Date night with your kids is so important, especially as your family grows. My oldest is 7 making him four years oldest than his next closest sibling. Unfortunately, because the younger two are still so small they require a lot of my attention. It can be easy for my oldest to fall between the cracks because he is so well-behaved and so independent. That is why we’ve started making mommy-son date nights a regular thing. It’s the perfect way to make sure he still gets important one-on-one time with mom. Goldfish crackers know how important this is too and that’s why they’ve created the Goldfish Tales campaign. Find out how to create Smile Worthy moments from playing a quick game before bed to epic fort building with these 10 awesome ideas for mommy-son date nights.

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Arcade

There is nothing more fun than trolling the arcade together. This date night can be as big or as small as you want. My son and I recently did this while we were out of town for a conference I attended. We simply went down to the hotel game room after dinner and played our hearts out. It’s that easy to have a quick arcade date night. Grab some quarters and head to a movie theater arcade for a small date night. You can also go all out and head to a big arcade for an over-the-top date!

Mobile Game

Unless you’ve been sequestered in recent months you have seen the augmented reality games on the internet. These are an easy and inexpensive date night for you and your son. All you need to make it happen is the app on your phone and your neighborhood. Make sure your phone is charged before heading out because these games suck up your battery life. Then lace up your sneakers and hit the pavement together on the hunt. Your son will love searching out new creatures, portals, and more. You will love all of the laughs you share.

Fill a Time Capsule

This is another super fun and inexpensive date night idea. Go through the house and find items that represent you both today. Next, write letters to your future selves or fill out this free printable. Place your letters and your trinkets in an empty coffee can. Lastly, dig a hole in the ground and bury it. Dig it up on the same day next year for another fun date night.

Build a Fort

This one can also be as big or as small as you want. Build a blanket fort inside and play pretend or play a board game. You can also go big and build a permanent fort together in the backyard. Pull out some wood and tools to create a fun fortress he can play in anytime. Another option if you’re less-than-handy is to grab some paint and update a plastic playhouse you already own. No matter which option you choose, you will love the memories you make together.

Basketball

This one is pretty obvious but sometimes the obvious can be overlooked. My son made a comment the other day that made me decide to add it. He was nervous about trying basketball as his next sport because he didn’t know how to play. I realized I had never just shot hoops with him. Something as simple as a game of horse could help him feel more confident. It doesn’t have to be basketball for you and your son but playing any sport together can have an impact you don’t ever realize.

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Dart Gun Fight

What kid wouldn’t love having a dart war with his mom? You likely already have the guns lying around so why not make a date night out of it? Get your protective gear on and head to the family room. Let him know that it is totally okay to duck behind furniture and roll on the floor to avoid attacks. Take a fun picture of the 2 of you wielding your weapons to capture the memory.

Face Paint

This date night is like a makeover night but for boys. Get some face paint and decorate each other’s faces. You can get ideas from pictures online or take creative license to make your own designs. This is another one that you will want to take pictures of. Don’t forget that you can wash it off and try out multiple looks. Add a little more fun by acting out your paint designs. For example paint zombie faces and pretend you’re eating stuffed animals or paint ninja masks and show off your awesome Kung-Fu moves. Remember to be silly and have fun!

Code Breakers

Have a date being spies together. Create secret messages for your son ahead of time using the telephone code or print out these pre-made messages. The telephone code is easy to follow, and teach. It works like this:

1. Draw a pound sign (or hashtag for your kid’s reference).
2. Number the square 1 through 9.
3. Add 3 letters to each square.
4. Decipher each letter by adding the number the letter falls in with an exponent telling which letter in the trio. See the photos for reference.

For the date night, teach your son how to break the code in your secret messages. Then take turns writing notes to each other in your new code!

Selfie Scavenger Hunt

Go on a photo scavenger hunt with your son. This free printable is full of things you can find in your neighborhood so you don’t have to travel far or spend any money. Take a picture of yourselves with each item on the list and be silly with it. For example, for “leaf” take a selfie of the 2 of you holding leaves in front of your faces. The biggest rule for this one is that you both have to be in the picture. It’s important for you to be a part of the photos and not just behind the camera!

Have a Race

There are many ways to do this one. To help you get started, here are 3 ideas to give a try:

1. Toy Cars – Find a slope or build one. Our driveway is sloped so it works for us but you can also use a flattened cardboard box propped at an angle. Next choose your cars and then, race!
2. Remote Control Cars – This one is fun because you can create a track and/or obstacles to make the race a little more interesting. You and your son each choose a vehicle and go head-to-head. Try racing them on multiple terrains to see who wins on pavement, wood, and grass.
3. Foot Race – Playing with your son is a great way to stay fit! This is the perfect activity for that. Pick a start and an end point and simple race. Up the ante of the race by stringing crepe paper streamers across the finish line. When the winner breaks through it, it will be as a true race champion!

Don’t forget your date night snacks when you’re on the go! Goldfish crackers are the perfect snack to throw in a backpack when you’re hunting Pokémon or refueling after a race. We love the Goldfish Colors because anything colorful always wins in our book but you can find the Goldfish to fit your family! Are you ready for even more fun? Visit the campaign landing page to get inspired and learn how to enter the Goldfish Tales promotion for a chance to win awesome prizes!