Busy family life can mean that all of a sudden you’re in a hectic routine that revolves around whatever the kids are up to; both during the week and at the weekends! It can be a challenge to squeeze in any time to do something you really enjoy. To be honest, kids are a lot of work, but they can be so much fun and the rewards are endless (but you already knew this). Therefore, maybe it’s time for a new approach to any “free” evenings, and weekends in particular. Going to watch the latest Minions movie, may not be your thing (unsurprisingly); so, why not throw a few new suggestions into the mix.

Doing at least one activity a week that you and the kids can enjoy together, is a great way to bond, have fun, and make the most of them being young. Some activities and ideas will go better than others; that’s normal and all part of the fun! It’s about ensuring they make memories with you and get to know their dad that little bit better. You may also find shared passions and a love for the same thing; this can lead to quality time together long after they’ve flown the nest. The following are some ideas for dads who want to make the most of the time with their kids.

Show Off Your Skills

Maybe long weekends on the golf course, or vacations that revolve around a boat and your fishing rod, feel like distant memories. Although you can’t solely focus on leisure for long periods for a while, you do not have to wait for retirement to get stuck into what you love doing again.

Introduce your kids to your pastimes and hobbies as soon as possible! Whether you take them for a couple of hours to an indoor golf simulator to see if those putting skills have been passed down, or you hire some extra rods to teach them to fish; it’ll be something they remember and appreciate into adulthood. If you had a love of any particular sport or played for a team; make them your new team! They’ll only be able to spend time enjoying those things with you for so long, so make the most of it.

The Simple Things

Maybe it’s not a particular sport or pastime that you’re into; perhaps just getting outside and walking through beautiful areas is more your thing. This is a simple way to gain quality time with your kids as you do something you love. You can include activities like taking photos of nature; this may make it more appealing to kids, or perhaps you could give them a list of things to hunt for and collect. Again, it’ll be simple pleasures and time well spent.

Create Together

Whether it’s Thursday evening after work and school, or every Saturday afternoon; create your own traditions and make, bake, or create something together. Get them involved in making your famous chili recipe, or cook something new each week. Dedicate time to draw, paint, and get creative together; they might just end up teaching you a thing or two!