Super Sleepovers!
Special occasions like birthdays are the perfect excuse to have a sleepover. A few games, light party favors—and the kids will be in one room all night, so no need to panic, right? Right??? Wrong! Well to be fair, you should never panic. Sleepovers can be awesome if they are planned effectively. Remember these helpful hints and you’ll be fine.
How do you know your child is ready?
You know your child better than anyone else. What are her fears? What helps him rest easy at night, and what keeps him up? You determine what age is best for inviting a few friends over for the night, based on when your child can handle it. Parents, on average, wait until their children are at or over the age of 8. Youngsters are usually more comfortable away from their parents at this age. Children also play well with others at this age, meaning more sharing and less crying.
Follow the “Rule of Palm.”
No more than one handful of children. If you can’t count the kids on one hand (one palm), count on needing more help! Children are fast and tricky. When you have the upper hand, you will always be in control, but when they have the upper hand, things just can get out of control. So for sleepovers, think within reason and never overwhelm yourself with more children than you can handle.
Have instructions.
If you figure you and your child are both ready for a sleepover, make sure everyone you invite to the sleepover is ready too. This means making sure parents have your contact information and vice versa. Because you deem yourself responsible, be sure you let parents know when you are officially off duty. Have a specific, explicit pickup and drop off time set, and make sure each parent is clear on it. As the host parent, you also have to know the children and be aware of their needs. Be sure to check for behavioral issues and allergies—the more you know, the better. Get out your cape, because when a guest’s mom and dad aren’t around, you become Super Parent and assume the responsibility of GUARDIAN.
Offer fun food and fun activities.
Go light on the sugar and make it fun. Homemade mini pizzas are always a crowd favorite, and there are a dozen easy online recipes with just a few quick guidelines to follow. Fresh fruit and mixed veggies are also a great way to get kids to eat and stay on the safe side. Kid friendly movies like Frozen and games like Twister are great ideas. Building forts or having a karaoke sing-along might be even more fun. You’re the parent, so you decide. Be sure to feel out the crowd before you make any hasty decisions.
Make them go to sleep!
Kids will be kids; that’s why we have adults around. They need guidance along the journey. If we don’t suggest a bedtime, children will stay up all night. Make sure you let them know when the fun is over—at least for the night. Giving suggestive hints like there will be more fun in the morning will give the little people something to look forward to. Put them to bed and be sure to check in every 20 to 30 minutes to make sure everything is alright. I promise you’ll be the talk of the town—or at least of the slumber parties!
Jessica Samuel is a native of St. Louis and current Kansas City resident, journalist, photographer, graduate student, ALLY.