Fun Family Outings

Your son has basketball, band and Boy Scouts. Your daughter has piano and karate.

We parents are so busy tending to our children's schedules that we forget to schedule a break for ourselves. No time, no energy, no babysitter -- and then, there's all that guilt about leaving the children at home.

The solution is to find adult activities and destinations that welcome kids. No, we're not talking about 'Mommy and Me' or Gymboree-type classes, which are geared toward kids with adult involvement. Instead, we went looking for adult activities that also offer something for children - a way for parents to re-discover hobbies, exercise, and even nightlife - all those things that get lost in the family shuffle.

Here are some suggestions from "Essence" parenting editor Ylonda Gault Caviness:

Boston
Mudflat Pottery Workshop - At Mudflat's weekly parent-and-child classes, adults can throw pottery on the wheel or make a sculpture, while the kids make pots, masks, etc. If you don't want to get that deep, try a ceramic studio where you can decorate a plate or bowl with your child. Taking a class together allows kids to see a side of mom or dad they might not otherwise see, and it's something they'll always remember about you.

Where To Find It: Ask your local art school, community college, or a paint-your-own-pottery studio.

Chicago
Parent-And-Child Boot Camp - High Ridge YMCA - First thing every Saturday morning, a fitness instructor puts parents and kids through the paces. Sit-ups, jumping jacks, jogging, and hand-held weights are all part of the drill. You might think, children would be intimidated by an instructor who barks out orders, but they actually love it. And the adults report that the exercises don't seem as torturous with the kids joining in. They range from pre-schoolers to teens. Exercising with their parents shows them that physical fitness should be a lifelong priority.

Where To Find It: Check with your local Y. Also, some health clubs now offer kids' classes - spinning, aerobics, rock climbing, etc.- that are held while adult classes are taking place elsewhere in the club.

New Jersey
Starseed Yoga in Montclair - If boot camp is too strenuous, try Yoga. Moms can incorporate babies into the stretches; older children can try the poses. This is a place to relax your body and mind. This class got started because the instructor had a baby and thought other moms might like a chance to unwind.

Where To Find It: Check the Yellow Pages or the Web for yoga studios near you, or again, your local Y is a good place to start.

California
Baby Brigade At The Movies in Oakland- You don't have to make it another 'Blockbuster night' on the couch. On Monday evenings, this theater invites parents to see a "current" movie and bring along infants under one year old. The babies tend to sleep through the film, but if they cry, everybody understands. There's even stroller parking. This particular theater has cabaret-style seating -- sofas and comfy chairs -- so that the grownups can socialize, eat pizza, have a glass of wine or beer, and turn it into a date for mom and dad.

Where To Find It: Ask a theater to do this as a way to boost ticket sales on the slowest night of the week.

Other Resources
Museums And Science Centers - Many, like the MIT Museum in Cambridge, have parent-and-child activities that are really interesting for adults. The Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta has family nature walks and even a parent cafe where you can relax while the kids stay busy.

And you can find all sorts of things to do on goCityKids.com. It covers family destinations and events in 13 cities all across the country.