Do

•Warn your date that you're bringing your kids: no unexpected surprises.

•If you're bringing kids, choose something they'd like to do: a daytime trip to an adventure park, a family movie and pasta lunch, a day by the seaside.

•Make your kids feel that this is a day out for everyone; that they're being dragged along on a date.

•Ensure that your date spends time with your kids: send them off to buy ice creams, or let them walk ahead together. That way, they'll strike up a conversation and get to know each other.

Don't

•Resist the temptation to choose adult activities, regardless of your children's taste, patience, endurance (art galleries, theatres, shopping). It will only lead to trouble.

•Be wary of over-compensating for the fact that you'd rather be alone with your date by spoiling your children with sweets, ice-creams, presents etc.

•It's not fair to your kids to only have eyes for your partner: don't make your children feel like gooseberries.

•On the other hand, don't ignore your date because you're so preoccupied by your children's needs. They won't want to come along and play families with you again if you do.

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