Can you remember your first sleepover? Take yourself back to how much fun it was and how formative it was for both you personally and for your relationships with your friends. Sleepovers are great fun for kids and an excellent way for parents to let them enjoy a weekend with their friends. So, if the time has come for you to host a sleepover for your child, you may be wondering where to start. The good news is that you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we’ll answer all of the questions that you may have about planning the ultimate kid’s sleepover!
Set boundaries
Boundaries are important because most of all, they will make your life easier. Start by having a clear number of guests that your child is allowed. This helps to ensure that you have enough of everything that you need such as bedding, food, entertainment and space - after all, you can only fit a certain number of children into your home at once. Make sure that your children understand this so you don’t get any last-minute invites.
The next boundary that you need to set is with other parents. Be clear with drop-off and pick times so you aren’t looking after other people’s children for longer than you’re able to.
Get the information that you need
Allergies and other medical conditions are serious and can be very dangerous for a child - especially when you aren’t prepared for them. To protect your guests, get yourself up to speed on any allergies or regular medication that they may need. In the case of allergies, make sure that you understand the severity of them so you can prepare properly. Always have the contact numbers of your guest's parents ready to go just in case.
Prepare the sleeping area
Now the serious stuff is out of the way, we can get to the fun parts about planning a sleepover! The first place to start is where everyone will sleep. If they’re sharing your child’s bedroom, ensure that their room is tidy and there is plenty of room for everyone to sleep comfortably. If you’re setting up in a different room, you can be a little more creative! You can create a blanket forth, hang up some lights, or make the room fun in some other way!
Think about food
You’ll have a few more mouths to feed, so planning the food is important. To avoid debates about what to eat and falling into the junk food trap, come up with a menu instead that gives the kids a few limited choices. This can help you to save money and even prepare some of the food in advance. Remember you’ll need to have breakfast for the following morning too, so don’t forget to get enough supplies!
When it comes to snacks, make sure to have plenty of options available. Popcorn, for example, is a great option when watching a film.
Plan activities
Hosting a sleepover means that you will be responsible for all things entertainment! Let’s get one thing clear, relying on two movies simply won’t be enough. Having a wide variety of options is a much better plan of action. If you’re going to do activities outside of the house, make sure that everything is booked in advance.
For extra novelty, you could make a theme for your sleepover and encourage the kids to dress up and enjoy activities related to this theme.
Pro tip: Screens are your friends during a sleepover. Allowing kids to watch free kids cartoons, movies, and other content can help to keep them still and entertained for a period of time when needed. If you’re going to allow your children and their friends to sleep in a room with a TV, set rules about how late they’re about to watch it.
Have a plan B
Despite your best plans, your kids and their friends may not want to do what you’ve planned. Other things may go against you like the weather. This is why it's important to have a plan B so you can keep everyone happy and having fun.
Stay close, but not too close
Try to keep a balance between watching your kids and giving them their own space. Think about how old your children are and use this to determine how often you should be checking on them. It can help to always be in earshot of young ones if you can.
Lastly, it can help to have a special code with you and your kids should they want your help. Perhaps they aren’t comfortable or they’re worried about one of their friends. Make it simple, and clear, and agree on it in advance.
Conclusion
By following this guide, you’ll be able to plan an unforgettable sleepover for your kids and their friends. Remember the most important thing is to have fun! Don’t worry about making it perfect and planning everything strictly, instead just try to create an environment where everyone can be safe and have fun.