Fun Night Activities for Kids

Keeping kids busy during the day is pretty easy, during the school year there's homework, extracurricular activities and television time. During the summer months, kids stay busy at camp and at the neighborhood pool. But there are also fun night activities that tweens will enjoy, and that are fun for both children and parents.

Below are a few night activities your child might like to do: do them together for family bonding time, or encourage your child to gather a group of friends together for a little night fun.

Nighttime Activities Tweens Will Love

Have a Campfire: Gather the firewood, clear a spot in the backyard, fill a bucket with water and light a campfire for the kids. Of course, a good campfire wouldn't be complete without ghost stories, roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. You could also sing a few campfire songs and do a skit or two. Just have fun enjoying the night air and know that it's much more fun to sit in front of a campfire than it is in front of the television or computer.

Stargaze: Tweens are naturally curious about science, so why not take advantage of it? Borrow a neighbor's telescope and on a clear night look for stars and planets. You can even do some research on line first, so that you know where the constellations will be -- that will make finding them a lot easier. Or visit your local library for a book or a sky map that will explain exactly what you're seeing. If you can't get your hands on a telescope, just spread a blanket or an old bedspread on the ground and look up at the stars. You'll be amazed at all the details you'll find in the sky.

Go on a Night Hike: Depending on where you live, a night hike might be in order. A simple walk through your neighborhood with a flashlight can be exciting for a tween. Or go on a nighttime scavenger hunt, looking for nighttime animals, shadows, and other things that don't show themselves during the day. Just take safety precautions, so that motorists can see you, and don't venture into any territory that you think might be unsafe.

Catch Fireflies: Remember when you were a kid and you'd spend your evenings trying to fill a Mason jar with fireflies? Let your child do the same. Wait until dusk when the fireflies come out, and try to capture a few. Observe them and then set them free so you can also enjoy them from a distance.

Pitch a Tent: Pitching a tent in the backyard is something every child should do at some point in their life. Find a level area and remove any rocks, pinecones or anything that could tear the bottom of the tent. Then let your child drag a few sleeping bags into the tent, along with a flashlight or two, a book, a game or anything else he might need. Invite a friend over for a sleepover, or enjoy camping out with your child.

Play Flashlight Hide and Seek: Hide and Seek is the ultimate children's game, and it's even fun for adults, too. Wait until the sun goes down, then gather your group of players together. One person is It, and counts to 50. While he counts, the other players hide. The person with the flashlight looks for the other players, and when he finds them he "tags" them with the flashlight beam. That person then becomes It and the game begins again.