Call it “date night” or call it “getting away from the kids for a few hours night” — call it whatever you like, but sometimes you just have to have an evening to yourselves. These days, you have lots of alternatives to hiring a sitter in your home. Take the kids to a parents’ night out (PNO) — where they’ll be highly entertained, fed and worn right out — while you sneak off to a restaurant that doesn’t stock high chairs. And, depending on the going rate for sitters in your area and the number of children you have, you might even save a few bucks.

Community centers and YMCAs
Seattle community centers offer parents’ nights out at different locations every quarter for $18 per child: Alki (West Seattle): Feb. 11 and March 18, 6–9 p.m., for kids ages 4–9. Call 206-684-7430 to register by Feb. 4 and March 11. Bitter Lake: Feb. 11 and March 4, 6–9 p.m., for ages 3–7. Call 206-684-7524 to register by the Wednesday before the date. Loyal Heights (Ballard): Feb. 18 and March 18, 6–9 p.m., for ages 2–10. Call 206-684-4052 to register. Meadowbrook (Northgate): March 25, 6–9 p.m., $15/child. Includes pizza dinner. Call 206-684-7522 to register.

Many area YMCAs offer regular, low-cost PNOs that include play in the facility, themed fun and dinner or snacks. The events are open to the public, but most require that non-members pay a program membership fee. Visit seattleymca.org for the schedule at the following loca­tions: Auburn, Bellevue, Matt Griffin (SeaTac), Shoreline/South County, Dale Turner (Shoreline), University and West Seattle/Fauntleroy. Visit ymca-snoco.org for the schedule at Everett and Mill Creek facilities.

Play centers and children’s museums
Woodland Park Zoo’s PNOs happen about once per month and include play in Zoomazium, games, puppet shows, a movie, a live animal encounter and a pizza dinner. Feb. 12 and March 4, 5:30–10 p.m. Ages 4–11. $25/ first child, $20/siblings. Registration and more dates at zoo.org/education/childrens-programs.

Every Saturday night, drop-off play center The Nest in Woodinville plans fun for kids ages 2–9 from 4 to 10 p.m. $30/first child, $20/additional child. Register at thenestkids.com.

At Redmond’s Orange Blossom Society, drop kids off for two to four hours for arts and crafts, pizza and other fun. It’s open to kids ages 2–10; children younger than 3 may attend for two or three hours (diaper changing isn’t offered). $22/first child, $12/siblings for first two hours; $33/$17, three hours; $40/$25, four hours. Visit orangeblossomsociety.com for upcoming dates.

Drama studio Moonpaper Tent’s PNOs appeal to kids’ creativity with drama, dress-up and crafts. On the fourth Friday of the month, 5:30–9:30 p.m. Ages 4 and older. $30/child. moonpapertent.org

Children’s Museum of Tacoma holds a PNO every third Friday of the month from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Kids can make art, play games, eat dinner and explore the museum. Ages 3–10. $25/first child, $10/siblings. Register early! Visit childrensmuseumoftacoma.org.

Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia offers a themed PNO on the second Saturday of every month that features a craft, pizza and play. Ages 4–10. Non-members $30/first child, $25/sibling. Call 360-956-0818, ext. 0, to register. hocm.org

Gyms
Kids can enjoy an evening of active fun at Dizzy’s Bus Stop in Bellevue, which offers an early session for little ones (5–8 p.m., $30/first child, $20/additional child) and a later session, 6–10 p.m. ($40/$25). Visit dizzys-tumblebus.com for upcoming dates.

Local My Gym locations offer PNOs that include games, relays, dancing and pizza for ages 2–10 ($25/first child, $15/siblings, non-members add $5). There’s very limited space for non-potty-trained kids. My Gym Bellevue’s dates are Feb. 4 and 18, 6–9 p.m. Call My Gym Kent/Covington at 253-630-8800 for upcoming dates.

At Northwest Aerials in Kirkland, kids can do gymnastics and crafts, and nosh on ice cream (but no dinner). Ages 3 and older. 6:30–10:30 p.m., Feb. 11, 26 and March 11, 19. $30/child, $25 if paid three days in advance. Call to register: 425-823-2665. Non-members must have a registration card on file. nwaerials.com

Seattle Gymnastics Academy’s locations in Ballard, Lake City and Columbia City offer PNOs from 6 to 10 p.m. and include pizza, games and a late-night movie. Ages 5–12. $35/child (buy five in advance and get one free). Ballard: first and third Saturdays. Lake City, Columbia City: second and fourth Saturdays. seattlegymnastics.com

The Little Gym offers Parents’ Survival Night on selected Friday and Saturday nights, 6:30–10 p.m., for ages 3–12 at locations in Seattle (206-524-2623), West Seattle (206-937-0311), Alderwood (425-776-7121 ), Everett (425-348-4848), Issaquah (425-837-1414), Bellevue (425-885-3866), Kent (425-656-0737 ), Covington (253-630-1232), Federal Way (253-529-0309) and Puyallup (253-435-7400). $26–$35 for non-members, sibling discount available. Call for schedule at each location. thelittlegym.com

The Kids’ Pajama Party at Great Play of Redmond includes games in the gym, pizza and a movie on the big screen. Ages 3–8. Feb. 4 and March 4, 5–9 p.m. or 5:30–7:30 p.m. Non-members $50/first child, siblings $30 for four-hour option, $30/$20 for two hours. Call 425-885-3800 to register. greatplay.com/locations/redmond.

GYMagine Gymnastics in Mukilteo holds a PNO on Feb. 26 and March 26 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Kids enjoy pizza, games and gymnastics with a special theme each time. Preregister for a price break of $27/child; it’s $32/child if registered the day of by noon. Ages 5–12. gymagine.com

It’s not billed as a PNO, but Black Hills Gymnastics in Lacey offers a supervised open gym for ages 6–17 on Saturday nights, 7–10 p.m. — parents are not required to stay! $15. 360-413-9855. blackhillsgymnastics.com

GO
• Be sure to register well ahead of time, as popular programs fill up fast.
• Most locations only take kids who are potty-trained — be sure to ask!
• If your child balks at new situations, consider bringing a friend for support.
• Many locations offer dinner, but some do not — ask at registration.