How to Sneak Around at Night (for Kids)

Co-authored by Hunter Rising

Last Updated: January 31, 2023

If you want to grab a late-night snack, check your phone, or meet up with friends, sneaking around can help you get past your parents without them waking up. As long as you stay quiet and practice beforehand, no one may even notice that you got out of bed. Check your home for noisy places and practice walking around quietly. If you want to sneak out of your home, take extra care so you don’t get locked out. Just be careful not to get caught, or else you could get in trouble and your parents could punish you!

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Getting around Your Home Quietly

1
Check for squeaking floors during the day so you can stay quiet at night. Walk around your home during the day and plan out the path that you want to take at night. Listen for any squeaky floors or doorways so you know which areas to avoid at night. Try to get from your bedroom to the room you want to get to without making any noise. Write down or remember the spots that make noise so you don’t step on them when it’s quiet at night.^{[1]
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- If your parents ask you what you’re doing, tell them that you’re pretending to be a ninja or playing a game you made up so it doesn’t seem as suspicious.
- Turn off anything that’s making noise in your home while you practice sneaking around so you can get an idea of how quiet it will be at night.
2
Wait until your parents have gone to bed to sneak around. While it may be tempting to sneak around earlier in the night, your parents will usually notice you’re up to something if they’re still awake. Learn your parents’ schedule and find out what time they normally go to bed. Be patient while you’re parents go to bed and settle in for the night before trying to leave your room.
- If you want to check if your parents are asleep, try to creep up next to their bedroom and listen for heavy breathing or snoring.
- Don’t try to sneak out right as your parents go to bed since they probably haven’t fallen asleep yet.
- It will be easier to sneak around at night if your parents sleep with their bedroom door closed rather than leaving it open.
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3
Wear socks to make your footsteps quieter. Find the thickest pair of socks you own and put them on to mask your footsteps. If you don’t have a thick pair of socks, then put on 2 pairs to hide the sound better. Practice walking around with your socks on to make sure you don’t slip on any hard floors or make noise.^{[2]
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- If you’re staying in carpeted rooms of your home, you don’t need to wear any socks if you don’t want to.
- Don’t put on shoes while you’re inside since they can be loud or squeaky when you walk around.
4
Put on dark pajamas so you stay hidden. Put on tight-fitting pajamas that won’t get caught on anything or make you trip while you’re sneaking around. Choose the darkest colors you have, such as black, navy blue, or brown, so you blend in with the shadows better. That way, if your parents wake up, you may be able to hide so they’re less likely to see you.
- Stay in your pajamas even if you plan on trying to sneak outside. That way if you’re caught by your parents, you can tell them that you were just getting a glass of water or a small snack.
5
Walk slowly so your heel touches the ground first. When you walk around, gently place your heel on the floor first. Slowly put the rest of your foot down and apply pressure evenly so you don’t make the floors squeak. Watch your step so you don’t accidentally kick or step on anything in the dark. Practice taking slow steps around your home without making any noise so you’re easily able to sneak around later.^{[3]
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- Even though walking on your tiptoes seems like it would be quieter, you may be more likely to trip or lose your balance.
- Use a wall as support if you’re worried about falling or tripping.
Tip: Stop moving around frequently and listen for any sounds coming from your parent’s bedroom or the hallway. If you don’t hear anything, keep sneaking around. If you do hear something, either try to get back to your room or try finding a hiding place.
6
Open and close doors slowly so the latch doesn’t make noise. Rotate the doorknob or handle all the way so the latch doesn’t catch on the door frame. Keep your hand on the knob while you push the door open just far enough so you can sneak out. Grab the handle on the other side of the door and close it slowly. Carefully turn the handle back to the regular position to close the door.^{[4]
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- Don’t leave doors open that were originally closed, or else your parents may notice that you were sneaking around at night.
- If the door has a lock, try to turn it as slowly as possible so it doesn’t make a loud noise when you undo it.
- If a door has squeaky hinges, sometimes they will make less noise if open them quickly. Test your doors during the day to see which way makes the least noise.
7
Stay on the side of the stairs closest to the wall to prevent squeaks. Avoid stepping in the middle of the stairs since that’s usually where they start squeaking first. Hold onto the wall to support yourself so you don’t accidentally trip or fall. Only keep 1 foot on each step so you’re less likely to make any noise while you’re walking.^{[5]
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8
Give your parents an excuse if they wake up and catch you. If you hear your parents wake up or they find you trying to sneak around, give them a believable reason for why you’re awake. You could say that you needed a glass of water or use the bathroom so your parents don’t think you were doing anything suspicious. After they find you, go right back to your bedroom to make it look like you’re going to fall asleep.
- You can try sneaking around again after your parents go back to bed, but they may be more aware that you’re awake.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Sneaking out of Your Home

1
Plan how you’re going to leave during the day. Choose which path you’re going to take through your home so you can get outside, and practice sneaking to see if you make any noise. Choose a time after your parents fall asleep to leave so they don’t catch you while when you’re trying to leave. If you’re planning to meet up with friends, talk to them to figure out where you want to meet beforehand.^{[6]
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- If you notice squeaky hinges on doors, you can try lubricating them so they’re quieter when you’re trying to leave.
2
Put things you’ll need in a backpack. Bring things like clothes, a cell phone, and a wallet and pack them tightly in a backpack so they don’t make noise or get caught on anything. Prepare the backpack before you fall asleep so you don’t have to zip it up or make noise while your parents are sleeping. Place the backpack somewhere near the door you’re leaving from before you sleep so you don’t have to carry it through your home late at night.
- Try to hide the backpack outside if you’re positive that no one else could steal it.
- Make sure your backpack doesn’t have any loud zippers or keychains hanging from it or it will be difficult to sneak in and out.
3
Hide bulky items under your sheets to make it seem like you’re sleeping. Take extra blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals and tuck them underneath your bedsheets. Try to put them in the same position that you’d normally sleep in so it doesn’t look too unnatural. Pull your sheets or comforter over the items to conceal them and make it seem like you’re cozy in bed for the night.
- You don’t need to do this if you’re positive that your parents don’t check on you during the night.
4
Take a spare key so you can get in and out of your home. Try to find a spare key for one of the exterior doors to your home and keep it with you at all times. When you leave your home, slowly close the door so the latch doesn’t make a noise and lock your door. Turn the key as slowly as you can so the lock doesn’t click loudly inside.
- Avoid bringing a ring of keys since they may jingle and make a lot of noise while you’re trying to lock and unlock your doors.
- Don’t leave doors or windows unlocked if you don’t have to since someone could easily break into your home otherwise.
5
Put on your shoes once you’re outside. Shoes can make a lot of noise when you walk around and they can be tricky to put on in the dark. Carry your shoes outside and slowly close the door behind you so it doesn’t make any noise. Once you’re outside, make sure you are away from your parents’ bedroom window and put your shoes on.^{[7]
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- Avoid wearing shoes that squeak or make loud noises when you walk, like flip flops or high heels.
6
Make sure you get back home before your parents wake up. Know your parents’ schedule so you can make it back in time to sneak back into bed. When you get back to your home, be as quiet as you were when you left so you don’t wake your parents up. Get back into bed so it seems like you were sleeping the whole time just in case your parents come in to check on you.
- If your parents find you after you get back inside, you can tell them that you thought you heard a noise or were getting a small snack.
Tip: If you notice a light on inside when you get back, someone else woke up but they may not know you’re gone. Wait somewhere dark until the light turns off. Wait another few minutes to make sure that the person fell back asleep.
7
Tell your parents the truth if you get caught. If your parents noticed you weren’t in bed, they will probably be mad and worried that you were out late at night. Avoid lying about what you were doing since your parents may get more upset. Tell them where you were, what you were doing, and any other questions they have for you. While you will probably get punished or in trouble with them, they’ll be glad you were honest with them.^{[8]
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- Call your parents if there’s an emergency or you feel like you’re in trouble while you’re sneaking out. While they’ll be mad, they’ll appreciate that you called them in a troublesome situation.

Community Q&A
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Question

How do you sneak down creaky stairs?

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Staying up against the wall and supporting a lot of your weight on the railing will help reduce any creaking. You can also experiment with walking up and down the steps and try to identify any stairs that are especially creaky. Then, when you sneak, step over those stairs.
Question

Is it bad to sneak out?

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Sneaking out of your house can be dangerous, especially if you’re a younger kid. If you don’t have a phone or a car, you’re more vulnerable, and it will be harder for you to get help if you need it. Your parents might also be less likely to trust you in the future, or more likely to restrict what you can do, if you sneak out. Always have a safety plan and be prepared for the possible consequences of sneaking out.
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Is it normal for a teenager to sneak out?

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Being a teen is tough. Teens are in the process of becoming adults, and in many ways they are expected to act like adults while still being treated like children. A lot of teens turn to sneaking out if they feel too limited and restricted at home. It’s very important for parents and teens to communicate clearly and establish healthy boundaries and expectations so that teens understand the consequences of sneaking out and why they shouldn’t do it. In turn, parents can help their teens feel less trapped by making compromises (e.g., “You can go out with your friends tonight, but I need you to come home by 10, and you have to answer the phone if I call to check in.”).

Warnings

Avoid trying to sneak out of your home if it has an alarm system since you may activate it and wake up your parents.

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Don’t do anything illegal while you’re out at night since you could get in trouble with law enforcement and your parents.

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If you get caught sneaking out by your parents, tell the truth about what you were doing.

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Your parents may punish you if they catch you sneaking out past your curfew.

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