Today we welcome Heather Weller to our Picnic Parade! She brings us a twist on the traditional spring picnic with a nighttime picnic! How fun!
A Nighttime Picnic: It Is Dark Out Here!
Have your children ever been afraid of the dark? Fortunately, mine have
not been exceedingly fearful of the dark and as they have grown, we have
used the benefits of a later bedtime and later light in the sky in spring
and summer to have some outdoor fun. For a change of pace and to enjoy the
spring peepers and bats flitting overhead, we used a new book, Night
Animals, to enjoy the night and talk about how to enjoy the unknown.
If you want to include a devotion with this picnic, it would work great with either of these verses:
For it is you who lights my lamp;
the Lord my God lightens my darkness.” Psalms 18:28 ESV“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5 ESV
Night Animals
Creeping outside after dinner with snacks, a blanket, some flashlights and
adventurous spirits, we huddled together to read Night Animals as the sun
set behind our house, melting into the woods. It would be a nighttime
snack picnic made even more exciting by wearing our pjs outdoors. In our
neck of the woods, spring is just beginning to make herself known; the
light lasts until bedtime, trees are showing bursting buds of leaves ready
to make a green show, and animals are out and about. In our after-dinner
neighborhood walks we have noticed birds settling down for the evening
while bats begin to come out to feast on bugs.
Scary Stuff
Sometimes night is scary. Paths are not illuminated, familiar things seem
scary, where we are heading is not always clear. How comforting to know we
are not alone; there is always a light shining into the darkness. Want to
have some evening fun with your little ones? Grab a book and check out
these ideas–but watch out! You might be having so much fun, bedtime will
be late!
Night Picnic Prep
Before setting up your nighttime picnic, fill clear water bottles and drop in
a glow stick or two. Illuminate the night for fun!
Gather flashlights and download The Night Sky app to locate constellations.
Cut out cheese and melon stars with a cookie cutter to serve with crackers.
Earlier in the day create Fruit Bats.
Fear Not
The night is a magical time if we can see beyond the scariness. Invite
your children to get comfortable with their fears and have fun while they
are doing it. Enjoy a nighttime snack picnic together as the sun goes to
sleep. Read a funny book and cuddle as you look at the stars. You will be
delighting in the night before you know it!
Heather Weller blogs over at wellermommablog.com. She is the homeschooling mother to three little people who keep her days active and full. Heather endeavors to connect with other mothers who want to simplify, add fun to their days and enjoy their kids. Life is too short to spend time not loving it! When she isn’t running after her 3 year old, you can find her reading, running (alone), dancing or gardening–especially in the spring! She loves to eat food other people cook, drink hot things after bedtime is through and do Zumba. Follow her @wellermomma on Periscope and Instagram, and on Facebook.
Check out these inspiring Picnic Parade ideas:
Picnic at the Oklahoma Land Run
Burgess Bird Book–Welcome Spring!
Imagination Station’s “Light in the Lion’s Den”
Cool ideas! This English teacher loves how you’re incorporating reading!
Carrie recently posted…A question I need you to help me answer
Great idea! 🙂 Very unique and fun.
Kelly Canfield recently posted…Do You Have the Spiritual Sniffles?
Such a fun idea! The grandparents have bat behind their house, we will have to go hangout in the yard at night and see what we can see!
I’m middle-aged – and sometimes I’m STILL afraid of the dark – scary thing,no? 🙂
Andrea recently posted…How Can I Pray For You This Week?
I love it! What a great excuse to get out the telescope.
This sounds like a lot of fun! I think my daughter would love it.
There is no end to the creative activities moms and grandmoms of today come up with for the kids. I love this one!
This is so funny I was just reading about spooky stories with my little one before nap and talked about crazy people out there with my co-workers te other day. But like you said despite all the crazies and spooky stories fear not!
Mihaela Echols recently posted…The Bold Chef
What a fun idea. I think I will try this with my daughter. She is a little afraid of the dark so this will be helpful.
I hope she enjoys it!
Great idea! So unique and sounds like a lot of fun!!
Jasmine Watts recently posted…The 10 Step Guide To Creating A Perfect Essay
That sounds so fun and great! Such a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds so fun! I may even make it a neighbor-friend party with our apartment neighbors!
That is a great idea. The more the merrier!
I absolutely love this idea! It sounds fun even as a romantic, inexpensive date night! Wheels in my head are turning! Thanks for sharing!
Maria recently posted…What NOT to say to your friend with RA
I remember it was nighttime, and we saw a possum come to our patio door in the middle of the night. We had never seen one up close before…it was kind of exciting. I like the glowstick in a bottle idea.
Yona Williams recently posted…8 Sock Gifts that Teens Won’t Want to Lose in the Laundry
I would pretty excited to see a possum too–but glad it was on the other side of the glass!