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A Nighttime Picnic with Night Animals

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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! 

Night Picnic withNight Animals

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!

wellermommaHeather 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:

A Rainbow of My Own

Picnic at the Oklahoma Land Run

The House at Pooh Corner

Burgess Bird Book–Welcome Spring!

Boxcar Children Adventures!  

A Picnic with Frog and Toad

Imagination Station’s “Light in the Lion’s Den”

The Trellis and the Seed

Picnic with the Dinosaurs

The Sign Painter’s Dream

Picnic with a Purpose:  Who Was Mother Teresa?

Ladybug Girl at the Beach

Filed Under: Book Brigade, Family Time, Fun, Homeschool, Kid Books and Resources, Picnic Parade Tagged With: Family, Homeschool, Picnic Parade

Comments

  1. Carrie says

    April 13, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    Cool ideas! This English teacher loves how you’re incorporating reading!
    Carrie recently posted…A question I need you to help me answerMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Kelly Canfield says

    April 13, 2016 at 9:07 pm

    Great idea! 🙂 Very unique and fun.
    Kelly Canfield recently posted…Do You Have the Spiritual Sniffles?My Profile

    Reply
  3. Kristi says

    April 13, 2016 at 10:07 pm

    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!

    Reply
  4. Andrea says

    April 14, 2016 at 4:36 am

    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?My Profile

    Reply
  5. Dachelle says

    April 14, 2016 at 9:14 am

    I love it! What a great excuse to get out the telescope.

    Reply
  6. Jacqui Odell says

    April 14, 2016 at 1:03 pm

    This sounds like a lot of fun! I think my daughter would love it.

    Reply
  7. Carol Cassara says

    April 14, 2016 at 2:47 pm

    There is no end to the creative activities moms and grandmoms of today come up with for the kids. I love this one!

    Reply
  8. Mihaela Echols says

    April 14, 2016 at 3:18 pm

    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 ChefMy Profile

    Reply
  9. deanna says

    April 14, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 14, 2016 at 9:15 pm

      I hope she enjoys it!

      Reply
  10. Jasmine Watts says

    April 15, 2016 at 1:53 am

    Great idea! So unique and sounds like a lot of fun!!
    Jasmine Watts recently posted…The 10 Step Guide To Creating A Perfect EssayMy Profile

    Reply
  11. Nicole Escat says

    April 15, 2016 at 8:01 am

    That sounds so fun and great! Such a great idea. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  12. Jenny says

    April 16, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    This sounds so fun! I may even make it a neighbor-friend party with our apartment neighbors!

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 17, 2016 at 7:10 pm

      That is a great idea. The more the merrier!

      Reply
  13. Maria says

    April 17, 2016 at 1:06 am

    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 RAMy Profile

    Reply
  14. Yona Williams says

    April 17, 2016 at 6:07 am

    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 LaundryMy Profile

    Reply
    • admin says

      April 17, 2016 at 7:09 pm

      I would pretty excited to see a possum too–but glad it was on the other side of the glass!

      Reply

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Hello! I'm Tara. My kids and I spend a lot of time in our van (and elsewhere) singing, playing , and praying. Join us as we navigate through the winding roads of life, enjoy the journey, and arrive at a place where we love Jesus with all our hearts. Read More
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