There is something a little magical about staying up later than usual with your children.

Not for television. Not for a film. Not for one last scroll before bed.

But simply to step outside together and look up.

A recent family trip to the beach reminded me just how special these simple moments can be. It was our first beach trip of the summer and our first visit to Hunstanton. We weren't planning to stay until sunset, and with a drive home ahead, I would normally have left before it got dark.

But the children were enjoying themselves. We were enjoying watching the sea. And as the sky began to change colour, we decided to stay just a little longer.

That “little longer” became one of the best parts of the day.

It also made me think: how often do we give children the chance to simply stop, look around and experience the world after the sun goes down?

A screen-free adventure is waiting right outside

When we think about screen-free activities for children, we often think about crafts, books, puzzles, toys or days out.

But sometimes, you don't need to prepare anything at all.

The sky provides the entertainment.

Watching a sunset can be fascinating for young children. The colours slowly change, the sun disappears and familiar surroundings begin to look completely different.

Then comes the next part of the adventure.

Where is the moon?

Can you spot the first star?

How many stars can you see?

Do any of them look like a shape or pattern?

Suddenly, a simple evening outside becomes an opportunity to talk, imagine, ask questions and explore together.

1. Watch the sunset together

You don't need to be on holiday or at the beach to enjoy a sunset.

Head to your garden, a local park, a hill with a view or simply somewhere with an open sky. Bring a blanket if you want to make it feel extra special and let the children watch as daylight slowly changes.

Ask them what colours they can see.

Can they spot the clouds changing colour? What happens to the trees, buildings or landscape as the sun gets lower?

For younger children, it can be as simple as saying:

“What colour is the sky now?”

“Can you see the sun?”

“Where do you think it goes when it disappears?”

You don't need all the answers. Sometimes the conversation and imagination are the best parts.

2. Go on a moon hunt

The moon can feel surprisingly exciting when you turn finding it into a little challenge.

Can the children spot it first?

What shape is it tonight?

Does it look like a full circle, a crescent or something in between?

You could even encourage children to keep an eye on the moon over several evenings and notice how its appearance changes.

It is a simple way to introduce observation and curiosity without making it feel like a lesson.

3. See who can spot the first star

As the sky gets darker, challenge everyone to spot the first star.

Then see who can find the second.

And the third.

Young children don't need to know the names of constellations or understand astronomy to enjoy looking at the stars. For them, simply spotting something tiny and bright in the enormous night sky can be enough.

You could ask:

• Which star looks the brightest?

• Can you find two stars close together?

• Do any of the stars make a shape?

• What do you think that shape looks like?

Children might see animals, faces, monsters, rockets or completely imaginary creatures.

There are no wrong answers when you're using your imagination.

4. Make up your own star formations

You don't have to know the official constellations to have fun with the night sky.

Try finding groups of stars and creating your own formations.

Maybe three stars become a triangle.

Four stars become a kite.

A random group of stars becomes a dinosaur, a dragon or a rocket heading into space.

You could even give each formation a name and make up a story about it.

This is a wonderful combination of screen-free play, storytelling and imagination - and you don't need to buy or prepare a thing.

5. Make it a weekend or holiday tradition

For many families, bedtime routines are understandably structured around school, nursery and early mornings.

But weekends and school holidays can offer the perfect opportunity to relax the routine occasionally.

Pick an evening when there is nowhere to rush to the following morning and tell the children they are staying up a little later for a special night-time adventure.

You could:

• Watch the sunset

• Take a short evening walk

• Look for the moon

• Search for the first stars

• Make up your own constellations

• Talk about what you can hear in the dark

• Take a blanket outside and simply lie down together

You could even finish the evening with a favourite book — but this time, under the stars.

A different kind of bedtime story

We often think of books as the perfect way to end a child's day, and they absolutely can be.

But every now and then, perhaps the world around us can tell the story instead.

The changing colours of a sunset.

The sound of the sea.

The moon appearing above the rooftops.

The excitement of spotting the first star.

For young children, these moments can feel like an adventure. And for parents, they can be a reminder that meaningful family time doesn't always need to be planned, paid for or perfectly organised.

Sometimes you simply need to stay a little longer.

So, the next time you have a weekend or a school holiday evening with no early alarm set for the following morning, consider doing something a little different.

Turn off the screens.

Step outside.

Look up.

And see what you can discover together.

Because sometimes, the best screen-free activities aren't activities at all.

They're moments.