Let’s bust myths, share wild facts, and have a ton of fun with our fuzzy flying friends. This post is packed with cool info, jokes, hands-on games, and creative ideas to make kids LOVE bats instead of running away from them screaming “AHH!”
Ready? Let’s go batty in the best way.
15 Fun Bat Facts for Kids (That’ll Make You Say “WOW!”)
1. Bats are the only mammals that can fly.
Yep! Not glide—actually fly with flapping wings.
They’ve got stretchy wing skin instead of feathers. Think of them like little superhero squirrels… but better.
2. There are over 1,400 species of bats!
That’s more than ALL the kinds of dogs and cats combined. From teeny-tiny bumblebee bats (about the size of a jellybean) to giant fruit bats with wingspans as wide as your arms.
3. Bats sleep upside-down.
Because it’s easier to drop into flight and stay safe from predators. Plus, who doesn’t love a good dramatic entrance?
4. They use echolocation to “see” in the dark.
Bats make little clicking sounds. The sound bounces off objects, and the echo tells them where things are—like bugs or trees or even water.
Try this: Close your eyes, make a soft clicking noise, and have someone snap their fingers somewhere nearby. Can you point to where the sound came from? You’re echolocating like a pro!
5. Bats eat A LOT of bugs.
A single little brown bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes in one hour. That’s like eating 1,000 potato chips in one sitting—but good for the environment.
Fun Fact: Some bats also eat fruit, nectar, or fish!
6. Fruit bats are sometimes called “flying foxes.”
Why? Because their cute little faces look like fuzzy foxes… with wings.
7. Bat poop is called guano—and it’s amazing for gardens!
Yep, guano is like super-charged fertilizer. Gross? A little. Useful? VERY.
8. Bats pollinate flowers and help grow fruit.
No bats = no bananas, mangoes, or even chocolate!
Thank you, bats!
9. Baby bats are called pups.
And they’re born upside-down! (That’s a weird but true delivery room story.) Most moms have one baby per year and carry it around like a little furry backpack.
10. Some bats can live over 30 years!
That’s ancient in bat years. The record-holder was a tiny bat from Siberia who lived to 41. He probably had bat grandkids.
11. Bats live in caves, trees, and even under bridges.
As long as it’s dark, safe, and quiet, they’re happy. Some species live in groups called colonies that can have millions of bats.
12. Not all bats are nocturnal.
Most are, but a few fruit bats actually fly around during the day. Rebels.
13. Only 3 species of bats drink blood (vampire bats).
But don’t worry—they usually feed on cows, not people. And they don’t “suck” blood—they lick it gently. Kind of like kitty cats at a milk bowl.
14. Bats clean themselves like cats.
They’re very clean and spend lots of time grooming their wings and fur.
15. They can fly up to 60 miles per hour!
That’s faster than a car on a city street. Zoom zoom, little bat!
Let’s Learn AND Play: Bat Games & Activities
1. Echolocation Tag (a.k.a. “Bat and Moth”)
How to Play:
- One kid is the bat, blindfolded or eyes closed.
- Other kids are “moths.”
- The bat makes a sound (like clapping), and the moths must respond with an echo sound.
- The bat uses the sound to try and tag the moths!
Teaches how echolocation works. And it’s hilarious to watch.
2. Make a Bat Puppet
Use:
- Paper bags
- Cut-out wings
- Googly eyes
- Pom-poms for the nose
- Fangs from white paper
Let your bat puppet talk and tell its favorite fact!
3. Read a Bat Book
Some awesome picks:
- “Stellaluna” by Janell Cannon
- “Nightsong” by Ari Berk
- “Bats at the Library” by Brian Lies
These books make kids go, “Awww,” instead of “Ewww.”
4. “B is for Bat” Alphabet Game
- Trace big bubble letters of B and b
- Color a bat around them
- Say words that start with B: Bat, Banana, Ball, Broomstick
5. Bat Wing Dance-Off
Make cardboard or paper wings. Play music. Fly and flap to the beat. Bonus points for upside-down dancing.
6. Bat Facts Bingo
Create a bingo sheet with bat facts:
- “Eats bugs”
- “Sleeps upside-down”
- “Pollinates bananas”
- “Lives in a cave”
Read clues and let kids mark their boards!
7. Visit a Bat Cam!
Yep, you can spy on real bats online.
Try:
- Bat Conservation International’s Bat Cam
- Texas State Parks Bracken Cave
Watch them flutter, squeak, and nap upside-down.
The Big Message: Bats Are Friends
If your kiddo remembers just one thing from all this fun, let it be this:
Bats are helpful, amazing animals—not spooky monsters.
They keep bug populations down.
They pollinate our favorite fruits.
They’re adorable little furballs of the night sky.
And the more we learn about them, the more we want to protect them.