Backyard Campout (Without the Camping)

Set up a tent in the backyard (borrow one if you don't own one), lay out sleeping bags, and start at golden hour. The novelty of 'sleeping outside' at home is electric for kids.

Dinner is hot dogs or foil-packet nachos over a fire pit or grill. Dessert is s'mores — obviously. Have wet wipes ready; this gets sticky in the best way.

After dark: flashlight tag, shadow puppets on the tent wall, and one spooky-but-not-scary story. Set a firm 'tents at 9' rule and enforce it like a camp counselor.

Fair warning: half the kids will migrate inside by 10 PM. That's fine. The playdate was the evening, not the overnight. Everyone still talks about it for weeks.