A blackout or power outage is an almost inevitable inconvenience, and from the perspective of a young child, it can be pretty scary. But it’s also an opportunity for creating family experiences together that will become happy memories. It’s all about being a little bit prepared. Here’s the interesting part about a blackout: You don’t even have to have a power outage to pretend that you did! As you play, you’ll also be practicing for the real event.
Here are some fun ideas you can try at home. Start by thinking about issues you will confront in the event of an actual blackout:
- Will your kids feel safe? How do you comfort the ones who are afraid of the dark?
- Do you have food and drink on hand that will be easy to prepare even without a stove, microwave or refrigerator?
- Is it going to be difficult to keep everyone warm?
What solutions can you put in place now so that they will be available in an emergency? How can you get maximum FUN out of practicing using your emergency supplies even when there’s no emergency?
5 fun family blackout activities you can do in the dark
1. Have a glow-in-the-dark treasure hunt.
You’ll need several of some kind of glow-in-the-dark object, and that could be anything from glow-in-the-dark Easter eggs to glow sticks, to small pieces of white or fluorescent paper and a hand-held black light. To craft a treasure hunt, start by hiding the “treasure” in a secure place, and then write clues, working backward. Each clue can be hidden inside of one of your glowing eggs, or marked by taping a glow stick nearby so that children have to feel around to find the real clue. The hidden treasure I recommend? a read-aloud book, a flashlight, and a cuddly blanket (See #3 below).
2. Enjoy a candlelight dinner with the whole family.
Set the table as usual, but when it’s time to eat, light candles in the center of the table and turn off the lights. For really young kids, you can get away with using battery-operated flameless LED votive candles. Older kids and spouses might enjoy the magic of real candles.
3. Build an indoor fort for reading a favorite book.
Drape a few blankets over some tall chairs to create a tent, or go all-out with couch cushions for walls and broomstick handles to hold up the ceiling. King size bed sheets make great lightweight tent ceilings. A battery-operated camp lantern is a big help if you need to light an entire area. Headlamps are also a good investment. We keep one on hand for every family member, along with spare batteries.**
4. Make Homemade Kettle Corn
If you’re lucky enough to have a gas stove or a camping stove, you can make this fun treat even without electricity (NOTE: Read manufacturer’s instructions before using any camp stove indoors. Most camp stoves are for use only in an outdoor, ventilated location).
Kettle Corn Recipe
2 Tablespoons coconut oil (Any vegetable oil will work. I just prefer the flavor of coconut oil with this treat).
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla powder (This is the secret ingredient so don’t leave it out. One bottle will last for years.)
Heat the coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Once hot, stir in the sugar, popcorn, and vanilla powder. Cover and shake the pot back and forth quickly and constantly to keep the sugar and oil from burning. Once the popping slows down (you’ll only hear a pop every 2-3 seconds), remove the pot from the heat and continue shaking until all popping stops. Empty quickly into a large bowl. Allow popcorn to cool before serving. Grandma’s Advice: I recommend a Wabash Valley Farms Sweet and Easy Snack Machine for popping popcorn. With or without a blackout.
5. Tell Family Stories by Flashlight or Firelight
If you have enough light to allow you to see photos in an old photo album, that may be a good place to start, but one thing your kids will enjoy (especially if they are in the habit of being plugged-in with some kind of device at bedtime) is the opportunity to hear you tell stories about your past. Have they ever heard about your first date, your least favorite teacher, or the time you were afraid of the dark? Now is your chance to test your storytelling skills. P.S. If you have younger children, now may not be the best time to break out the ghost stories.
The prospect of a blackout or a power outage won’t be nearly as disconcerting if you have done some problem-solving in advance. Emergency situations can be especially frightening for a child, but if you have planned ahead, you can build some family adaptability reserves to draw on again and again when times get tough and life is less than comfortable.
** If you are thinking of making an investment in being prepared for an emergency, consider a good light source as one of your first priorities after storing extra water.
