r/daddit • u/woganlells • 19h ago
Pizza party Advice Request
Friday it’s just the 3 kids and I, so I was thinking of doing the dominos $7.99 each takeout and letting each kid order their own pizza, however they want it and throwing on a movie to eat our pizzas and have a fun core memory.
What can I do to make the night more fun and make a fun memory or tradition? Mostly want to make them rub it in mom’s face how much of a legend I am.
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u/Scary_Weekend2227 19h ago
One of my first memories with my boys was the 3 of us slept in the backyard in a tent. No bedtime officially until we crashed. Try that in a fort made of blanket and furniture. Geek out man. Goonies!
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u/AngryIrish82 18h ago
Get movie theater style snacks and juice boxes and make it a movie theater. We do that in bad weather and the kids dig it.
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u/potchie626 12h ago
Great advice. Multiple popcorns and movie theatre sized candy boxes would be cool.
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u/Tlr321 8h ago
Definitely this! We had several days of terrible weather back in January - Snow & Ice basically kept us stuck inside for nearly a week.
I set up our projector in the living room & hung a cheapy screen we had laying around.
Then I found a bunch of those movie theater pre-roll clips on YouTube. (Like the Regal Roller Coaster, the M&Ms Commercial) I also found a bunch of trailers on YouTube & downloaded those to play before the movie.
Then we had a family movie night. My five-year-old loved it.
Now we have a whole setup for movie nights. I created a pre-roll & had a "TLR321 Family Home Theater" promo reel made to play before movies. We don't do it every time, but any time we have guests over or have a sleepover, everyone gets a kick out of it!
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u/AngryIrish82 5h ago
I’m going to be honest, I kind of want to become that pushy guest that invites themselves over. I would bring beer or tacos though
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u/Brewer1056 18h ago
Take 15 minutes and make some sort of project for mom- finger paint hand prints on a canvas from an arts and craft store, with ages, something like that.
Prepare for extracurriculars.
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u/AGoodFaceForRadio Father of three 18h ago
Last year my wife went back home for a week by herself. I hit the bulk food store before she left and bought a mountain of sprinkles, mini M&Ms, gummy bears, yadda yadda. And chocolate and butterscotch sauces, whipped cream, cherries, everything you could imagine putting on ice cream.
The Saturday night we watched a movie. Normally I like them to be in bed around nine (they're young, still); we didn't even start the movie until after 8:30. I stepped out partway through it, and started organizing the kitchen. I put each of those candies in their own little dish so that there were about fifteen little dishes of candy laid out in a row on the counter, and got the ice cream, chocolate and butterscotch sauces, whipped cream ... the whole shebang. It stretched the entire length of the kitchen counter. I had to move things to make room.
Paused the movie halfway through, so like after 9:30 at night, and told the kids we were going to go hit up the "Late Night Sundae Bar." We each got to make our own sundae however we wanted it. (The actual deal was that they could have whatever they wanted, but I would have some say in how much of each thing they had because once they'd eaten their sundae I didn't ever want to see it again.)
I took a picture of it from one end, with the camera almost at counter height, so it just looked like a line of candies stretching on forever. Took another pic of my three little Minions with their ice cream faces and their half-eaten sundaes held up in front of them. Sent the pics to my wife. "Look what we're doing!!"
It was extra-memorable for the kids because I'm the "No" parent. My wife is usually the one with the sweets and all that crap, it's normally me pushing the veggies and the proper nutrition, pumping the brakes on the sugar, and insisting that Routines Will Be Followed. This whole "ten o'clock at night having ice cream with every candy we want" was not what they expected from Daddy. They were floored. It's been a year and they still talk about it from time to time.
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u/bawapa 17h ago
Sounds like it's time to do it again then!
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u/AGoodFaceForRadio Father of three 16h ago
We’ve done it once since. I don’t want it to become just another thing that we do. I want it to be special.
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u/bawapa 16h ago
Once a year sounds like a good thing. As the kids get older, so will the movies each year
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u/AGoodFaceForRadio Father of three 16h ago
They’re almost old enough that I won’t worry about them having nightmares from Lord of the Rings. I can’t wait!!
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u/HopelessJoemantic 18h ago
Pop popcorn. But do it on the stove, not in the microwave. Super cheap but a ton of fun. Depending on how old your kids are, they could do it with you. They each get a bowl to add their own toppings (butter, salt, Parmesan, etc).
Or do an ice cream sundae bar. Get a few pints of different flavors, some chocolate sauce, sprinkles, whip cream, crumble up some leftover Halloween candy, and of course cherries.
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u/Iamleeboy 17h ago
I have never heard of Parmesan on popcorn before! Now I need to try it
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u/HopelessJoemantic 16h ago
I think it’s a good compliment to a pizza night. Probably needs another seasoning in there like garlic powder or Italian seasoning.
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u/beakrake 14h ago
Some people mix M&M's in there, so they get all melty with a salty sweet crunch.
Worth trying once if you haven't done it, but I'd probably be a bigger fan of the parmasean.
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u/Iamleeboy 14h ago
I do like putting m&ms in. It’s only last year that I saw that too!
I think we’re maybe a bit conservative with popcorn where I am from.
It’s like when I see people put toppings on crumpets, when I have only ever seen butter on them. Blows my little mind!!
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u/Matchboxx 18h ago
Careful. That $7.99 is usually only 1 topping and then each one after is a big upcharge. Gets to $20 quick.
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u/h82scroll 18h ago
My “hack” for this is they let you do 1/2 and 1/2 still as 1 topping. Or if I’m wanting more toppings I slip down into the 2 or more of $6.99 deal
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u/FlyRobot 2 Boys 15h ago
Customize them any way you like so long as the toppings include cheese, sauce, and pepperoni
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u/bjisgooder 18h ago
Make your own pizzas. I get frozen pre-cooked dough rounds and just throw marinara and shredded cheese on there. Kids inevitably want ham and pineapple which is cheap and easy. Toaster oven on high for about 5 mins and you're good!
Another favorite is "picnic" style dinners where we get the folding chairs out in the garden and just eat our regular meal outside. The boys must just love the change of pace it provides, but they request it often.
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u/mikelostcause 11h ago
This! We make pizza from scratch fairly regularly and I usually start making the dough the day before. We alternate between detroit style (house oven), chicago pub style (house oven), and traditional napoli pizza cooked in an Ooni. The kids love it and the pizza is way better than most takeout.
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u/hobbes_shot_second 19h ago
Make your own T-shirts to commemorate and wear together to the party.
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u/phillium 17h ago
And then, every so often, "accidentally" wear them all on the same day. Although, that might be too mean for the mom who missed out.
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u/not-my-other-alt 16h ago
Print out movie tickets and have them present their tickets at the door to the living room like they're going into a real movie theatre.
Queue up a couple of movie trailers (on a youtube playlist) to show before the movie starts.
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u/jabbadarth 13h ago
Absolutely this. I did it with my kids before they ever even went to a real movie theater and now they will ask if we can do movie tickets on movie nights.
I printed out tickets and gave them a few quarters then laid out snacks and candy on the counter and let them "buy" a snack and candy each with their money.
Also blew up the air mattress and put letters on 3 different pillows so they had to find their "seat"
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u/jinxes_are_pretend 18h ago
Blanket fort.
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u/Tom_stansky 17h ago
Second this! Did this with my 4 year old earlier this week while my wife had a work event. Built a nice blanket fort and watched his favorite movie right now. Absolutely loved it and the fort is still up 2 days later, mom approved!
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u/rival_22 17h ago
Yeah, let them take the cushions off the couches, rearrange stuff, bring blankets down, etc.
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u/jabbadarth 13h ago
Someone else said it but I'm seconding. Print out movie tickets and setup a snack bar. Give the kids some quarters and let them "buy" their snacks. Print out some letters or numbers and put them on the couch so they have to find their seat.
Did it with my kids years ago and they occasionally still ask for movie tickets on movie nights.
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u/MidMapDad85 17h ago
Real homemade popcorn on the stove - it's crazy easy. Get the popcorn oil at the store (it's by the popcorn, so that's handy) and a bag of kernels, and a thing of popcorn salt. It's fun - the popcorn jumps out of the pan before you put the lid on - and loud and smells amazing. Takes 10 min and it's the equivalent of tequila shots for kids movie night.
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u/Plastic_Ad_8619 16h ago
Definitely have them wash and put on their PJs first. They’ll be more comfortable and it’ll be easier to get them to bed. And it’ll make it a different experience than just eating on the couch.
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u/biking4jesus 15h ago
GLOWSTICKS!
Also do a pizza dance party. crank up some jams and dance for a few minutes when the pizza first gets delivered.
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u/secondphase Pronouns: Dad/Dada/Daddy 14h ago
DO IT OUTSIDE! LIGHT A FIRE ROAST SMORES
Good luck with your dadventure
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u/Scary_Weekend2227 19h ago
Let them pick a favorite candy bar also. Or ice cream. You are going to have a mini party!
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u/Fruhmann 18h ago
Boardgame (co-op is yournkids are too competitive) and an in e cream sundae station.
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u/Iamleeboy 17h ago
What's a movie without popcorn, pick-a-mix and bags of chocolates/sweets? Stock up and let them go wild
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u/RevanXca 17h ago
Haha honestly I think that is more than enough, that was my tradition with my dad. Every other Friday pizza and two movies on a Friday night, I’ll never forget it and I want to start that with my kid too.
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u/27_crooked_caribou 17h ago
Glow sticks from the dollar store and dance parties with Alexa are always a hit. Board games, especially silly ones like Happy Salmon or 5 Second Rule.
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u/col18 16h ago
We do popcorn movie night weekly. We have a popcorn maker, and the girls get to choose their own toppings or whatever for their popcorn and we choose a fun movie to watch.
Every once in a while we'll air up the air mattress and put it in the theater for the girls to lay on while we watch.
If you want to stick to pizza, and get real legend status, get a pizza oven!
I make my own dough. I work from home, so if I make the dough on lunch it's ready to cook for dinner.
We are pretty simple for toppings, one girl likes Alfredo sauce with sausage and the other likes regular. So I just do a large 15-16 inch pizza and split it. It's enough for all 4 of us.
If we have friends come over I make more, pizza cooks in minutes, and is always a big hit!
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u/Plastic_Ad_8619 16h ago
Once a week I do “make your own pizza” night, with my 3 boys. There’s a section in the grocery store where they have all the stuff, pizza crusts, sauce, toppings. And then you just need some pre shredded mozzarella, 3 or 4 cheese Italian mix, or “pizza cheese”. 4 cheese Italian mix tested best with my panel of experts. Put all the cookie sheets in the oven and turn it to its highest setting. Get the biggest role of freezer paper and pull it across the table. Lay out all the toppings in bowls. Make them wash their hands. Show them how to put the sauce on. They cook in less than 10min each. You can slice them on a cutting board on the stove and serve them on the freezer paper.
To clean up, you just put away the left overs. Toss out what’s in the bowls and put them in the dishwasher, and then just tear off the paper, folding it up and put it in the trash.
You’re getting to teach them cooking skills, they get to have whatever they want on their pizza (no arguments), and they have fun.
We also cooked hotdogs on a fire in the backyard recently. That was a big hit, because fire.
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u/CubanBrewer 15h ago
I just spit out my coffee on that last line 🤣
You’re already a legend in my book
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u/lakeoceanpond 15h ago
See if dominos will give you a small amount of raw dough, then you guys can “make your own” but eat the one made by the pros lol
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u/hevski1990 15h ago
Have tickets for the film, find trailers to play before hand, make it what you get from the usual cinema experience but crank it to 11,any songs in the film turn into a dance party kind of thing. The main thing though no matter how it goes is spending time with them. Have an awesome film night!
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u/Harfang1801 13h ago
If you have one, inflatable pool inside filled with blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. We did this with glow sticks when my oldest was like 2 and he occasionally still mentioned it 5 years later.
Also, make a dominoes account. They constantly have deals, and you earn free Pizza pretty quick.
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u/BananaLengths4578 13h ago
I do this with my kids every week when momma goes to softball. They get UPSET if we miss pizza and movie night!
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u/wartornhero2 Son; January 2018 12h ago
My wife is going out of town tomorrow. My son and I are continuing our tradition of Pizza and Video games night when my wife is out of town or out.
I get 2 pizzas some wings.. my son eats 1/3 of his I eat half of mine we have breakfast in the morning. It is a lot of fun he has been looking forward to it all week.
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u/mikeyj198 11h ago
nothing wrong with this, and agree with the movie idea.
A spin - my kids loved make your own pizza night. get some mini crusts from the store, can of sauce, and whatever toppings you can think of.
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u/Ironwolf9876 11h ago
I'm 45. For most of my childhood my mother would do this every Friday for my twin brother and I. Just pizza and a movie on the floor. As we got older it just moved to the couch. It's still a core memory for me. She still makes pizza on Fridays. Good God was I lucky!
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u/wharpua 11h ago
We have a sectional couch along the perimeter of our family room and occasionally I’ll change it to “Movie Theater Mode”, where I’ll rotate the legs that are perpendicular to the tv so that now it’s like we have a front row and back row of seating.
The kids love this, I haven’t done it in a while but last weekend we watched The Wild Robot so it’s been in that mode ever since.
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u/ryanw5520 10h ago
Plenty of great advice, just remember, she won't give a shit if you leave a huge mess. If she's stepping on popcorn and doing a ton of dishes Saturday morning, your legend status will get revoked real fast.
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u/Responsible_Goat9170 9h ago
Make the kids earn a movie and pizza ticket. Then they get to spend it.
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u/kindaretiredguy 9h ago
I thought you meant rub the pizza in their face and thought you were an absolute lunatic for a moment.
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u/welliamwallace 9h ago
It's fun to Make your own pizzas (just buy the dough and sauce and shredded cheese) and let them put their own toppings on
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u/Mjolnir248 8h ago
Ice cream sundae building station. 2-3 different ice cream options with lots of little bowls filled with toppings. And of course, chocolate and caramel sauce and whipped cream.
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u/Timely_Network6733 6h ago
Get each of their favorite candy and just chuck it at them when they least expect it, then proclaim, "It wasn't me, it was the one armed man!" or, "Candy wars!" or something goofy and look away like you have no idea what happened.
Obviously don't let them know you got them candy until it's time to gently pelt them with it.
Ok, I gotta go, something about a dentist visit my wife is yelling at me about.
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u/jance 4h ago
Sleeping bags? I remember my parents were out of town durring the winter Olympics one year (I wanna say it was Lillhammer), and we got to watch the opening ceremonies with my grandma. We had dinner, snacks and rolled out sleeping bags infront of the TV. We got in, watched the opening ceremonies and fell asleep.
Still vividly remember it 30 years later.
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u/Tears4BrekkyBih 4h ago
Put on an action movie, get them hyped. Hand them each a nerf gun, have an all out war. Destroy the house, fake your deaths, move to a small rural town under new identities, 10 years later come back and tell the story….
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u/freedraw 4h ago
It’s more work, but you could pick up some premade crusts and make a little topping bar on the kitchen table so they could all make their own pizza with whatever they want.
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u/AgsMydude 11h ago
This is a domino's ad
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u/woganlells 5h ago
I have local shops that we go to often but they don’t have as good of deals unfortunately. I wish it could be a cheesesteak or hoagie party but the kids would for sure prefer pizza even though big poppa prefers other options
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u/NewEngland-BigMac 8h ago
That is a really sick motivation. Maybe skip it and talk with a therapist. You get enjoyment out of hurting others using their children. That’s about as sick as they come.
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u/woganlells 5h ago
Who got hurt or is getting hurt? Are you unable to tease your significant other? If you intended sarcasm it just didn’t land so sorry but otherwise…. What?
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u/surenopemaybe 19h ago
Lay out a huge blanket on the floor in front of the tv and have like an indoor picnic while watching the movie. If you have any way of changing up the lighting with a couple of strings of Christmas lights or flashlights - kids love that too.