Get ideas for the last weekend of our dark nights play kit

Festive lights are beginning to appear and now it’s dark early, a late afternoon walk could be the perfect activity for babies, toddlers or children.  

For all children something as simple as a walk after dark gives them lots of new experiences, which can feel magical and give you the chance to use lots of new words – which helps your child’s vocabulary to grow.

Here are three ways to turn a walk into a playful activity you’ll all enjoy...  

Babies 

Light spotting 

What to do 

• Wrap up warm and put your baby in their buggy or sling.  
• Go for a short walk and chat to them about what you can see.  
• If you notice some lights, stop and take time to look at them together. 

Good to know 

An after dark walk can be a great way to provide your baby with some new experiences. They will feel changes in the weather and see lights twinkling.  

Toddlers 

A torch walk 

What you need 

• A torch your toddler can hold

What to do 

• Wait for it to get dark.  
• Tell your toddler you’re going for a walk and taking your own light!  
• Show them how to turn their torch on and off.  
• Go for a walk and get your toddler to light the way.  
• Walk slowly, give them time to use the torch to light up parts of the walk. They might choose to look at small details using the torch, or experiment with the way the light moves. 
• Let your toddler take the lead when it’s safe for them to do so, and chat about the things they notice.  
• When you get home, cuddle up and have a story together in the warm. 

Children 

An evening adventure 

What you need 

• Safe lidded cup or flask for a warm drink 

What to do 

• Tell your child you’re going for an evening adventure. 
• Make some warm milk or hot chocolate and put it in the cup or flask. 
• Wrap up warm, maybe even take a blanket with you, and go for a walk after dark.  
• Chat about the shadows you see from the streetlights, and the lights you can see as you walk past buildings.  
• Choose a place to sit and have your drink, this could be in your garden at home or on a bench during your walk.