Throwing a Solar Eclipse Party

The upcoming solar eclipse, visible in North America on April 8th, is a once-in-a-generation event, and an awesome opportunity to inspire kids and celebrate space. 

The last time a solar eclipse was visible here in Boston was 2017. The kids and I made matching DIY Solar Eclipse shirts and planned a bunch of activities around that day. While we treated eclipse day like a holiday—complete with themed food, crafts, and plans with friends—it differed in one key way from a regular holiday: the main event lasts only 4 minutes, and as parents, we have no control over when that is. With young kids, that means a lot of waiting around and then a quick window for actually experiencing the thing. And the only thing to really do during an eclipse is stand still and stare—not something most kids will think is exciting! But with a little planning and preparation, you can make this day memorable and engaging! The key is thinking about ways to build anticipation and excitement leading up to the main event. 

This time around, my kids are older and will unfortunately be in school for the beginning of the eclipse. We are also not in the path of totality, but that doesn't mean we won't be able to participate! NASA has a great calculator for determining exactly when and what you will be able to see in your zip code. Even hundreds of miles from the path of totality, we will get a great show here. Use the calculator to schedule out your day and make sure everyone is ready for the main event.

Ahead of the eclipse, you can prepare kids and build excitement by:

• Reading the The Moon Book.
• Making these DIY Solar Eclipse shirts we made in 2017 or this glow in the dark version. (I'd recommend making them the day before so they are dry in time for the big event!)
• Building an eclipse pinhole viewer.
• Letting the kids plan out space themed snacks to eat during the eclipse.

For the actual 2+ hour time of the eclipse, here are some tips for keeping kids engaged.

• Most important safety tip: bring safety glasses! We'd recommend these or these for smaller faces.
• Find a playground with no or low tree coverage and meet friends there. This keeps kids busy for the time leading up to and after the eclipse.
• If you are going to be at home, set out sidewalk chalk, scooters, or other outdoor activities to keep kids having fun outdoors.
• Play a playlist of themed songs (let's be honest--this is more for the adults!).

For school-aged kids (and adults!) here are some additional resources that get at the uniqueness of the event and the science behind it:

• The National Park Service Junior Ranger program offers activities in the path of the eclipse at national parks and some suggestions for at-home activities. 
• Girl Scouts of America has compiled a list of activities appropriate for kindergarten through high school.
• The New York Times has some great tips for celebrating the whole weekend.

 And of course, if your little ones are inspired to now become astronauts, Streamer Trunk has a variety of crafts and activities to nurture their imaginations. Check out our individual activity kits or our complete birthday party trunks!