Enjoy a Summer Movie Night Outdoors

May 23, 2018

Posted in: Family, Outdoor Play

What’s summer without an outdoor movie night with the children?

At Kiddie Academy, we spend a lot of time outdoors, especially during the summer, and we encourage families to extend that into the evenings and weekends. A summer movie night can be an affordable and accessible alternative to hitting the theater. Outdoor movie nights offer families a lot of fun, and quality time, without a lot of effort.

Here are helpful tips for enjoying a summer family movie night.

Know what time the movie starts. Come early and come prepared so your children can run around, connect with their friends and maybe even grab a bite to eat before sitting down and being quiet while the movie airs. Typically, the movie won’t start until it’s dark enough to see the screen. So keep in mind if you arrive at 6 p.m., it could be a few hours before that happens.

Pick the right spot. Whether you’re in a back yard, on a patio or presented with an open field of spot choices, look for a spot that will provide the most comfort and least amount of distracting foot traffic. If you have a little one that is potty training, you might also consider a spot close to the bathroom.

Every child has a different attention span. You’re guaranteed to be sitting down for at least 90 minutes while the film airs. This could be a nice time of relaxation with your older kids, but younger ones are bound to get antsy, want to walk around, find trouble or take a bathroom break. A 2-year old will not have the same attention span for a movie as a 7-year old. Don’t expect more attention from them than what they’re able to give at each age.

Don’t forget the snacks, water, sunscreen and bug spray. If your outdoor movie venue doesn’t have snacks available, serve your own popcorn in individualized brown bags. Offer fruit-infused water or juice boxes to keep children hydrated and cool in the summer heat, which can linger long after the sun goes down. Bring along some ice pops or another frozen treat for a special refresh before the movie starts.

Plan for later bed times. Outdoor movie venues typically won’t start the film until the sun goes down, which could be as late as 9:00 p.m. in the summertime. Plan for children to have a lot of fun in the pre-screen time and be inclined to push back their bedtime until after the movie is over.

Bring all your pillows and blankets. Laying in the grass isn’t as comfortable and bringing lawn chairs can be a hefty endeavor with your children along as well. Bring a couple of big blankets to lay on the ground with pillows to cuddle up in and watch the movie in comfort and style.

You should still bring some entertainment. You’ll have some time to kill before the movie starts. Have some fun games, balls or toys to keep kids occupied.

Prepare to be outside. Since you and your little ones will be outside enjoying this entertainment for a few hours, prepare for the bugs with insect repellent and sunscreen.

