25 Amazingly Fun Glow In The Dark DIY Projects For Kids (2023)

Wintertime often means power outages, which are never fun. Even if you maintain power during those cold winter nights, sometimes there’s just no fun in colder weather. Whether you’re looking for activities for winter or you want something that the kids will enjoy when it’s warm enough to be outdoors at night, I’ve got a great collection of 25 amazingly fun DIY projects that you can do with your little ones – and these projects all glow in the dark!

Glow in the Dark Crafts for Kids

While you’re looking for activities to keep the kids busy, be sure to check out this amazing 37 parenting hacks round-up. Now, back to the list. There is definitely something in here that you are going to want to make with your little ones. From glow in the dark bowling to calming bathtub activities – that also glow in the dark – your kids are going to flip when they see these projects! I have to say, I got a little excited myself. I have loved glow in the dark projects since I was a kid and my kids love them as well. I can’t wait to grab a few of these and try them out.

There’s a great glow in the dark slime recipe in here, and when you make it you just have to check out this fun sensory project for kids that shows you how to blow bubbles in slime. It’s fun and educational – two of my most favorite things!

With a constellation jar, a glow in the dark galaxy, and even cotton candy that glows, I just know you and your little ones are going to love this project list. Pick a new glow in the dark project for every week, or stick with your favorite. Be sure to let me know which ones you have tried. I always enjoy hearing how awesome your projects are!

1. Glow In The Dark Bowling

By sticking glow sticks into ordinary water bottles, you can create a fun game of glow in the dark bowling. You just use empty clear bottles and then add an activated glow stick. You can get glow sticks at the Dollar Tree and they normally come two or three to a package. Once you have your “pins” set up, just use any ball you want to knock them down. This is a super fun game for late summer nights and would be perfect to take along on camping trips.

Tutorial: mykidsadventures

2. Glowing Bedtime Bottle

No, this isn’t an infant bottle – it’s a great bottle that glows in the dark, which helps to calm children down before bedtime. This is perfect for active children who need to tone it down just a notch so that they can easily fall asleep. The empty water bottle is filled with hair gel, glow in the dark paint, and glow in the dark mini stars. The stars “dance” around, which mesmerizes children and helps them to calm down and get ready to drift off into dreamland.

Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog

3. Glow In The Dark Bathtub Fun

These fun glow in the dark balloons are perfect for bath time fun. You just blow up balloons, add activated glow sticks, tie the balloons up and then let the kids have a ball. Warning – this could get messy as kids throw the balloons back and forth. Water may hit the floor – but that’s what makes it such a fun activity. If you don’t want to clean up water in the bathroom, this is also a great outdoor activity or maybe a fun pool game at night.

Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog

4. Glowing Sidewalk Chalk

Not only does this sidewalk chalk glow in the dark, you save money because you make it yourself. I love the idea of making sidewalk chalk. Although it’s not terribly expensive, any time you can save money is a great time, right? So, you need plaster of Paris, glow in the dark paint, and an ice cube tray to create these amazing chalks. There as much fun to make as they are to use, and kids will adore making messages on the sidewalk that will glow when nighttime arrives.

Tutorial: growingajeweledrose

5. Out Of This World Constellation Jar

This constellation jar is made to house the Big Dipper and it’s amazing! This is a great project to use up one of those mason jars that you have ready for crafting. You’ll need to get an image of the Big Dipper and draw it on the jar – there are a few other steps, too. When you’re finished, you’ll have captured the galaxy, particularly the Big Dipper part of it. Or, choose your own favorite constellation – or even make them all!

Tutorial: momdot

6. Awesome Glowing Dream Catcher

This amazing dream catcher is a paper plate with glowing mini stars throughout. I love this idea for decorating a little one’s room. It makes wonderfully homemade décor during the day and turns into a glowing dream catcher at night, complete with soothing stars to help lull little ones to sleep. You could add glow in the dark paint to the actual paper plate itself or just attach glowing mini stars for the glow in the dark effect.

Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog

7. Glow In The Dark Cotton Candy

My favorite part of the county fair growing up was cotton candy. I still love it to this day. I also really love these glow in the dark cotton candies – and kids will adore them, too. You don’t actually do anything to the cotton candy itself. The glowing comes from LED cotton candy sticks that you can buy online. They’re made by Glo Cone and they are FDA approved, so they’re perfectly safe for your little ones. I love this idea of making glowing cotton candy – almost as much as I love eating cotton candy!

Tutorial: livinglocurto

8. Galaxy Jar

Here’s another great out of this world glowing jar idea that kids will love. This galaxy jar is made with an old mason jar and glow in the dark fabric paint – which you can pick up at just about any craft or fabric store. Kids will adore making their own version of the Milky Way and you’ll love how fascinated they are with their own little private galaxy.

Tutorial: momdot

9. Two Ingredient Glowing Glue

Kids will love creating with their own glowing glue. You can easily create glue that glows in the dark by just mixing white glue with fluorescent paint. You just add a few drops of paint to your glue and shake well. Many stores offer school glue for under a dollar, especially during the fall, so you could afford to make an entire rainbow of glowing glues. Then just give the kids some construction paper and let them create pictures that will glow when the lights go out. This is a great project idea for cold, snowy or rainy days when you just can’t get outside.

Tutorial: growingajeweledrose

10. Glow In The Dark Shirts

These glow in the dark star shirts are perfect for your Fourth of July celebrations this summer. Not only will they thrill kids who are wearing them, they make it a bit easier to keep an eye on your little ones when it’s dark outside because the shirts glow. You can use iron on appliques to get that glow in the dark look, or if you don’t want a shirt for the Fourth of July, you can buy glow in the dark fabric paint and create a shirt in any design your little one wants.

Tutorial: dukesandduchesses

11. Glowing Spider Webs

Okay, so I really don’t like spiders, but I do like these glow in the dark spider webs. These will be great for making your Halloween decorations just a bit spookier. There are a couple of reasons why I love this project. First, it glows in the dark. Second, gluing together the wooden craft sticks is a great project for younger children as it helps to develop fine motor skills. To make these, just hot glue craft sticks together and then use neon rubber bands to help them glow.

Tutorial: stillplayingschool

12. Glowing Volcano

The next time your child needs to do a simple yet amazing science project, don’t just go for a boring old volcano. Make it a volcano that glows! You could even do this at home, even when you don’t need a project for school. This volcano erupts with glow in the dark lava – sure to excite kids, teachers, and parents alike. It takes basic materials – those that you would use to build a regular volcano – but it glows! Imagine your child’s excitement when they present this at their next science fair.

Tutorial: growingajeweledrose

13. Glow In The Dark Rice

First of all, please do not allow your child to eat this rice! That said, this is an amazingly easy project and one that is going to thrill your children. It’s also a great idea for sensory play, which is important in growing children. To make each color, you need four cups of raw rice, neon paint, and rubbing alcohol. Let your child mix the ingredients together in a freezer bag and they can play to their heart’s desire. The rice really glows if you put it under a black light.

Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog

14. Spooky Glowing Ghosts

Here’s another wonderful idea for Halloween fun. These glow in the dark ghosts are so spooky and fun at the same time. You need white balloons, glow sticks, and cheesecloth to make each ghost. You’ll also want a marker to create the face and maybe some string for hanging. These are so great and look really eerie when they blow in the wind. Kids will love making them as much as they love hanging them to scare all their friends!

Tutorial: simplycreativeinsanity

15. Glowing Rainbow Water

Glowing rainbow water is great for sensory play and so much fun for kids. You only need water and glow in the dark paints to make it. Just add your paint to warm water and stir. If you want your paint to glow under a black light, use fluorescent. The warmer your water, the faster the paint will liquefy so your child can enjoy it. The water is great for outdoor play during summer nights or indoor play with the black light when it’s too cold to be outdoors.

Tutorial: growingajeweledrose

16. Rainbow Water Beads

These rainbow water beads also glow in the dark, but are a bit different than glowing water. To make these, you will need water beads, glow in the dark paint, and water. Kids will adore moving these around and generally playing in the dark with their colorful beads. They’re great for sensory play and so very easy to make – you’ll love them as much as your kids do.

Tutorial: growingajeweledrose

17. Glow In The Dark Easter Eggs

What kid wouldn’t want to hunt these amazing glow in the dark Easter eggs? They’re so colorful and even older children will want to get in on the hunting fun when you make these. This is such an easy project – but note that you won’t really be able to fill the eggs with candy. To
make them glow, you just snap a glo stick and place inside a plastic egg. Even after your main Easter egg hunt, kids will be at it all night with these wonderful glow in the dark eggs.

Tutorial: isavea2z

18. Glowing Winter Window Clings

What better way to beat the winter blues than with these glowing window clings? You need snowflake coloring pages – or you can freestyle your own snowflakes – wax or freezer paper and glow in the dark fabric paint. Once your clings are finished, just stick them to your windows and when it turns dark, watch the excitement begin. These would be great in kids’ bedrooms or you could display them right on the front door.

Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog

19. Glow In The Dark Slime

Okay, so slime in itself is really exciting, but this particular slime will glow in the dark. You’ll begin by making a basic slime recipe – which is great anytime, even if it doesn’t glow. To make it glow in the dark, you just add glow in the dark gel, neon food coloring and borax. Kids will love playing with their slime, and they’ll love it even more after dark when it begins to glow a bright, neon color.

Tutorial: momdot

20. Glowing Yard Game

This game is very reminiscent of Toss Across – you do remember that retro game, right? Anyway, it glows in the dark! Kids will be up half the night tossing their bean bags or small balls through this sheet turned game board. The numbered shapes on the board all glow in the dark, so it’s just as fun after the sun goes down as it is in the daytime. This is definitely going to be a must for summertime fun.

Tutorial: thecountrychiccottage

21. Glow In The Dark Bath Time Fun

Kids will adore bathing in this glow in the dark water. It has vitamins in it, so it’s perfectly safe and even a bit healthy for kids. You add the water to your tub and use a black light to activate the glowing effect. Kids of all ages are going to love playing in this glowing water. I mean, who wouldn’t want to take a bath in a glowing tub? And, the ingredients to make this glow water are really cheap – you’ll literally be spending only pennies per tub.

Tutorial: funathomewithkids

22. Glowing Bouncy Balls

These glow in the dark bouncy balls are so very easy to make and kids are going to love them. You will need borax, corn starch, and warm water to create each ball, as well as white glue and fluorescent or glow in the dark paints in whatever colors you want to create. You make the entire ball with this one – you’re not just painting over an existing bouncy ball, so you could actually make them any size that you want.

Tutorial: instructables

23. Glow In The Dark Bath Paint

You use fluorescent paint and shaving cream to create these amazing glow in the dark bath paints that kids are going to adore using at bath time. If you’ve ever had trouble getting your child to take his bath, this is the perfect solution. Any child is going to love painting it up with glow in the dark paints that you activate with a black light. Plus, the supplies to make these are really inexpensive so you can make an entire rainbow of colors.

Tutorial: pagingfunmums

24. Glowing Tic Tac Toe Game

Tic tac toe is such a favorite game for many children. You can make their favorite game even more exciting when you turn it into this awesome glow in the dark version. Kids will love playing this at night outdoors during summer, or you could just let them play in the kitchen floor during colder months. You just need some glow sticks and squares – kitchen tiles work wonderfully for this. Or, you could use tape to make a board, whatever works for you.

Tutorial: kidsactivitiesblog

25. Amazing Glowing Science Project

This glowing science project is a great way to explore the different densities of water and oil – or ice as the case may be. You need baby or vegetable oil, an ice cube tray, water, and some fluorescent or glow in the dark paint to make this project. You make glowing ice in the ice cube tray and then watch as your child learns how ice and oil don’t really mix. This is a fun and educational game that children of all ages will enjoy.

Tutorial: growingajeweledrose