How to Stay up All Night for Kids

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: December 11, 2024

You're a kid, but have you ever wanted to stay up all night, and you eventually fell asleep around 4 am? Do you want to know the detailed secrets to staying up the entire night? The best way to successfully make it through the night without falling asleep is to think of the night as having four separate sections. Find things to keep you up during each part of the night, and you can make it.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Staying Up During Early Night

Download Article

Throughout the night, you'll want to avoid the things that remind you of sleeping. So stay out of your bedroom if you can. Wear your normal clothes instead of pajamas. Don't wrap yourself in a blanket or rest your head on a pillow. Getting too comfy and cozy will make it very difficult to stay awake the whole night.
Movies are fun and they pass the time, but they're also passive, making them easy to fall asleep to. That's why, if you're going to watch a movie, it's better to do it at the beginning of the night. Make sure the movie is exciting, such as an action or adventure movie. Try to avoid bland ones that aren't interesting to you or you and your friends.

Advertisement
This will keep your brain active, so you'll be less likely to want to go to sleep. Play video games. If you're friends are over, play competitive games that will keep you focused and awake.
4
Talk to each other. If you have friends over, this is a good time to pass the time with conversation. After you've perhaps watched a movie and/or played video games, keep each other awake by talking about things that interest you.
- Even if you don't have friends over, this would be a good time in the night to talk with them over the phone. Just make sure you ask them if this is alright in advance. Don't call a friend at night without getting permission earlier that day. They might be trying to sleep.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Staying Up Around Midnight

Download Article

1
Watch TV. Try to find exciting shows that hold your interest. Feel free to change the show often. It'll stimulate your mind more if you don't watch the same thing continually.
- When you are watching TV or a movie, don't turn off the lights. Dim lights will make you more tired.
Find something creative to do to keep your mind active. Something fun you can do with your friends or alone like drawing, coloring, or making music. Just make sure you stay quiet enough to not wake other people in the house.
3
Listen to music. Play some music and dance to it. Staying up on your feet and moving will help you stay awake. Find some fun music you enjoy and listen to it with your friends or by yourself.
- Make sure you do this in a room that's far enough from your parents' room to not wake them up, or use headphones.
Your body needs fuel to stay awake. Try to avoid super sugary foods, as this will give a short energy boosts followed by a fall in energy. Something high in protein is better, like yogurt, peanut butter, or cheese.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Staying Up During Late Night

Download Article

The goal is to keep changing activities every hour or so. If you've got friends with you, a board game is the perfect activity for this period of the night. You'll have to pay attention to play well, which means you're less likely to get drowsy.
2
Do some physical activity. Keep your blood flowing to fight the tiredness. Do some kind of exercise, like running around the yard, or some jumping jacks. If you can, play some basketball outside. Anything that keeps you active is going to help. ^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source}
- Make sure not to exercise or play so hard that you get exhausted though. Keep it somewhat light.
- If you want to play outside, ask your parents permission earlier that day first. Depending on your family's rules, this might not be necessary if you're just staying in the backyard. But if you're planning on leaving the house property, get permission first. Being outside at night without an adult can be dangerous, especially if you're alone.
Cold water might be a little uncomfortable, but that's the point. Being too comfortable will make you more likely to fall asleep. If you find yourself dozing off, go to the bathroom and splash some cold water on your face. ^{[2]
X
Research source}

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Staying Up Around Sunrise

Download Article

1
Play outdoors. This is the hardest time to stay awake during, because you've been awake all night by this point. You'll need to do something active to keep awake. Go outside with your friends and play any kind of game.
- If you're staying up all night alone. You can also take a short walk around the block to get rid of drowsiness.
- If you want to play outside, ask your parents permission earlier that day first. Depending on your family's rules, this might not be necessary if you're just staying in the backyard. But if you're planning on leaving the house property, get permission first. Being outside at night without an adult can be dangerous, especially if you're alone.
You might be feeling hungry by this point as well. Get a couple more snacks to keep your body fueled and ready to go. Just make sure you don't eat too much, or you could get drowsy from the fullness.
By now, some morning cartoons will probably be coming on. Welcome the sunrise and the new day with some cartoons or shows and congratulate yourself on a whole night spent awake.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What do I do if adults always check up on me and are overprotective?

Community Answer

If you really want to stay up all night and your parents check on, pretend to be asleep whenever you hear them coming. They need to sleep some time, so they can't possibly come in all night long.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 73 Helpful 388
Question

What do I do if I want to watch TV, but the living room is right by my parents' door?

Community Answer

If you have Netflix or any other online movie streaming service, you can watch a movie on at device with headphones so you don't wake your parents.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 75 Helpful 268
Question

How long is each period of the night?

Community Answer

Each period is about two to four hours: Early night: 9pm-12am; Midnight: 12-2am; Early morning: 2-4am and Dawn: 4-8am.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 49 Helpful 288

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Keep the lights on and bright. Dim lights will tire your eyes. ^{[3]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Try to change activities every hour or so. That way you won't get bored of any one thing.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Make a map of your plan for sneaking around the house. Note where there may be creaks or groans in the house.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

When I used to pull all nighters, I would brush out my cosplay wigs, organize the shelves in my room, and clean out the apps on my phone.
If you're going to eat snacks, try to avoid ones that are crispy or crunchy—you don't want to wake up your parents!
Remember to drink lots of water. It helps you stay awake because you'll have to keep going to the bathroom.
If you watch a movie, sit in an uncomfortable position so you don't get comfy and fall asleep.

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

If you aren't allowed to be up late, it would be best to not try this. If your parents catch you, there will likely be consequences.

Thanks
Helpful 74 Not Helpful 18
Get parental permission if you plan on spending time outside at night.

Thanks
Helpful 57 Not Helpful 20
Don't make staying up all night a regular habit. Not getting enough sleep isn't good for your body.

Thanks
Helpful 14 Not Helpful 4
Do not do this on a school night; you may fall asleep in class. Try doing this on a Friday or Saturday night or when you have school vacation.

Thanks
Helpful 55 Not Helpful 31

[1]

Trustworthy Source

Go to source

[2]

[3]

Log in

How to Stay up All Night for Kids

Steps

Staying Up During Early Night

Staying Up Around Midnight

Staying Up During Late Night

Staying Up Around Sunrise

Community Q&A

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories