Darker Evenings: Cosy Ideas to Keep Kids Happy Indoors (Without Screens)

The clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026, and with them go those long, light evenings. Soon it's dark by teatime. Whether your children call you Dad, Baba, Abu or Papa, I think we all know the temptation to reach for the remote or the tablet.

But darker evenings can also be some of the cosiest of the year. Here's what's happening, how to help sleep settle, and plenty of low-cost, screen-free ideas for indoors.

Why do the clocks go back?

According to GOV.UK, the clocks in the UK go back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October. That's when we leave British Summer Time (BST) and return to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), until they go forward again in spring.

Royal Museums Greenwich explains that summer time is a way of making the most of the longer daylight hours in summer. A builder called William Willett campaigned for the idea in 1907, and the Summer Time Act was passed in 1916. Their handy reminder for the kids: "spring forward, fall back".

Helping kids' sleep adjust

An extra hour in bed sounds lovely, but children's body clocks don't read the calendar. The Sleep Charity points out that early risers can end up awake even earlier once the clocks change. It suggests moving bedtime 10 to 15 minutes later every few nights in the week before, so their body clock adapts gradually. It also recommends getting outside for fresh air and exercise the day before (without overdoing it, as overtired children are harder to settle), encouraging them to stay in bed a little longer if they wake at their usual time, and trying blackout blinds or thicker curtains for the lighter mornings. Keep the bedtime routine the same, switch screens off at least an hour before bed, and offer a warm, milky drink rather than sugary snacks.

The NHS gives similar advice for under-5s: a calm, predictable bedtime routine at the same time each night, and no laptops, tablets or phones in the 30 to 60 minutes before bed, because the light from screens can interfere with sleep. If your child is afraid of the dark, it suggests a nightlight or leaving a landing light on.

As a rough guide, NHS Healthier Together says pre-schoolers usually need 10 to 13 hours of sleep a day, including naps, and most children aged 5 to 11 need 9 to 11 hours a night. Every child is different.

Cosy ideas: dens, stories and stars

A den night is hard to beat. Drape blankets over chairs or the table, add cushions and a torch, and you've got a hideaway. Little ones love crawling in, and older kids can be chief engineers.

For a torch-lit story time, turn the big light off, hand out torches and read by torchlight. Take turns making up stories, or try shadow puppets on the wall. It's a calm way to wind down.

One upside of earlier darkness is that you don't need to stay up late to see the night sky. Switch the lights off, wrap up in a blanket by the window and look for the Moon and the brightest stars. Kids can keep a Moon diary or invent their own constellations.

Cosy ideas: baking and kitchen science

Simple bakes like banana bread, oat biscuits, cheese scones or apple crumble are perfect for small hands. Younger children can pour and stir, while older ones can follow the recipe themselves. If your family keeps halal, it's worth checking labels on things like marshmallows, sweets and flavourings for gelatine or alcohol.

Kitchen science is baking's messier cousin. Mix bicarbonate of soda with lemon juice and watch it fizz, drop raisins into fizzy water and see them "dance", or grow cress on damp kitchen roll on the windowsill. Always supervise, especially with younger children.

Cosy ideas: games, hunts and crafts

Dust off the board games, a pack of cards or a jigsaw. Matching games suit little ones, while older kids might enjoy strategy games or writing the questions for a family quiz.

An indoor treasure hunt costs nothing. Hide a small treat and leave a trail of clues around the house, with picture clues for younger children and riddles for older ones.

For crafts, try leaf rubbings, salt dough, paper chains, cereal-box rockets or a homemade card for a grandparent.

Finally, start a family "autumn jar". Everyone adds slips of paper with things they're grateful for, happy moments from the week or ideas for future cosy evenings. On a gloomy night, pull a few out and read them together.

Staying active and getting daylight

Cosy shouldn't mean sitting still all evening. The NHS recommends that children aged 5 to 18 aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity a day across the week, and that pre-schoolers aged 3 to 4 spend at least 180 minutes a day being active, including active and outdoor play. Indoors, try a living-room dance party, musical statues, a cushion obstacle course or balloon keepy-uppy.

Daylight matters too. The Sleep Charity says daylight supports our body clocks and suggests encouraging children to get outside for at least half an hour each morning. A walk to school or a weekend trip to the park both count.

Making the most of the dark

The clocks going back can feel like the start of a long, grey stretch. I'd rather see it as an invitation to slow down, light the lamps and spend proper time together. Our children won't remember every evening, but I believe they'll remember how those evenings felt: warm, safe and full of laughter.

So this October, why not pick one idea and give it a go? Build the den, bake the banana bread, switch off the big light and grab the torches. Here's to cosy evenings with the people who matter most.