I’ve been blessed with two sons, and I find them very fascinating, especially since I did not grow up with brothers. They are cuddly one minute, and rambunctious the next. With a sweet tone, they talk to me while twirling my hair in their hands. Then, they let out a loud fart and laugh uncontrollably. My boys are passionate about sounds, smells, gooey textures, getting loud, being silly, and so on.
Life with boys is exciting, thrill-seeking, and constantly on-the-go. We should expect nothing less. So, when it comes to spending quality time with our sons, we need to fully embrace who they are. By engaging their sense of wonder and adventure, we can produce memories that last a lifetime. Creating an unforgettable boy’s night with your son is something that is easy to do and totally worth it!
Setting Up The Night For Success
One of my favorite nights of the year is when my husband takes our two daughters to a special “Daddy & Daughter Dance”. This night is magical for my girls as they get dolled up with hair, makeup, and pretty dresses. They dance and play and giggle all night as they have the time of their lives with their daddy.
What makes this night even more special is what happens at home.
Boys’ Night with Mommy!
Each year, as my husband escorts our daughters to the dance, the boys and I take over the house with science experiments, hands-on activities, plenty of food, and just plain old boy fun.
Boys are definitely wired differently than girls. As a result, I pay attention to what my boys like to do, and we go for it! So when our special night is approaching, I plan ahead to ensure we experience a fun evening.
I ask myself: What would my boys enjoy doing? What would be unforgettable to them? As I answer these questions, I incorporate specific elements into our special night to ensure I engage my “wild at heart” boys.
How To Have an Unforgettable Boy’s Night with Your Son
If you’re wanting to create a memorable evening with your sons, consider these three elements as you plan out your night in advance. First, create adventure together with activities that require hands-on exploration. Second, allow them to get involved in messy projects and be okay with it. Finally, provide plenty of food because we all know that full bellies make for happy boys. As you plan with these elements in mind, the rest should fall into place and make your boys very pleased. Let’s dive into each element a little more.
Element #1: Create Adventure Together
Boys love a good adventure. They want to explore in ways that will allow them to see, smell, hear, taste, and touch. Consider their five senses as you decide which activities you will do together. Employ as many of their senses as you possibly can. By doing so, they will stay interested and involved for a whole lot longer.
Also, keep in mind that boys have a natural curiosity for how things come together. Therefore, think beyond the finished project and plan for activities that will allow your boys to be involved in the step-by-step process. Part of the adventure is allowing them to create and get their hands involved.
Example
One year, we made balloon rockets and ran string from the dining room through the kitchen. They helped build the rockets and make the track. Then, we competed against each other and raced our “rockets” to the finish line numerous times.
Another year, my oldest son begged to lead a science experiment that he had learned recently. His little brother watched wide-eyed and intrigued. It was really neat to see how my oldest son took leadership and did such a great job conducting his experiment.
Element #2: Get Messy Together
Boys love to get messy. Every activity, game, craft, or food experience should allow them to get their hands involved and messy. This night should be designated for carefree exploration without concern for spills or mishaps. Let them touch and taste and smell and create. Boys want to put their hands on everything. Allow them to! This might sound a bit scary for some of you. Keep reading.
Getting messy is not always easy for us moms. In fact, it may require letting go just a bit. It’s important to note here that “getting messy” should still have boundaries. Boys can easily get out of control, especially when given permission to make a mess. So, establish boundaries and, of course, set the expectation that they will help with clean up. Once you’ve spelled it out for them, let them have at it with your involvement, of course.
Know your own limits as well. As you’re choosing activities, ask yourself: Can I live with the potential mess of this activity in the moment or will I completely lose my cool? Plan accordingly. You want to enjoy these moments with your boys and not end up stressed and uptight the entire night.
Example
One year, I decided we would make homemade floam, which included breaking apart styrofoam boards to get our tiny foam balls (mainly because I added this activity last minute, and this was my cheapest route). During the process, we laughed as we squished goo between our fingers. The boys loved it! Seeing and hearing their joy filled my heart. I thought to myself, what a priceless moment. Until a short time later.
The cleanup process was intense. Foam balls were everywhere and nearly impossible to clean up. Just as I finished with that mess, I discovered my boys had managed to get floam stuck to our sofa, window curtains, and floor tile. I was not amused at all by this point!
Bottom line: We will always do a messy project, but I will think through what the aftermath could look like before selecting the activity. Haha!
Element #3: Fill Their Bellies
My boys want to eat all the time, and I’m sure your boys are not much different! A big component to a great boy’s night should be food, food, and more food. Keep them well fed. They are just miniature versions of grown men who are happy when their bellies are full.
Even more so, food is another great way for you to incorporate hands-on and messy. Let the making of food be one of the activities you do with your boys. Have them contribute in as many ways as possible.
Example
We usually make our own pizzas. They love to roll out the dough, spread the sauce, and add their favorite toppings. Yet, their favorite “food” moment of the night is when we work together to create our annual giant cookie. They especially enjoy sampling the chocolate morsels and candy that go into the batter. Mixing the dough with their hands is another step they love to do. Then they help form the cookie shape onto the round stone. They nibble and taste and wait with excitement as the cookie bakes in the oven. 
Go All Out For An Unforgettable Boy’s Night!
Your special night with your son is sure to be unforgettable when you incorporate these three elements. You don’t have to be an expert at preparing activities or figuring out hands-on experiments. Pinterest is full of ideas and step-by-step guides to get you started. I always begin there.
I hope this post has encouraged you to go all out for the boys in your life. Create a special evening that will spark their sense of wonder and feed their hunger for adventure. Engage their hearts and build lasting connection with them as you share an unforgettable evening.
Just one warning: if you do it once, get ready to make it a tradition! You will be hooked and so will they!
Have you enjoyed an unforgettable boy’s night with your son? What did you do? What worked and didn’t work? Share in the comments section below.
If this post has inspired you, be sure to share it with the moms you know!
