A power outage is irritating, but with kids it can be extra stressful. However, there are some ways to keep the little ones entertained without TV, video games, or other electronics. Here are five fun ideas:
Stock Up on Glow Sticks
Not only can glow sticks provide lots of fun for little ones, they can also help light the way. Simply bending the stick activates it, and each one can provide a bright light for up to 12 hours and a dim light for up to 36. Sticks come in various shapes, colors, and sizes — many form bracelets and necklaces for extra fun. Keep a bunch in your house, so you’ll be ready to go the next time you’re in the dark.
Go Camping
Grab some pillows, sleeping bags, and blankets, and build a fort in your family room. Or push aside all the couches and pitch a tent. Either way, you and your kids can pretend you’re having a campout complete with ghost stories and snuggles (minus the mosquitos and bears, of course!) And guess what? It turns out that uncooked s’mores taste pretty darn good, too.
Get Social
If it’s daytime, invite friends and neighbors over, especially ones with children the same ages as yours. Then, ride out the outage together by playing games such as the new Monopoly Despicable Me 2, Bananagrams, or even good ol’ Uno, checkers, or jacks. You can also try this unique twist on charades that’s not only fun, but also helps kids learn their adverbs. Print them out now, because you won’t be able to when you need them!
Treat Yourself
You might as well indulge in melting ice cream by making a massive “kitchen sink” sundae. Find a big bowl, scoop all the ice cream into it, and throw in cereal, sprinkles, and any other toppings you want to add. Then, grab a bunch of spoons and dig in!
Put on a Puppet Show
Who knew that a flashlight could be so much fun? You can entertain the kids by making a wide array of shadow puppet animals on the wall, ranging from butterflies and rabbits to wolves and reindeer. Just shine the flashlight around the room until you find a wall that makes a perfect canvas for your show. Stock up on batteries!
