A power outage party is a fun way to keep kids busy during a storm or other times when electricity is out and you need no electricity kid activities.
It’s also a great way to keep kids minds off of situations that can be stressful.
Whether you’re stuck in a winter storm or you find power off for whatever reason, here’s how to stay entertained during power outages and get your kids’ minds off the emergency situation!
How To Throw A Power Outage Party At Home
One of the best ways to get your family through an emergency power outage is to have fun and take their mind off of the situation, especially for kids who can find these times especially stressful or scary.
With a little planning ahead, you can make times with no electricity into your own power-free party!
If you’re without power, the first thing you want to do is consider how you’re going to stay warm (if you have colder temps) and what you’re going to use for extra lighting.
Here are some great ideas for keeping warm without electricity and ways to have fun with lighting during power outages:
HOST A FORT PARTY
Build indoor blanket forts in a common space (like a family room) and then pile in the pillows and blankets.
Using supplies you have at home, you can make a warm nook for reading, playing games, and even having a family sleepover party.
PRO PARTY TIP: I highly recommend stocking up on these for power outages. They’ve saved us more than once!
HAVE AN INDOOR CAMPOUT
Put up a tent inside or (drape blankets for a tent) and go indoor camping!
This is a bonus because it will help retain the heat from your bodies and keep your family warm.
You can hang battery lanterns like this, pack lunches and eat them inside the tent, and spend time playing games or reading while keeping warm.
If you have a fireplace, you can even roast marshmallows and make your own indoor s’mores!
HAVE A FLASHLIGHT PARTY
Giving each kid their own flashlight during a power outage can not only help them from being scared, but flashlights are just… fun!
Things to do for a flashlight party:
- Flashlight tag
- Flashlight dance party
- Flashlight shadow puppets
- Play games by flashlight
- Read by flashlight
- Scary flashlight story circle where each person takes turn holding a flashlight under their chin to cast scary shadows and makes up a silly scary story (or just a silly story if you have younger kids)
PRO PARTY TIP: Hang a thin white sheet if you can and take turns with flashlights and glow sticks putting on a show of shadows behind the sheet.
ENJOY A POWER OUTAGE NEON DANCE PARTY IN YOUR LIGHTS-OUT LOUNGE
A neon power outage dance party is made up of glow sticks, glow bracelets, and glow rings (or anything else glowing) with a fun playlist from your phone.
An in the dark dance party is fun because it takes everyone’s mind off the darkness and gets everyone moving to stay warm.
We used these glow balloons and everyone had a blast with those, too!
PRO PARTY TIP: You can also play hide and glow seek where everyone has to wear a glow item and then the “finder” tries to locate them.
HAVE FUN WITH A SCAVENGER SNACK PARTY
During a power outage is not the time to try to keep the family on track with healthy eating. In fact, it’s a fun time to snack it up and eat lots of comfort foods.
To have a scavenger snack party, give each person a plate, tray or brown lunch bag.
Set a time for 10 minutes.
On go! everyone races around to fill their snack bags (or trays) with the best snacks they can find.
After 10 minutes, head back to your snuggle spot together and share your snacks while listening to an audiobook on your phone or some soothing music.
You can even give different funny award honors to people like: I ain’t eating that snack award, best snack find, grossest snack find, I didn’t even know we had that snack, etc.
ENJOY A TECH-FREE BOARD GAME NIGHT
Losing power is the perfect excuse to have tech-free time with your family!
Dust off those board games or card games you haven’t played for a while and enjoy some family game play by your flashlights or battery-operated lanterns.
Or, play this hilarious drawing game with supplies you already have at home.
▶SEE SOME OF MY FAMILY’S FAVORITE BOARD GAMES AND CARD GAMES HERE
It’s also a great time to bust out those puzzles that have been sitting in the closet since The Great Puzzleapocalypse of 2020. IYKYK
GREAT FOR THIS PARTY IDEAS: GET GLOW-IN-THE-DARK GAMES
STAY SAFE & HAVE FUN WITH THESE POWER OUTAGE PARTY IDEAS!
