Glow in the Dark Wiffle Ball
One nighttime outdoor activity is glow-in-the-dark baseball, which can be improvised using just a few supplies. Take a few glow-in-the-dark necklaces (available at party supply stores, or online) and ask each player to wear one. This allows parents to keep an eye on the children as they run around in the darkness, as well as allowing the players to identify where their fellow teammates are̵2;you could even have each team wear a matching color necklace, to avoid confusion. Then tape a few bracelets around a wiffle ball bat, and stuff a few more into the wiffle ball itself. Wiffle ball, a backyard version of traditional baseball that employs a plastic bat and a plastic ball with aerodynamic holes, is already an accessible game for outdoor play. This nighttime variation on traditional wiffle ball keeps children physically active and promotes safety. For detailed rules on wiffle ball, see Resources.
Flashlight Tag
For a large group of children, coordinate a nighttime version of ̶0;tag.̶1; Give each player a flashlight (any cheap version will do, such as the variety available at dollar stores). The player who is ̶0;it̶1; uses the flashlight̵7;s glow to ̶0;tag̶1; another player. Players who are ̶0;not it̶1; keep their flashlights turned off, to make the game trickier. Be cautious to avoid collisions between running children̵2;consider, perhaps, making each player wear a small glow-in-the-dark bracelet to avoid accidents. Also determine boundaries before the start of play̵2;for example, instruct players to remain within a single home's yard, so that nobody gets lost or strays into the street.
Flashlight Limbo
This game works for a smaller outdoor space, because it does not require children to run around, and all you need are two flashlights and some upbeat music. Have two players stand across from each other, about five or six feet apart, each pointing a flashlight at each other to form the ̶0;bar.̶1; Dancing to the music, the other players can try to limbo under the bar without touching it, as the bar is lowered with each round. The last player eliminated is the winner.
Statues
This nighttime game tests players' ability to keep a straight face. With four or more players, assign one to be the "guide," another to be the "tourist" and the rest to be "statues." The statues must strike a dynamic pose, like a museum statue, and hold perfectly still. The guide, then, leads the tourist from statue to statue, shining the flashlight on each one and giving funny descriptions.
The guide's goal is to make the statues laugh or move, so catching them off-guard is key̵2;but no touching is allowed. When a statue breaks character, he is "out," and the last statue standing becomes the new guide.