If your kids are about to host their very first sleepover or slumber party, they are bound to be ecstatic. You, on the other hand, might be dreading it. From a lack of sleep to dealing with noisy kids, sleepovers can be every parent’s nightmare. But hosting a sleepover can actually benefit your child in a number of ways. It can help them to develop their social skills and strengthen their relationships with friends. Sleepovers can also make your child feel more independent and confident. So while it might not be fun for you, hosting a sleepover can be a positive experience for your kids.
Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be the chaotic and stressful night you expect it to be. Here are some tips and tricks you can use to help you child host a successful sleepover and keep your sanity throughout.
Choose the right room
Before your home is invaded by your child’s friends, you need to decide which would be the best room for them to sleep in. This is something you should decide in advance and not leave until the day of the sleepover. If there is enough space in your child’s bedroom, this could be the perfect location. But if there isn’t, consider using larger rooms such as your living room. Also, consider where you intend to be while the sleepover is occurring. Ideally, you should be somewhere that is within earshot, so you can quickly assist if there is a problem. There should also be smoke alarms in the room too for added protection.
Once you’ve chosen the right room, you should then consider how to make it more appropriate for the sleepover. There needs to be a comfortable place for your child’s guests to sit and sleep. You may need to buy air beds and sleeping bags beforehand to do this.
You could also buy kids bean bags, extra pillows and blankets to provide additional comfort too. Try to make as much room as possible by pushing back your furniture. You should also remove anything that could get accidentally broken before the sleepover begins too.
Create invitations
While some parents seem them as unnecessary, invitations are a fantastic idea for your child’s first slumber party. They can provide vital information which can be useful not only to your child’s guests but to their parents too. The more details you can provide beforehand, the more comfortable the parents will feel in letting their children stay over. So ask your child to help you choose a sleepover invitation design and fill it with plenty of relevant information.
You should include the date of the sleepover and what time it is going to begin. Stating a pick-up time for the following day can also be useful. Your address and contact details should be clearly stated on the invite, should the parents need to get in touch. If you are providing food at the sleepover, it can be worthwhile to mention this on the invite too. This gives parents a chance to get in touch beforehand to tell you of any food allergies their kids may have. IF you aren’t able to supply everything your child’s guests will need, politely ask them to bring it themselves. This might include sleeping bags, pajamas and pillows. Once complete, try to send the invites out as soon as possible to give everyone plenty of time to prepare.
Set a light’s out time
Not getting any sleep is one of the main things that parents dread about their child’s slumber parties. It is likely that you, your kid and their friend won’t have an entirely restful night’s sleep. But there is something you can do to ensure everyone gets some sleep, even if it is only a few hours. Before the sleepover begins, talk to your child about an appropriate light’s out time. This is the time when you will either turn off or dim the lights which will indicate that it’s time for bed. Be realistic with this time and don’t make it too early or late.
When your kid’s friends have settled into your home, let them know when the light’s out time will be. Explain that once the lights are out, you don’t expect to hear loud music, talking or laughing. You might even want to give each of them torches to use when the lights are turned off. As it get’s closer to light’s out time, give them a quick reminder that they only have 10 minutes left with the lights on. This can be the perfect time for them to get into their pajamas and use the bathroom too.
Be smart with snacks
Snacks can help make your kid’s first sleepover even more enjoyable. So you need to start thinking about what food and drink options you can provide. Mini-pizzas, popcorn and chips and dips are fantastic choices that most kids will gladly eat. But you can find plenty of exciting snack recipe ideas on blogs or in cookbooks if you want to create something different. Keep in mind any food allergies that your child’s friends may have and avoid any ingredients that are too spicy. The last thing you want is to be dealing with an allergic reaction or upset stomachs.
Make sure you place a table in the sleepover room before everyone arrives where you can place your snacks and drinks. Try to serve the food early, particularly if you have sugary snacks and drinks on offer. Serving these just before bedtime could leave you with a house full of kids on a sugar rush. This can make it difficult for everyone to get some sleep. Serving heavy meals too late can also result in sickness, which can also put a downer on the night. So serve light snacks early to prevent this from happening.
These survival tips and tricks will ensure your kid’s first sleepover is a resounding success. By setting some ground rules and preparing in advance, it can be a fun and stress-free night for all. Any sleepover your child host’s from now on will be a breeze in comparison.