Slumber Party Secrets
Everyone knows that a sleepover rarely involves much sleeping, so be prepared with lots of games, snacks and activities.
Age
Make sure your child is old enough to handle a slumber party before agreeing to host one. Most popular for kids eight to 14 are sleepovers.
- If your child is younger than eight, she and her friends may not be ready to spend the night away from home.
When you do decide that your child is ready, keep the guest list short at your first slumber party so the guests don't get overwhelmed. So, two or three guests are enough the first time; sleepover veterans can handle more.
Timing
It's best to have parents drop guests off late in the day. Consider if kids spend too much time together, they may start bickering. While a lot of slumber parties include dinner, you can certainly ask guests to show up for dessert instead.
Also be sure to arrange a specific pick-up time the next morning to avoid having parents drop in throughout the day.
Activities
Even though most preteens will keep themselves entertained, it's a good idea to plan a few activities. And some parents like to do one major activity outside the home such as going to the movies, bowling or swimming. This not only does add structure to the event, it should also make guests tired enough that they actually sleep!
Crafts
Crafts aren't a requirement, but you can certainly incorporate them if your child and his friends enjoy making things. Think about buying inexpensive pillow cases and letting the kids decorate them with fabric pens for a super slumber souvenir. (Slip a piece of cardboard inside when decorating to keep the ink from seeping through to the other side.)
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