Flashlight story night: spooky, not too spooky
Kids love being a little scared, as long as they're in control. Lights off, flashlights on, and they set how spooky it gets.
- Time
- 30 min
- Cost
- $0
- Ages
- 5 to 12
- Where
- A dark room
What you need
- A flashlight each
- Blankets and pillows, or a fort
- Three story-starter cards (index cards or paper)
Before you start
- Flashlights, not candles. AAP recommends flashlights or battery candles over open flames for Halloween lighting.
- They hold the dial. Agree on a stop word. If they say it, the story turns funny right away, no teasing.
- Not right before sleep. Do it earlier in the evening, in a different room, and end with a funny one.
Steps
- Set up the dark. Blankets or a fort, lights off, flashlights on. Practice the under-the-chin face.
- Set the scare level. Kid picks 1 to 4: 1 silly, 4 really spooky. Ages 5–6: level 1 or 2 only. Agree on a stop word.
- Write three starters. Write three story starters on cards and shuffle them face down.
- Tell it in turns. Draw a card. Pass the flashlight: whoever holds it adds the next part.
- End on a laugh. End every story funny: the ghost wanted a sandwich. Then lights on.
If it stalls
- If a story stalls, draw a new card or add: "…and then the door creaked."
- If they get really scared, turn the lights on, tell them what's real and what's made up, and switch to a funny story.
Best story
scare level
Story ideas
Best part: Signed by Date