Summer Night Activities For Kids
20 Summer Night Activities For Kids That Will Make Their Freedom Feel Even More Magical
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Danny and Sandy sang about it in Grease. ABBA, Richard Marx, and Rascal Flatts also paid homage to it through song. And in a few months, Timothée Chalamet is starring in a movie about a hot one. We're talking about those Summer nights. They're the stuff of legend, inspiring artists and the rest of us to live it up, stay out late, and try to soak in the best of the season. And, yes, you can totally let your little ones in on the after-dark Summer fun, too! The following 20 kid-friendly, parent-approved activities only work when the sun goes down. And the best part? They're all guaranteed to make some seriously special family memories and ensure that this Summer is your kids' best yet.
1 Go Night Swimming
Whether you hit up your local pool or head to the beach, swimming after dark is a family activity everyone will enjoy.
2 Make an After-Dinner Ice Cream Run
Without that strict school-year schedule to worry about, now's the time to go for an after-dinner ice cream at your favorite local spot. Extra points if you wear your pajamas there.
3 Have a Picnic Dinner
You don't even have to make it! Why not pick up some takeout from your favorite restaurant and eat it al fresco in your backyard or favorite park?
4 Catch Fireflies
Nothing says Summer nights like fireflies, so head outside and see how many lightning bugs your kids can capture. Just remember to let them fly away before bedtime!
5 Camp Out in the Backyard
Even if you're not into camping, pitching a tent in the backyard (where bathroom and kitchen facilities are a short walk away) is fun for everyone.
6 Organize a Neighborhood Block Party
Enlist your neighbors and plan a block party that's fun for kids and adults. Make dinner potluck and drinks BYOB, bring in some bounce houses, set up some games, and voila, you have a party that can go late into the night, just steps from your home.
7 Make S'mores on a Fire
No Summer is complete without a s'more or two (or 12). They're best made over the fire and as gooey as possible.
8 Host a Slumber Party
Summer lets us ease up on those set-in-stone bedtimes, so why not throw a slumber party (Crate & Kids' Celestial sleeping bag ($119) will make things extra cozy)? If your kids are old enough, let them invite some friends, but setting up some pillows and blankets and hosting a family sleepover in the living room works, too.
9 Go on an Animal Hunt
If you live in a wooded area, take a drive at sunset and you might be surprised at the animal wonders you discover. See who can spot the most deer, bunnies, birds, squirrels, and more.
10 Catch a Night Game
There's something special about heading to a ballpark at night, so find a local game (it doesn't really matter if it's the big leagues or your local high school's team) and watch it under the lights.
11 Have a Backyard BBQ
Invite some parent friends and their kids over and grill it up. It's always better to have a play date when you can keep the little ones outside for the majority of it. Minimum house destruction. Maximum fun.
12 Watch a Fireworks Show
Sure, you're planning on watching the skies light up on the Fourth of July, but opportunities to watch fireworks throughout the Summer exist in many major cities (Chicago's Navy Pier lets off fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday from Memorial to Labor Day) and at lots of ballparks, so do your research and find your own local fireworks show.
13 Set Up a Glow Stick Scavenger Hunt
Kids love glow sticks, you love tiring out your children, so a glow stick scavenger hunt is a win-win. Hide several colors of activated glow sticks in your backyard. Assign a color to each player or team of players by giving them a glow-stick bracelet in the same color. Then set a timer, and ready-set-go. The group that gets the most of their color of glow sticks in the given amount of time wins.
14 Go Stargazing
Get away from the city lights, find a stargazing sweet spot, set up a blanket on the roof of your car, and check out the wonders of the sky.
15 Tell Campfire Stories
Stash the screens and share stories the old-fashioned way: in person, around the campfire. After you catch up, make things interesting by telling some spooky (age-appropriate) stories. Don't know any? No worries. You'll find tons online, so look up a few before you enter the no-phone campfire zone.
16 Play Flashlight Tag
It's not like a regular game of tag; it's a "cool" game of tag. Whoever is "it" has the flashlight and attempts to shine the beam on the other players, who run around trying to evade the glare. Players are eliminated when the flashlight's beam hits them.
17 Watch the Sun Set at the Beach
There's no better spot to catch a sunset than at the beach, so pack some extra snacks and drinks and settle in for a spectacular show.
