I have a light that uses two bright LED lights and 3 aaa batteries. Check at a local bike shop.

I think most people get ticked-off at DST.

Invented for rural farms so school children get home while there is still light outside.

The_punnisher - Great idea! I'll need to stop by a bike shop some time. Thanks!

I'm not a fan of headlights. They are good for the wearers, but when someone is looking at someone else they don't realize they are just shining the light straight in the eyes and if they are extra strong, they can be blinding.

Some good outside lighting might be better, but I think it would be better to get your outdoor play in daylight and find some fun things to do in the dark inside. We have done a lot of shadow play - making eagles, rabbits and other animals using hands. Turn off the lights and get a good flashlight shining at a bright wall and start looking at the shadows when hands are put in front of the flashlight. Google shadow animals for ideas of what to copy.

Mother of 4 - Good points! Shadow play is a fun nighttime activity. Thanks for commenting.

Some of the activities you mentioned - jumping rope, etc., can still be enjoyed outdoors as long as you have an outdoor light in your yard. Some more ideas: Get one of those portable basketball hoops and put it in your backyard or driveway. Turn the on the outside light and your kids will have something fun to do outdoors! You can also purchase a trampoline with protective netting and put it in your backyard with the light turned on so your kiddies can see while jumping up and down.

I think the biggest worry is the rainy weather which usually occurs during the DST months, preventing children from playing outside.

The only thing I remembered about daylight saving time when I was a kid was the extra hour of sleeping in - which was great! Since it occurred during the school year, I don't remember feeling upset because I couldn't play outside after dark.

Judy - Thanks for the ideas! We enjoyed splashing in the puddles this morning. Hopefully the novelty won't wear off too quickly.

Sorry, the_punnisher is incorrect about the DST justification.

It was enacted to save coal (power), first in Germany, later throughout Europe.

Implementation here in the USA was inconsistent until 1967. There are still provisions for states to exempt themselves from DST: both Arizona and Hawaii currently do not observe DST.

DST has nothing to do with schoolchildren in rural areas.

Review of Economics and Statistics, Volume 93 | Issue 4 | November 2011 p.1172-1185

Abstract

"We take advantage of a natural experiment in the state of Indiana to estimate the effect of daylight saving time (DST) on residential electricity consumption. Our main finding is that, contrary to the policy's intent, DST increases electricity demand. The findings are consistent with simulation results that identify a trade-off between reducing demand for lighting and increasing demand for heating and cooling. We estimate a cost to Indiana households of $9 million per year in increased electricity bills. We also estimate social costs of increased pollution emissions between $1.7 to $5.5 million per year."

IOW, people should not assume that DST has energy-conservation benefits. DST provides extra work for programmers-- possibly a benefit? -- but the overall benefit is difficult to identify.

Reader and Anon - Thank you for the extra information about Daylight Savings.