You don’t need to wait until after dark for flashlight games. If clouds or rain have you stuck indoors, kiddos in want of entertainment will love pulling out flashlights even by day!

To wit, we had dark, cloudy skies today (though no rain), and Veronika seemed a bit aimless. So I pulled out a flashlight and shined it into the toy purse she was fiddling with. The game was instantly more fun! What else could she shine it on?

She loved body parts. “Mommy’s hand! Mommy’s arm! Mommy’s knee!”

And then she searched for corresponding bits on herself with her beacon of light.

Reflective or shiny surfaces were fun, like the wood of our coffee table…

…or the glossy pages of a photo book. Be sure to name everything the flashlight lands on; Veronika proudly narrated as she spotted a chair, her ears, and more.

Then she went hunting for favorite toys with it. She loved the way the light looked in her stuffed puppy’s eyes.

Last stop: don’t forget to shine up at the ceiling! I’d say we brightened up a gray day.