Fun Things to Do at Night With Kids
Are you looking for fun ways to spend your evenings with your kids? Here are 30 fun things to do at night with kids you’ll all enjoy!
As a parent, spending quality time with your children is essential to a solid relationship and strong family foundation. But sometimes with our busy schedules, it can be challenging to find time to have fun together.
The good news is there are always opportunities to create unforgettable memories with your kids. Whether you’re looking for fun things to do at night with kids to pass the weeknights, or you’re ready for a Friday night or Saturday night weekend adventure, there are plenty of things to do that the whole family can enjoy!
And with the summer months just around the corner, we know those warmer months often mean many more later nights for kids and families. That’s why
We’re here to make sure you have plenty of fun things to do at night with kids. Each activity is designed to promote bonding, laughter, and fun memories. Whether you’re looking for indoor or outdoor activities, you’ll find plenty of ideas to inspire you. So, turn off the TV, put away your phones, and get ready to have some fun with your kids!
30+ Fun Nighttime Activities for Families
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a fun way to get your kids up and moving. You can create a scavenger hunt inside your house or outside in your backyard. Write down clues or riddles that will lead your kids to the next location. You can even hide small prizes or treats along the way. Scavenger hunts are a great way to promote problem-solving skills and teamwork.
Stargaze at Night
Stargazing is a fun and educational activity that you can do with your kids. On a clear night, take your children outside and look up at the stars. Use a star chart to help identify constellations and planets. If you have a telescope, you can even get a closer look at the stars. Stargazing is a great way to teach your kids about astronomy and the wonders of the universe.
GeoCaching
This is one of those free things that make for some easy family fun! Download a geocaching app in your area, and go for an evening treasure hunt. Typically your local park or favorite walking trails are great places to find these hidden treasures.
Catch Fireflies
If you live somewhere with fireflies, there’s nothing quite as magical as try to catch them! It’s one of my favorite things I ever did with my mom when we visited the midwestern United States for a family trip.
Go on a Night Hike
Going on a night hike is a thrilling adventure that you can do with your kids. It’s a unique way to experience nature and explore the outdoors. Make sure to bring flashlights and wear comfortable shoes. You can also bring along some snacks and water. Night hikes are a great way to teach your kids about the environment and the animals that come out at night.
Go Get Ice Cream
This simple activity is always a hit, and such an easy family night out!
Evening Bike Ride
Grab your helmets and plan an evening stroll on a trail or around your neighborhood. It’s a different experience at night, and it’s a great activity to get some last-minute wiggles out!
Great Family Date Night Activities
Visit an Amusement Park
Theme parks are the perfect place for a family date! This beloved date is a great option to let each family member ride some rides, watch some live entertainment, and enjoy some cotton candy!
Use Your Getout Pass
We found the Getout Pass years ago, and we’ve been subscribers ever since! It’s such a great deal for fun activities in your area. There are tons of great ones to do at night for a family date!
Escape Rooms
So many escape rooms offer a family-friendly time and escape room game the entire family can enjoy. Plus, an escape game requires a lot of teamwork, and it’s so much fun to accomplish a task together as a family.
Listen to Live Music
Find a free outdoor concert and take the kids to to have a fun experience learning to appreciate a live performance.
Visit Some Food Trucks
It’s actually really fun to show kids food truck websites or social media accounts and have them track down where they are and what food options they can choose. It’s a fun way to track down some good food and give younger kids the chance to learn about directions and local geography.
Go Out to Dinner
Look up kid-friendly restaurants in your area, and spend some time practicing restaurant manners and skills. We love to teach our boys how to order, how to ask for things, how to match the restaurant noise level, and good table manners. It’s the perfect way to get them ready to go out when they’re older without worry or anxiety. And, it’s about the best way to set yourself up for some quality conversation with your kids.
Go Mini Golf
Mini-golf courses are usually set up with lights and effects for nighttime. It’s an extra fun time to play a game of miniature golf in the evening. Also, kids of all ages can participate and enjoy themselves!
Play Laser Tag
Find an indoor play area (usually at fun center locations) and book a game of laser tag. You can either divide up into teams, or join as a family team and take on another group together.
Play Arcade Games
A vintage arcade is a great place to take kids! Both older kids and young kids have a great time figuring out vintage arcade games. We took our boys to do this last year, and it’s by far the most fondly talked-about date nights we’ve done as a family!
Visit an Observatory
If you’re lucky enough to have a science museum or space museum nearby, this is going to be one of the easiest family-friendly activities for a family date. But many universities or parks are also a great spot to check for observatory nights. It’s a really fun way to learn about space and get to use telescopes that give you a new way to look at the sky!
Attend Free Admission Night at a Museum
Years ago my husband and I traveled to Europe on a budget and learned some of the most popular attractions in the world do a free admission night every week. In the United States, they’re often once a month instead of weekly, but they still happen! It’s always a fun place to learn about art, science, and special topics. You can often see special events and touring interactive exhibits for free on these nights. It’s a better way to expose kids to museums without the worry of expense, and it’s typically a good time you’ll all enjoy!
At Home Night Time Activities to Do with Kids
Cook Together
Cooking together is a fun way to bond with your kids and teach them important life skills. You can make a simple dinner or bake some cookies together. Encourage your children to help with measuring ingredients and stirring the pot. Cooking together is a great way to promote teamwork, responsibility, and creativity.
Have a Dance Party
Put on some music and have a dance party with your kids. You can play your favorite songs or try out some new dance moves. Dancing is a great way to get exercise and release energy. It’s also a fun way to create memories with your children.
Build a Fort
Building a fort is a fun and creative activity that you can do with your kids. You can use blankets, pillows, and chairs to create a cozy space. You can also add some decorations and string lights to make it even more special. Building a fort is a great way to promote imagination and teamwork.
Read Books Together
Reading books together is a great way to bond with your kids and promote literacy skills. You can read a bedtime story or pick out a chapter book to read together over several nights. Reading together is a fun way to explore new worlds and characters. It’s also a great way to encourage a love of learning in your children.
Create an Art Project
Art projects are a fun and creative way to spend time with your kids. You can make collages, paint pictures, or create sculptures out of clay. Art projects are a great way to encourage your children’s creativity and imagination. Plus, you’ll have a unique piece of artwork to display in your home.
Play Flashlight Tag
You can play this one in your own backyard, or even inside the house!
Play Night Games
Who knew a classic game of tag could be so fun in the dark? We love to have a little outdoor fun and play a few night games when the weather is nice.
Have a Glowstick Dance Party
My family loves to do a neon dance party with glowsticks taped on our clothes to look like stick figures during the holidays. But it’s a fun party any time! Find some child-appropriate dance tunes, buy a box of glow sticks, and get ready for a great nighttime activity to do with kids!
Do a Jigsaw Puzzle
We have the best time dedicating a night to working on a puzzle together. This classic game is a great one for two people or a large family. If you have younger kids, I’d aim for a 300-500 piece puzzle. If you have older kids, 500-1000 piece puzzles are a great choice for plenty of fun!
Play Board Games
Board games are a classic way to spend time with your family. With so many different games available, you’re sure to find one that everyone will enjoy. Some of our favorite board games include Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue. If you have younger children, you may want to try Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders. Board games are a great way to promote teamwork, critical thinking, and communication skills.
Check out our roundup of the Best Board Games for Kids to get a bunch of great game ideas!
Have a Family Movie Night
Watching a movie with your kids is a great way to unwind after a long day. Pick a family-friendly movie that everyone will enjoy, make some popcorn, and snuggle up together on the couch. If you want to make it even more special, you can build a fort out of blankets and pillows. Movie nights are a fun way to create lasting memories with your kids.
Do an Outdoor Movie
We have a full tutorial how to set up your own backyard movie theater, and it’s one of the best things you’ll ever set up and invest in! We spend some many of our Saturday nights enjoying movies from our backyard. And any time we invite friends or family over, they all come join happily!
Backyard Campout
It’s so fun to set up the tent and grab a sleeping bag for everyone to cozy up to and either pretend camp for a few hours, or actually camp outside for the night. My parents used to let us have campouts on the deck during the summer months, and it’s still one of my favorite childhood memories!
Fun Things To Do with Kids at Night FAQs
Some fun things to do at night with kids include playing board games, having a movie night, and stargazing.
To make a night hike safe for your kids, make sure to bring flashlights, wear comfortable shoes, and stick to well-lit paths.
Some good board games for kids include Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, and Monopoly Junior. We have a great list of the best board games for kids to give you many more ideas!
Spending time with your kids is important because it promotes bonding, communication, and a sense of belonging.
Plan some late-night fun!
Spending time with your kids at night is a great way to create lasting memories and promote family bonding. From board games to stargazing, there are plenty of fun activities that you can do together.
By putting away your phones and turning off the TV, you can focus on what really matters – spending quality time with your children. So, pick an activity from our list and get ready to have some fun!
Like these fun activities to do with kids? Be sure to check out these posts too:
150+ Summer Activities for Kids with Free Activity List Download!
Weekend Children Activities: 105 Fun Family Activities to Do on the Weekend
Summer Bucket List for Kids Free Printable
Get 365 Date Ideas!
We want to help you have the best date nights ever! Grab this FREE printable with 365 date ideas, a date for every day of the year so you never run out of ideas!
