It’s Valentine’s Day, so are you and your spouse looking for a last-minute date night idea like most other parents? Or maybe you’re just stuck doing the same thing every time you find a sitter and you need something new to do with your significant other. Here are 5 ideas for for a child-free date night!

1. Maybe you can’t afford a sitter tonight or you couldn’t find one on such short notice. Make a small dinner for the kids and put them to bed. Then, enjoy a more fancy dinner (or hey, takeout works too!) with your partner without the kids. Pop a movie into the DVD player, or find a new tv show to indulge in together on Netflix.
2. You may enjoy a classic date night, which includes dinner and a movie. You could go to a fancy restaurant or one that would just feel freeing without a small child to keep track of. And any movie that isn’t G or PG would be a nice change. Plus, you only have to share your popcorn with your partner! No sticky fingers taking your movie treats! 😉
3. Bowling can be super fun with a group of friends or just your partner. There’s bound to be music, pizza, and tons of laughs! It’s something different to do together! You could even have a bet — winner picks the type of pizza and loser does the dirty diaper laundry for a week!
4. A lot of restaurants offer wine tastings. This could be fun especially if you’ve never done it before. The best part? You almost have a guarantee there won’t be small children around. You can focus on just you, your partner, and some delicious new wines!
5. Maybe you don’t feel like being fancy? My husband and I have been known to grab a bite to eat at Applebee’s and then walk around the grocery store for an hour or two. We end up back at home before 10 p.m. Sure, the kids are usually in bed by then, so we let the babysitter leave and we have the house to ourselves It usually just means we go to bed early, and as weird as it sounds, I think those are the most memorable date nights. 

If leaving the kids at home isn’t possible for you, try planning a family outing! Take a trip to the zoo, play place, or even go mini golfing! Your kids will most likely be distracted by the different things going on around them, so you can still have quality time with your partner.

After all, Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only day you show your significant other that you love them. If you can’t get out this weekend, try to get out together sometime this month! It’s a nice change than just going through the motions.