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Explore · Wild and Tumble activity

Bat watch

Swoop, flit, dart! Watch the sky at dusk for bats coming out to hunt.

  • 20 min total
  • Low mess
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Outdoors
  • Late spring to early autumn
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 3 min to wrap up · 15 min to watch · 2 min to head in. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A warm coat
  • A spot near trees, hedges or water
  • A rug to sit on, optional

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Head out just as the sun goes down.

  2. Look along hedges, tree lines and over water.

  3. Watch for small, fast, zig-zagging shapes. That's a bat catching bugs!

  4. Count how many you see.

  5. Flap your arms and swoop home like a bat.

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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