En-"lightened" Family Fun

   Sometimes the simplest things in life provide the greatest inspiration for family fun.  Every day sheds both light and dark on our environment.  Light itself is such a fascinating phenomenon.  Light makes it possible for us to see the world, see things in color, and even carry on activities long after the sun goes down.  As most of us take the wonder of light for granted, consider planning some fun family activities with light and dark as the center of your inspiration.

Here are a few ideas to get you on the road to enlightened family fun:  

   What could be more than making something with your hands that doesn’t need an electric plug to show light?  Head to your local craft store or jump online to secure several glow in the dark craft supplies.  Here are some items you may want to purchase:

• Glow in the dark stars
  
• Glow in the dark stickers
  
• Glow in the dark paint
  
• Glow in the dark glitter
  
• Glow in the dark origami paper
  
• Glow in the dark fabric paint 
• Black paper
• Black felt 
  
• Black fabric
  
• Black ribbon
  
• Black t-shirts
  

   Don’t be afraid to grab some supplies, lay them all out of on the table, and let your kids develop their own projects.  This is a great way to nurture creativity and innovation.  

  If you prefer a little direction, here are some general project ideas to get you thinking about the perfect project for your family:

• Create a mural to hang in your child’s bedroom
  
• Design a fun pajama shirt that will glow at night
  
• Use fabric paint and ribbon to create fun hair ribbons
  
• Cover a paper towel roll with black paper and turn it into bedside table art
  
• Paint rocks and pebbles and place them in a mason jar for a fun night light
  
• Turn plastic stars and string into a fun mobile to hang above your child’s bed
  

  Bowling is a longtime family favorite of many American families; however, this creative twist on bowling will delight even the least athletic member of your family.  

Here is what you will need: 

      Hallway (clear the floor of any obstacles)
      10 clear plastic disposable cups (approx. 16 oz. size)
      10 or more glow sticks
      Clear scotch tape
      Roll of glow in the dark duct tape

How to play:

1. Activate the glow sticks and tape them inside the plastic cups.  You can bend them to form spirals inside the cup or put them inside any way you see fit.  Make sure the glow stick is securely fastened inside the cup.  These cups will soon be your bowling pins.    
   
2. Place the cups at one end of your hallway in a standard 10-pin bowling formation triangle.  You can place them right side up for easier knock down, or turn them drinking side to the floor for a slightly more challenging setup.   
   
3. If you have extra glow sticks, you can pass these out for the bowlers to wear as necklaces, bracelets, headbands, etc.
   
4. Turn off all the lights. 
   
5. You may want to use a couple glow sticks inside a pair of shoes on each side of the hall to mark the “starting line”.  Hand the roll of glow in the dark duct tape to the first bowler.  This will be the bowling ball.   
   
6. Give each player the chance to roll the tape roll down the hall toward the pins.  Count the number of pins that get knocked over.  As in traditional bowling, each bowler gets two attempts to knock over all of the pins.