When it's my girl we still bake, but might do nails or hair. My hunny takes the boy to barbershop and girl out for icecream. Sometimes one of us just takes one kid and go to Sonic and sit there listening to music and talking and eating icecream. But whatever we take one to do, the one at home gets special time too.

Now that i have two, one of the mommy dates we do it to go get yogurt. Yum. My husband took her to Walmart to buy a fishing pole which in its slef was a great daddy date. He is planning on takeing her on her first fishing trip- thats a thought. I think the point is the one on one, not what you do.

dinner, lunch, shopping if for him, bowling, miniature golf, special outing- aquarium, science museum, zoo, library, explore a new park, hiking, fishing, children's museum, see a kid's show - puppetry, live action, etc. really anything as long as you are fully engaged. my son goes shopping with my husband to run errands: car wash, the triathlon store and he loves it because he is spending time with daddy.

Natural History Museum on the DC Mall has dinosaurs, whales, rocks, all sorts of "Boy" stuff, and is FREE! Also a boy favorite is the Air & Space Museum, also FREE!

Boys love legos! and playing in the dirt with dump trucks! and reading... and riding bikes... and lunch... and shopping... and play doh... and crafts...

I think it's wonderful that you want to spend individual time with each of your children. That's important. Good luck.

Putt Putt. The weather is now turning and an outdoor activity like mini golf would be perfect.

For a cheaper route, just take him to a park or go on a nature hike (just on a path). A picnic. Go bike riding. Take him out to the local school and let him ride his scooter in the parking lot.

Remember, no matter what you do, he'll love having time alone with you. I know --- I have 8 y/o boys twins!

I think everyone has had great ideas.
My 6 year old and I could be doing anything, what makes it special to him is that it is just him and I.
Our favorite is to take a nature hike at a local forest preserve or feed the ducks (it is free!) then splurge on an ice cream treat.

I'm not sure when they begin-but I think there is a baseball league that plays in Cabin John -my sons loved museums, battlefields, sporting events-go over to Georgetown prep and watch them play Larosse-they're all closeby! And mostly free!

Have you tried letterboxing? My kids love it and it is very inexpensive. Just google letterboxing and check it out although your daughter will love it too.

we get coupons to the bowling alley and he loves that. Also, just going to the park or playground is a lot of fun, as is the pool in summer time.

My husband left this morning with our 13 year old to take him skiing for a few days, so I have a few days alone with our almost 7 year old son. It's spring break here, and I'm a teacher, so we have plenty of time for fun now! :) Today was a wonderful day. Here is what we did:

Dallas World Aquarium - took great pictures and talked the whole time about the amazing things we saw.
Walked around downtown Dallas and ate lunch at a fancy steak place that is now open for lunch so they had great specials (cheap!).
Came home - he played and I got to take a nap - yay!
Played basketball together, climbed a tree - got an amazing picture of him in the tree that I'm going to print out in black and white, and jumped on the trampoline together.
We're getting ready to watch Stuart Little before he goes to bed.

Tomorrow we're spending the day with my mom in Ft. Worth. Although the aquarium was really cool, it was also pretty pricey, and my son probably had almost as much fun with me playing in the yard with him. So often our kids just want to hang out with us. It doesn't have to be expensive. Have a great time with your kiddos!

nature walks, the pool, parks, bike riding -- things they both enjoy. Maybe to a roller or ice rink. You are in Kensington. I used to take my kids for bike rides in Rock Creek Park, to the Barnes and Noble in Bethesda or to the Borders at White Flint. There's a couple of parks in the area that have trains and great playgrounds (one is in Wheaton, the other in N. Rockville). You can also catch the metro and take them to the zoo or the museums downtown (my kids love Air and Space and the Natural History Museum). Also, in Bethesda, there is a kids' theater called Imagination Stage that has great plays for kids. Movies, ice cream, fast food places with play areas. And I echo cooking or baking together or doing crafts. Also, you can take them to Build-A -Bear or those pottery places where they get to paint their own pottery for a little more money. Another great park with a merry-go-round is Cabin John -- it also has a little nature museum with a giant sandbox. Finally, check out the weekend section in the Post -- there is always things for kids, including Street Fairs and kids' concerts.