10 Great Daddy Dates

By Kristen J. Gough

In this article:
Sporting Events
Poker Night
Zoos
Public Concerts
Museums
Fishing
Man Stores
Car Wash
Grocery Stores
Cautions from the Expert Dads

From grocery stores to poker games, dads can make anything fun! Get some great ideas for daddy dates your little one is sure to love.

Dads do things differently—there's no doubt about it! When my husband pleaded to take our toddler to a Yankees game, I figured she wouldn't even last an inning. How could she when I could barely get her to sit still for me to do ponytails? Three innings into the game my husband called, delighted to tell me that we had a budding sports enthusiast in our midst. Not only did my daughter sit through nine innings in the nosebleed section of Yankee Stadium, I had three hours of peace and quiet at home.

Daddy dates don't have to be as dramatic as a trip to Yankee Stadium—they don't even have to cost a dime. Here are some simple ideas for daddy dates that will keep your child and his or her daddy enthralled.

Sporting Events

When it comes to taking his three kids to sporting events, Scott Mactavish bypasses professional leagues in favor of collegiate games. "My kids are way too amped to sit through an event of more than thirty minutes without some sort of change of scenery."

Mactavish, author of The New Dad's Survival Guide, looks for events in stadiums with open space. "I can lay out a blanket and let the boys go nuts without disturbing the other soccer fans in the area," he says. "Even the littlest ones love this idea because they can role play without being stuck in a stroller or backpack."

Poker Night

Gary Greenberg knows how to entertain babies. Father of a six-year-old and a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live, Greenberg used his comic talent to captivate his daughter when she was still in diapers. In Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads, Greenberg suggests a deck of cards as a great way stimulate a newborn's vision. Spread several cards out and hold them to your baby's face and fan her with them. Babies will enjoy looking at the contrasting colors. (Just don't let the other players see your hand.)