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Whether you’ve been forced to babysit the children or because you decided to have a bit of bonding time with the kids, there are plenty of fun activities to take part in with the little ones. It could be going outside and playing some sports, seeing a movie together, or just binging on fast food and video games until your partner gets back.

Whatever you decide, here are a bunch of ways to spend your evening with your children and have a lot of fun in the process.

1. Card Games

A pack of cards is perhaps the cheapest and most versatile piece of gaming equipment. You can play classics such as Poker and Bridge, you can play solo games such as Solitaire, and you can even play kid-friendly games such as Snap and Go Fish. With so much variety, it’s inevitable that you’ll find something interesting and exciting to play with your children. Because there are so many games you can play with a standard pack of cards, it’s probably one of the best investments you can make when it comes to entertainment.

After your kids go to sleep, you can take your skills online and play poker not just for fun, but even for cash! If you’re looking for a fun activity that combines skill and competition, consider setting up a dartboard for a darts night. You could always treat yourself to a Winmau Blade 6 dartboard and create a professional-grade experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. It’s also great way to introduce the kids to a classic game while improving hand-eye coordination and having some friendly competition (just ensure to supervise younger children to maintain safety).

2. Movie Night

Fancy staying in and watching an innocent film with the children? Then look no further than a Netflix subscription, a pizza delivery and plenty of soda. It might be unhealthy and your partner might scold you for it, but you’ll be the best dad ever if you let them stay up late and watch an action film with them.

You don’t have to pick from child-oriented films and cartoons either. Young children might love to watch horror or action films too, and you can never go wrong with some slapstick comedy either! Just stay away from the romance films—they’re not ready for that yet!

3. Board Games

If you have a copy of Monopoly lying around the attic or storage, then prepare yourself for a night of fun. Monopoly games can last quite a long time so it’s the perfect game to play after a filling dinner. Clear out the dinner table, get a few cups of tea or hot chocolate, and gather around to play one of the most popular board games ever played. You could even make it a regular night and invite your partner, some friends or even more family members to join in.

4. Arts And Craft

Being productive is one of the calmer ways to spend your evening. It could be painting, card crafting or even making things with Perler beads. Either way, getting creative is a wonderful way to teach your children (and sometimes yourself!) some new skills.

You can help them create greetings cards for their friends, draw up some wonderful paintings to hang on the walls, or perhaps even start a career in design. There are countless opportunities—all it takes is some arts and craft materials and some extra cleaning up afterwards!