We live in New England so power failures are not unusual in the winter. I was not prepared for one so early in the season and found myself a little frustrated without a good supply of candles. My son asked me, "How did people do anything before electricity, candles give off so little light?" It's true, I could not even read a book. I told him, "I think they went to bed early and got up at the crack of dawn."
Think of some games you can play together that don't require a lot of light. Games like Mancala, Jenga, or even Twister don't require reading and could be played with light from an oil lamp. Of course you could use flashlights and play cards or any board games if your kids are old enough to not get frustrated.
Teaching our children that they can take care of themselves and even have fun without electricity is a great way to prepare them for unexpected circumstances in life. Having a Family Night with no electricity requires and teaches creativity, and it can also be an enjoyable bonding experience. What will you do the next time the lights go out?