25 Best Flashlight Games For Kids (2024)

Flashlights aren’t just for power outages and camping trips – they’re also a fantastic tool for playtime with kids!

There’s something about the glow of a flashlight in the dark that captures kids’ imaginations and inspires all sorts of fun games and activities. Whether your kids are budding scientists, avid adventurers, or just love to goof around, there are plenty of ways to use flashlights to make playtime even more exciting.

In this post, we’ve compiled a list of 25 of the most fun and engaging flashlight games for kids of all ages.

From classic games like flashlight tag and scavenger hunts to unique twists on old favorites like flashlight freeze and sardines, these games are sure to get your kids laughing, moving, and learning in ways they’ll never forget.

So grab your flashlights, gather your crew, and get ready for a ton of flashlight-fueled fun!

1. Flashlight Tag

Flashlight tag is a super fun and exciting game that’s perfect for playing with friends or family in the dark.

Here’s how to play:

First, you need a flashlight (or several flashlights if you’re playing with a group). Next, pick someone to be “it”. That person will be in charge of holding the flashlight and trying to tag everyone else.

Once the person who is “it” has the flashlight, they should close their eyes and count to a designated number (like 20 or 30) while everyone else hides. Once they’re done counting, they can start looking for the other players using their flashlight.

If the person who is “it” sees someone, they should shine their flashlight on them and call out their name. That person is now out and has to sit on the sidelines.

But here’s the catch: the other players can try to sneak up and tag the person who is “it” with their own flashlight. If they’re successful, they become the new “it” and the game continues.

The game is over when either everyone has been caught or when time runs out. And that’s how you play flashlight tag! It’s a great way to get some exercise, have fun with friends or family, and enjoy the darkness in a safe and exciting way. So grab a flashlight and let the games begin!

2. Catch The Light

Looking for a thrilling and engaging game to play with your family?

Try “Catch the Light”!

This game will challenge your agility and hand-eye coordination, all while exploring the magic of light and shadow in a completely dark room.

Here’s how to play:

First, turn off all the lights in the room and make sure it’s completely dark. Then, grab a flashlight and point it at a wall or a flat surface.

Next, take turns moving the flashlight around to create a moving “light show” on the wall. The goal is to catch the light with your hands!

To make the game more challenging, you can increase the speed or change the pattern of the light. You can also make it a competition by seeing who can catch the light the most times in a row.

But the fun doesn’t stop there! You can also add some creative twists to the game.

For example, you can pretend that the light is a firefly or a shooting star, and make a wish every time you catch it. Or, you can play some music and dance around while you try to catch the light.

3. Flashlight Limbo

Flashlight limbo is a fun and challenging game that puts a new spin on the classic limbo game.

Here’s what you’ll need to play:

• A flashlight
• Two sturdy objects (such as chairs) to hold the “limbo stick”
• A group of players

To start, set up the two objects a few feet apart and designate one player to hold the flashlight. The other players will take turns trying to limbo under the “stick” – which is really just the light from the flashlight – while the player with the flashlight shines it at the limbo stick to make it visible in the dark.

As the players take turns limboing under the stick, the player with the flashlight can lower it to make the game more challenging.

The game continues until a player touches the limbo stick, falls, or can’t limbo under the stick without touching it. That player is out, and the last player standing is the winner.

You can make the game more challenging by adjusting the height of the limbo stick and the speed at which the flashlight holder lowers it. Additionally, you can play music to make the game more exciting.

4. Shadow Puppet Charades

Shadow puppet charades is a creative game that’s perfect for playing with friends or family.

Here’s what you’ll need to play:

• A light source, such as a flashlight or lamp
• A wall or flat surface to cast shadows
• A group of players

To start, one player will act as the “puppeteer” and create a shadow puppet using their hands against the light source. The other players will then try to guess what the puppet is supposed to be, similar to charades.

The puppeteer can use their hands to create various shapes and movements to represent different objects, animals, or actions. For example, they can create a bird by flapping their hands or a snake by moving their hand in a slithering motion.

The other players will then take turns guessing what the puppet represents. The player who correctly guesses the object, animal, or action becomes the next puppeteer.

To make the game more challenging, you can add a time limit for each round or require that the puppeteer only use one hand to create the shadow puppet.

Shadow puppet charades is a fun and creative game that encourages imagination, creativity, and teamwork. So grab a light source and get ready to put on a shadow puppet show!

5. Flashlight Disco Party

6. Nighttime Scavenger Hunt

A nighttime scavenger hunt is anexciting way to explore the outdoors and spend time with friends and family.

Here’s what you’ll need to host your own nighttime scavenger hunt:

• A list of scavenger hunt items
• Flashlights or headlamps for each player
• A bag or container for each player to collect items
• Optional: glow sticks, markers, or other decorations

To start, create a list of scavenger hunt items that players will need to find. These items can include natural objects like leaves or rocks, or man-made items like a specific type of toy or a piece of candy.

Next, hide the items around the designated scavenger hunt area. Make sure to choose a safe area that’s easy to navigate in the dark.

Distribute the flashlights or headlamps to each player and explain the rules of the game. Players will use their flashlights to search for the scavenger hunt items on the list, collecting them in their bags or containers as they go.

To make the game more challenging, you can set a time limit or make the items harder to find. Alternatively, you can add clues or riddles to help players locate the items.

Once all the items have been found, players can return to a designated meeting spot to share what they’ve found and compare their collections. You can also have a prize for the player who collects the most items or finds a specific item first.

To enhance the nighttime scavenger hunt experience, you can add decorations like glow sticks or markers to mark the scavenger hunt area or hide the items.

7. Night at the Museum

“Night at the Museum” is a classic flashlight game that kids will love.

Here’s how to play:

1. Choose a location: Choose a location that will serve as the “museum”. This could be a room or a section of a house.
2. Decide on the exhibits: Decide on the exhibits that will be displayed in the “museum”. This could be anything from stuffed animals to action figures to household items.
3. Turn off the lights: Turn off the lights in the “museum” and give each child a flashlight.
4. Begin the game: Explain the rules of the game: the kids are the “museum guards” and their goal is to make sure none of the exhibits come to life during the night. The kids can move around the “museum” using their flashlights to search for any signs of movement.
5. Introduce the “exhibits”: After a few minutes of searching, you can introduce the “exhibits”. These can be other players who are trying to move around the “museum” undetected.
6. Play the game: The “exhibits” should try to move around the “museum” without being caught by the “guards”. If a “guard” shines their flashlight on an “exhibit”, that “exhibit” is out of the game.
7. End the game: The game ends when all the “exhibits” have been caught or a designated time limit has been reached.

8. Constellations

Creating a constellation projector is a fun and educational activity that’s perfect for indoor play or a sleepover.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A piece of thick paper or cardboard
• A pen or pencil
• A flashlight
• A star chart or list of constellations
• Optional: tape or glue to secure the paper

To start, choose a dark room where you can project the constellation shapes onto the wall or ceiling. You’ll need to create a makeshift projector using the flashlight and the piece of paper.

Begin by punching small holes in the paper with a pen or pencil to represent the stars in the constellation. Make sure to space the holes out in the pattern of the constellation you want to create.

Once you’ve punched the holes, turn off the lights in the room and place the paper in front of the flashlight. Hold the flashlight steady and shine it through the holes in the paper, projecting the shape of the constellation onto the wall or ceiling.

If the projected image is too faint, you can move the flashlight closer to the paper or use a brighter flashlight. If the image is too blurry, try adjusting the focus of the flashlight or using a smaller hole in the paper.

As players create their constellation projector, they can explain what they represent and share fun facts about the stars and constellations they’re creating.

To enhance the stargazing experience, you can dim the lights in the room and add decorations like glow-in-the-dark stars or planets.

9. Ghost in the Graveyard

Ghost in the Graveyard is a fun and spooky game that’s perfect for a group of friends or family members on a dark evening.

Here’s how to play:

Before the game begins, give each player a flashlight. The flashlight should be turned off, and players should be instructed to use them only when they need to see in the dark.

To start, choose one person to be the “ghost” and have them hide somewhere in the designated playing area. The other players then count to a predetermined number (usually 10 or 20) before going out to search for the ghost.

Once the ghost has hidden, players can turn on their flashlights and begin searching for the ghost.

If a player spots the ghost, they should turn off their flashlight and yell “Ghost in the Graveyard!” Then they should make a run for the safe zone without being tagged by the ghost.

If the ghost tags a player before they make it back to the safe zone, that player becomes the new ghost. The game continues until all players have had a chance to be the ghost or until everyone decides to end the game.

10. Capture the Moon

11. Morse Code Messages

Creating Morse code messages with a flashlight can be a great way to learn about communication and coding.

Here’s how to do it:

1. First, you need to understand how Morse code works. Morse code, create in the 1830’s, is a system of dots and dashes that represent letters and numbers. For example, the letter “A” is represented by a dot followed by a dash, while the number “1” is represented by a single dot.
2. Once you understand Morse code, you can use a flashlight to send messages using the dots and dashes. To do this, you will need to turn the flashlight on and off in a pattern that represents each letter or number.
3. To send a message, start by shining the flashlight for a short period of time to represent a dot, and then turning it off for a longer period of time to represent a dash. For example, the letter “A” would be represented by a short flash followed by a long flash.
4. You can use a chart of Morse code to help you remember the pattern for each letter and number, or you can practice memorizing them on your own.
5. Once you have created your message, you can shine it towards the person you want to receive it. They will need to have a basic understanding of Morse code in order to decode the message.

12. Flashlight Fort

13. Lightning Bug Hide & Seek

Lightning bug hide and seek is a fun twist on the classic game of hide and seek.

Here’s how to play:

1. Designate one person to be the seeker. The rest of the players are hiders.
2. Give each of the hiders a small flashlight or glow stick. These will represent lightning bugs.
3. The seeker counts to a designated number while the hiders go and hide with their flashlights off.
4. Once the seeker is done counting, they begin searching for the hiders.
5. The hiders have to turn their flashlight on and off once every 30 seconds.
6. Once they find a hider, the seeker then has to tag the hider before they can run back to the starting point.
7. If a hider is tagged before they make it back to the starting point, they become the seeker for the next round.
8. If a hider makes it back to the starting point without being tagged, they stay in the game for the next round.
9. The game continues until either all the hiders are caught or a designated time limit is reached.

14. Flashlight Dinner

Are you tired of the same old dinner routine with your kids? Why not try something new and exciting with a flashlight dinner!

Here’s how to have a blast with your kids, both indoors and outdoors:

1. Pick a location: Decide whether you want to have your flashlight dinner indoors or outdoors. If you’re going outside, find a safe, well-lit area where you won’t have to worry about tripping over anything. If you’re staying indoors, consider creating a cozy fort or dimming the lights to set the mood.
2. Set the scene: Get your flashlights ready and gather any other materials you might need, such as blankets, pillows, or camping chairs. For an outdoor dinner, consider using a picnic table or blanket for a comfortable seating area. For an indoor dinner, use pillows or cushions to create a comfortable space on the floor.
3. Plan your menu: Keep your flashlight dinner simple and fun with finger foods and easy-to-eat items like hot dogs, sandwiches, or fruit. For an outdoor dinner, you can also pack a cooler with drinks and snacks. For an indoor dinner, try making themed snacks or desserts that fit the flashlight dinner vibe.
4. Make it fun: Now it’s time to turn on your flashlights and let the fun begin! Create shadow puppets, tell ghost stories, or play flashlight tag. For an indoor dinner, you can also consider playing board games or reading books with a flashlight.

15. Light Painting

To capture the light of the flashlight moving around in different shapes, you can try using a technique called light painting.

Here are the steps to do this with your phone:

1. Find a dark area: Look for a dark area in your home or outside where you can take your pictures. Make sure that the area is completely dark to get the best results.
2. Set up your shot: Position your subject where you want it in the frame. You can use any object as a subject or have someone stand still as a subject.
3. Set up your camera: Set your phone to a slow shutter speed or long exposure mode to capture the light movement. If your phone’s camera app doesn’t have this feature, you can download a third-party app that does. Some popular options for iOS and Android include Slow Shutter Cam, NightCap Camera, and Camera FV-5.
4. Get your flashlight ready: Hold your flashlight and point it at your subject. You can use any shape or movement pattern you want for the light, such as drawing circles, writing letters, or waving the flashlight back and forth.
5. Start the exposure: Press the shutter button to start the exposure. You may need to hold the button down for several seconds or use a remote shutter release app to keep the camera steady.
6. Move the flashlight: While the exposure is in progress, move the flashlight around your subject to create the light painting effect. Make sure to keep the light moving smoothly and avoid stopping or pausing in one spot.
7. End the exposure: When you’re done painting with light, release the shutter button or stop the exposure using the camera app.
8. Review and edit: Review the picture to see how it turned out. You can also edit the picture using various editing apps to adjust the brightness, contrast, and other settings.

With these simple steps, you can create some really fun and unique light painting pictures with your phone and a flashlight.

16. Nocturnal Animals Hide & Seek

Nocturnal animal hide and seek with kids and flashlights is a fun game that can be played both indoors and outdoors.

Here are the steps to play the game:

1. Choose a location: Choose a location where you want to play the game. It can be a dark room, a backyard, or a park with plenty of hiding spots.
2. Decide on the rules: Decide on the rules of the game. You can set a time limit, decide how many rounds to play, or set boundaries for the hiding spots.
3. Assign roles: Assign the roles of the nocturnal animals and the seekers. The nocturnal animals hide, while the seekers use their flashlights to find them.
4. Begin the game: Turn off the lights or wait for it to get dark outside. The nocturnal animals will hide while the seekers count to a designated number.
5. Seek out the animals: Once the seekers finish counting, they can start using their flashlights to find the nocturnal animals. The animals can move around or stay in one place to make it more challenging.
6. Make sounds: Every third seconds or so, the hiders have to make the noise that their nocturnal animal makes.
7. Signal found animals: When a seeker finds a nocturnal animal, they should shine their flashlight on them and say something like “I found you!”
8. End the round: The round ends when all the nocturnal animals are found or the time limit is reached.
9. Switch roles: After each round, switch the roles of the nocturnal animals and seekers so everyone gets a chance to play both roles.

17. Flashlight Freeze

Flashlight Freeze an easy game! It can be adapted to different age levels.

Here are the steps to play the game:

1. Choose a location where you want to play the game. It can be a dark room or an outdoor space with plenty of room to move around.
2. Decide on the rules of the game. The game can be played with or without teams, and you can set a time limit or play until someone reaches a certain score.
3. Assign the roles of the taggers and the players. The taggers will hold flashlights and try to tag the players, who will also have flashlights and try to avoid being tagged.
4. Turn off the lights or wait for it to get dark outside. The taggers will start counting to a designated number while the players move around.
5. When the taggers finish counting, they can start chasing the players and shining their flashlights on them. The players can use their flashlights to freeze the tagger in place.
6. To freeze a tagger, players need to shine their flashlight on them and say “freeze!” If the tagger is frozen, they must stay still until another player unfreezes them by shining their flashlight on them and saying “unfreeze!”
7. If a frozen player moves, they’re out!
8. Players can score points by freezing the tagger, and the tagger can score points by tagging the players. The game can be played until someone reaches a certain score, or for a designated time period.
9. End the game: The game ends when someone reaches the designated score, when there is only one frozen person left, or the time limit is reached.

18. Spotlight on You!

20. Flashlight Hot Potato

This fast-paced, high-energy game is perfect for kids of all ages and is sure to keep them entertained!

To play, all you need is a flashlight and a group of players. Gather your kids in a circle and turn off the lights to make it more challenging. Start by turning on the flashlight and passing it to one player.

The goal is to pass the flashlight quickly, trying not to hold onto it for more than a few seconds. The player who is holding the flashlight when the light goes out is out of the game.

To make the game more challenging, you can add rules such as requiring players to pass the flashlight in a certain direction, or making them stand up and pass the flashlight while balancing on one foot.

You can also change up the game by playing with different types of objects, such as a small ball or stuffed animal, instead of a flashlight.

Flashlight hot potato is a great way to get your kids moving and laughing, while also improving their hand-eye coordination and reaction time. Plus, it’s a fun and simple game that requires no setup or special equipment.

21. Flashlight Stomp

Flashlight stomp is one exciting game of fancy footwork!

To play, all you need is a flashlight and a group of players. Start by turning off the lights and handing out the flashlights. Then, have the players stand in a circle with their flashlights pointing downwards towards the ground.

The object of the game is to stomp on the other players’ flashlights and turn them off while keeping your own flashlight on. To do this, players must stomp on each other’s flashlights while keeping their own flashlight out of harm’s way.

As the game progresses, the circle may get smaller as players are eliminated, making it even harder to avoid getting your flashlight stomped on. The last player standing with their flashlight on wins the game!

To make the game more challenging, you can add rules such as requiring players to only stomp on other players’ flashlights with their left foot or only stomp on flashlights of a certain color. You can also make it a team game by dividing players into two teams and seeing which team can stomp out the other team’s flashlights first.

Flashlight stomp is a great way to get your kids moving and laughing, while also improving their coordination and balance.

22. Shadow Shapes

A good science experiment for young kids that involves a flashlight is the “Shadow Shapes” experiment.

Here’s how to do it:

Materials:

• Flashlight
• White paper
• Objects with different shapes (e.g. toys, cutouts, household objects)

Instructions:

1. Set up the experiment in a dark room or area with a flat surface to place the objects on.
2. Place the white paper on the flat surface.
3. Place the objects on the paper in a line, leaving some space between them.
4. Turn on the flashlight and shine it towards the objects, making sure the light is directly behind them and not shining towards you.
5. Move the flashlight around the objects to observe how their shadows change shape and size.
6. Experiment with moving the objects closer and further away from the flashlight to see how it affects the shadows.

Explanation: This experiment demonstrates how light travels in a straight line and how objects block light to create shadows. By moving the flashlight around the objects, children can observe how the shape and size of the shadows change. They can also see how moving the objects closer or further away from the flashlight can affect the size and clarity of the shadows. This experiment can also help children learn about the properties of light and how it interacts with objects.

23. Bending Light

One fun and simple science experiment for kids that teaches about light refraction and uses flashlights is the “Bending Light” experiment.

Here’s how to do it:

Materials:

• Flashlight
• Glass of water
• White paper
• Pencil

Instructions:

1. Set up the experiment in a dark room or area.
2. Fill the glass with water and place it on the white paper.
3. Turn on the flashlight and shine it at the glass of water.
4. Observe how the light travels through the water and onto the paper.
5. Use the pencil to draw the path of the light beam on the paper.
6. Move the flashlight to the side of the glass and shine it at the water again.
7. Observe how the path of the light beam is bent when it passes through the water.
8. Use the pencil to draw the new path of the light beam on the paper.

Explanation: This experiment demonstrates the concept of light refraction, which occurs when light travels through a medium with a different density, such as water or glass. When the flashlight beam passes through the water, it slows down and changes direction, causing the path of the light beam to bend. By observing the path of the light beam and drawing it on the paper, kids can see how the light changes direction as it passes through the water.

24. Flashlight Disc Golf

Flashlight disc golf is a fun outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Here’s how to play it with young kids:

Materials:

• Flashlights (one per player)
• Frisbees or similar flying discs (one per player)
• Markers or tape to mark the “holes”
• Open space, such as a park or backyard

Instructions:

1. Choose an open space with enough room to set up “holes” for the game.
2. Mark the “holes” by placing markers or tape on the ground to indicate where each “hole” is located.
3. Illumunate the holes with flashlights.
4. Assign a starting point for each player, which will be the location from where they will throw their frisbee towards the “hole.”
5. Turn off the lights or wait until it’s dark enough to play.
6. Players take turns throwing their frisbee towards the designated “hole,” aiming to get the frisbee to land as close to the “hole” as possible.
7. The player who lands their frisbee closest to the “hole” earns a point for that round.
8. Play continues until all players have thrown their frisbees, and a winner is declared based on the number of points earned.

To make the game more challenging, you can add obstacles to the course or increase the distance between the starting point and the “holes.” For young kids, you may want to adjust the game by making the “holes” larger or closer together, and providing them with extra help with their throws if needed.

25. Flashlight Sardines

This game is like a reverse version of hide-and-seek. Instead of one person hiding and everyone else seeking, one person hides while everyone else tries to find them. To make it even more exciting, each player must carry their own flashlight and use it to search for the hiding person.

Here’s how to play:

1. Choose one person to be the “hider” and have them find a spot to hide in while everyone else counts to a designated number.
2. Once the counting is done, everyone else sets off with their flashlights to search for the hiding person.
3. As soon as someone finds the hiding person, they quietly join them in their hiding spot. The next person to find the hiding spot does the same, and so on, until everyone is squished into the hiding spot like sardines in a can.
4. The last person to find the hiding spot becomes the next “hider” and the game starts over.

To make the game more challenging, you can set a time limit for finding the hiding person or designate specific areas where the hiding person can’t hide. You can also play with different variations, such as using two or more hiders or requiring players to stay a certain distance away from the hiding person.

Flashlight sardines is a great way to get kids moving and using their problem-solving skills in a fun and engaging way. So grab your flashlights and get ready to play!

Playing with flashlights can be a great way to have fun, be active, and learn with your kids.

Whether you’re playing classic games like flashlight tag or trying out some of the unique games on our list, you’re sure to have a blast with your family.

So grab some flashlights, head outside or stay indoors, and start exploring the endless possibilities of flashlight play.

You never know what adventures you might find in the beam of a flashlight!When you’re done playing games, snuggle up in bed or a DIY fort for flashlight story time.

For more at-home fun, check out “101 Backyard Games & Activities Your Kids Will Love“.

Related Posts:

50 Best Camping Activities Your Kids Will Love