Prepare a successful sleepover for your child’s party! 10 magic tips!

Prepare a successful sleepover for your child’s party! 10 magic tips!

A sleepover is often THE party that kids look forward to, it’s a whole event for them: they go to sleep at a friend’s house or they invite their friends to sleep over – just imagine!

A bit like a rite of passage, it is for them an affirmation of their growing independence.
It’s also a great way to strengthen the bonds between friends.

All occasions are good to organize a sleepover: to celebrate a birthday at home, to meet with friends, to celebrate the beginning of the school year, the vacations, Halloween, the summer, etc…

Here are a few tips to help the party go as smoothly as possible, for the kids and for you too!

A sleepover, from what age?

It depends a lot on the maturity of your child and his friends. If your child expresses the wish regularly and has already acquired a certain independence, generally around the age of 7 or 8, he is ready.

For the younger ones, little brothers or sisters, who want to do like the big ones, you can organize a sleepover in the afternoon and finish the party in the early evening (around 8:00 – 9:00 pm).

Who to invite to this children’s birthday party at home?

For a first sleepover, it is better not to aim too big. A small group of 2 to 4 children provides a good dynamic. We invite our best friends. It is important that each guest has been to your home at least once before, so that they will feel more comfortable and confident, and you will also have had the opportunity to get an idea of the character of each person.

After a little practice, you can move on to larger sleepovers

Birthday invitations

Be clear about the arrival and departure times of the guests the next morning – 10 or 11 am maximum – you will be happy to find yourself in peace.

Indicate what guests should bring: toiletries, towel, pillow, sleeping bag, comforter, etc…

Send invitations at least 3 weeks in advance so that everyone has time to prepare

Communicate with parents

Make sure you have all the parents’ phone numbers. Let them know that if their child is too uncomfortable at bedtime or during the night, you will call them to possibly pick them up.

Ask about allergies, special diets, evening routines, comforters, etc… of your little guests. If some children need a diaper for the night and you know this, you can handle it in a discreet way from the other children so that everyone has a good time.

Prepare your child to be a host

It’s a great opportunity to build your child’s confidence, but a little preparation can’t hurt!

Discuss with your child the rules to follow during the party (rooms allowed / not allowed during the party, bedtime, list of movies allowed if movie, etc…).
Suggest to your child that he/she show his/her friends around the house (again) so that everyone is comfortable and knows which toilet to use, where to find water, tissues, etc…
Prepare a list of activities and games with your child that he or she can share with friends. Establish with him the course of the evening in the broad outline. For example:

• Games outside
• Cooking workshop: we prepare pizzas together for dinner
• Indoor games
• Dinner in front of a movie
• Brush your teeth, go to the bathroom (don’t forget!)
• Everyone gets into bed, tells/reads stories
• Agree on bedtime

Take advantage of this experience to be accomplice with your child.

Reassure them that you are there to help them if things don’t go as planned. You can even set up a little “alert” code, a sign or a little phrase, if something went wrong.

Decorating the house for the sleepover

The best thing to do for a sleepover is to create a cocooning environment with tents or small cabins, either individual or a large tent to “shelter” the whole small group.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can do it with a large sheet stretched between two points of attachment or, opt for a rental service as proposed by The Enchanted Company for example (www.theenchantedcompany.ch)

Then decide on a theme with your child: Unicorns, mermaids, camping in the forest, llamas, pirates, safari, spa night, soccer, etc… Decorate the room where the children will sleep in the colors of the chosen theme.
The theme can also guide you in choosing games and activities.

You can also plan small gifts for the guests: why not a small toiletry kit with toothbrush (most often forgotten object!), washcloth and small towel. If you plan to cook, small aprons would also be a useful idea and a nice souvenir.

The meals during this sleepover

Depending on what time you start the party, you have two or three meals to plan.

If you’re having a birthday party, arrange for the party to start a little before snack time and offer to eat the cake at the beginning of the party: this will avoid the “sugar rush” in the evening.
For the evening, plan a simple meal that the children can cook together: pizzas, croque-monsieurs, or grilled meat in the summer. Don’t forget the easy-to-eat raw vegetables. Popcorn is always appreciated, especially if there is a movie on the agenda.
If you insist on offering candy or sweetened drinks, offer them at the beginning of the party and stop the sugar at least 2 hours before bedtime, or wait until the next morning.
For breakfast the next morning, think of pancakes, waffles, pancakes, small muffins, smoothies, etc… Depending on their age, you can also plan a breakfast buffet (cereals, bread, jams, spreads, etc…) so that the children can help themselves the next day and let you sleep a little more. Don’t forget the fruit!
If you have meal trays for the kids to eat on their beds, they LOVE it! If not, you can also spread a large tablecloth or sheet on the floor, picnic style.

What activities should be planned for the party?

If you have an outdoor space, it’s always good to get the kids going before the end of the day.

Many children love to cook; planning to have them participate in the preparation of the meal, a cookie or cupcake decorating workshop, etc… can be very fun.

Depending on your tastes, you can plan a creative workshop, a treasure hunt, disguises, quizzes, a board game. For girls in particular, a spa night or a fashion show is a popular activity.

As children get older, they will want to plan activities on their own and you won’t need to worry about them (just check in regularly to make sure everything is going well J)

In any case, always stay present with the children or in a nearby room. For older children who want to stay “quiet”, make it clear from the start that you will check in regularly (i.e. every 20-30 minutes).

The bedtime during a pyjama evening

In the early evening or after dinner, it is often useful to “announce” bedtime, i.e., to set your frame, and to ask the children for their support. About 30 minutes before bedtime, turn down the lights and let them know it’s almost time for bed.
Depending on the age of the children, you can read or tell them a story or let them tell/read their stories.
Provide night lights or leave a light on for the night.

Relax and enjoy it too!

To avoid unnecessary stress, remove any items that are important to you from the room where the children will be playing and sleeping.

Have toilet paper rolls, towels, tissues, toothbrushes and toothpaste available in the bathroom to prevent people from going through your cupboards.

Have a first aid kit available.

Assume that it’s not going to be your best night’s sleep but your child will be so grateful that it’s worth it. And then, you may be surprised! If you can, it’s good to have help: your spouse or a friend.

Take pictures and videos and see the smiles and stars in the eyes!