DD1 (just turned 2) has recently started swimming lessons again. They were started for two reasons, water safety and the opportunity for some Daddy/daughter time. DH has now said he doesn't want to take her anymore (he doesn't want to go swimming apparently). Anyway, I'm happy to take her, but I really want an activity that they can do, just the two of them, on a regular basis. They love each other. DH is a great Dad and DD1 is always asking after him when he's at work or golf.
So do you have any suggestions? I'm thinking if I have several I can put them too him and he can decide. They don't have to be structured activities (like swimming lessons), although they do have the advantage of not being able to make excuses and not go. (Oh, and I will make a point that DH is happy to do something, he just doesn't know what).
DD and DH love park dates. They take DDs scooter or bike to the skate park, where there is also a playground. Jump around silly for awhile, go to the bakery for lunch or a drink and them head home again.
Get your DD or DH to decide on fun things to do. It might be the same thing each time, or it could be something different.
Daddy daughter time at our place is very much daughter-led. I do swimming lessons with her because DH can barely float () and he doesn't like the singing part. But she helps him out around the house. So when he goes to the shed, she follows and sweeps the floor with her mini broom while he's working. She helps him weed too, anything outside or in the shed and she's there!
We're lucky that they also get two hours alone together between DH picking her up from daycare and me coming home from work, they play and clean the house together.
I'd say just take her lead, it doesn't need to be structured, just something she decides she likes to do with Daddy.
Thanks for the suggestions. I guess, for us, something out of the house is good as there is rarely a time DH is here with either girl without me being here too. The park and morning tea sounds like a great idea - it's right up both their alleys! I think that when she's a bit older DH will want to take her out to hit golf balls with him (she always tries to 'help' him putt in the backyard), but at two its a bit too tricky.
The park was a big one here too - DD would take her bike and they would make kites to take and things. They would be gone for hours.
But DD1 liked jut being with him, regardless of what they were actually doing. So she just hung out with him for the day.
I kind of think it is important that that time they had together was not always about "going out" or "going somewhere" but it was truly just everyday things. It wasn't 'special' - it was just spending time with dad doing dad things, instead of being with me, doing mum things. ITMS.
DS1 and I have special "dates" where we do some odd shopping (not the big weekly shop - DH is a SAHD and he does that - the odds and ends pick up) and then we go out for "coffee". I'll get a coffee for me and a babychinno for him, and I'll have grabbed a banana or some grapes along the way for us to share.
We also feed the ducks together sometimes, or go for a walk.
When I don't work too late, I do their baths, too.
My DH does swimming lessons with DD and now she is older he doesn't have to go in the water but he was always happy to take her to have that 1 on 1 time.
Another big thing here is that DH likes to go for a drive most Sunday's so he takes DD with him and they go for a drive (we live quite rural so it's a long drive) and they head to a playground up to an hour away. DD has a play and also has personalised attention (which doesn't happen at home with the twins) and then they drive home. DD loves going for drives with daddy and this is something he prefers to do with her, he refuses to take her to Bunnings when he goes as she only wants to play at the indoor playground and he can get nothing done
We don't really have anything labelled as Daddy daughter time but she often goes to the park with him, sometimes with and sometimes without DS - the supermarket is also something else they often do together on their own. Round the house they always change the bed sheets together, often she helps him hang out the washing, they make pizza together etc. etc. She has expressed a desire to go running with him as he often goes for a run in the morning but she is a bit little for that so just do "running practice" when at the park.
Most other stuff we do as a family - I don't like to miss out on doing fun stuff :-) But within that there is often then bits where DD will go with DH and me DS or vice versa.
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New suggestions for Daddy/daughter time?
) and he doesn't like the singing part. But she helps him out around the house. So when he goes to the shed, she follows and sweeps the floor with her mini broom while he's working. She helps him weed too, anything outside or in the shed and she's there!
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