get glowing: 3 backyard games to play at night
Don’t let the sun set on fun.
Don’t let the sun go down on fun! With these great game ideas, you can always play in the dark. Stock up on lights for the yard, batteries for flashlights, glow sticks, and glow-in-the-dark paint, and you’ll have everything you need for nighttime fun time.
NEON BASEBALL
Backyard baseball just got much brighter. Here’s how to do it: Push about five glow bracelets through the holes of plastic balls, and wrap longer glow necklaces around plastic bats. Paint bases with glow-in-the-dark paint. So teammates can easily identify each other, have them wear glow bracelets and necklaces in their team’s color. And you’re up!
GLOWING TWIST-UP
This classic game that ends in a tangled pile of limbs is even more fun in the dark! To make the “board,” use a white sheet that’s at least 4x5 feet. Using masking or painter’s tape, outline evenly spaced squares about 8” in size (4 columns of 5 squares, as pictured) and paint them with glow paint.
To play, print this spin board on cardstock. Cut out the arrow and attach with a brad. (Tip: Paint each color with glow paint for easier viewing.) Have the referee spin the arrow and call out the body part and color. Then each player tries to place that body part on a vacant square of that color. If a player falls over, they’re “out.” Last one standing wins!
LASER LIMBO
Take classic limbo to a new level with flashlights! Play the game as usual using a flashlight beam as the “stick.” Play some fun music and lower the beam as the players try to shimmy under the light without “touching” it. Take it even further by adding several flashlights shining at different angles. Players can climb over, or crawl under, and try not to get touched by the beams. Friends and family watching can play referee and call out when they see players get “hit” by the beams of light!