Are you considering hosting a sleepover for your kids?  A sleepover is a great way for your kids to visit with their friends and relax.  Planning a sleepover party is easy to do.  There are many tips for hosting a fantastic sleepover, and today I'll go over those tips.  I hope this article answers all your questions about slumber parties.  Let's begin!

Before the Sleepover:

Plan A Theme

This step is optional.  It may be fun if your child's sleepover party has a theme.  For example, perhaps the sleepover theme will be a tea party or a Hawaiian theme.  The theme could even be based on a holiday such as Easter, Valentine's Day, or Christmas.  A theme isn't necessary, but it can make the sleepover extra fun.  When there is a theme, you will know how to decorate the house for a slumber party and what food to serve.

Decide Who Will Be On the Guest List

You will want your child to help you with this step.  Basically, you choose who you want to come to the slumber party.  Make sure you don't leave any of your child's friends out. Jealousy can arise if one of your child's friends does not get to come to the party.  Make sure you have enough room for your child's friends to sleep.

Send the Invitations

Once you have a list of guests you want to invite you can start sending out the invitations. If you have a theme, consider making your invitation cards with that theme on it.  For example, if it is a tea party theme, consider having a picture of a teacup in the background of the invitation card.  Remember to write the date of the sleepover and when the guests should start arriving.  Also, write down on the invitation what to bring to a sleepover (toothbrush, pajamas, etc.).  You or your child can also call the guests on the phone to let them know about the sleepover.

Find Out If Any Of the Kids Have Food Allergies

This is a very important step.  Talk to the parents of all the invited kids to find out if they have food allergies.  If any of them do, don't serve those foods.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

Buy the Supplies You'll Need

The next step is to start buying the supplies you'll need for the sleepover.  Such supplies include food, decorations, games, and movies.  If your guests will be staying until the next morning, have breakfast planned out.  Make sure you have everything ready for when you're guests arrive.

During the Sleepover:

Show the Kids Your House

Once the kids start arriving, either have you or your child show the kids the rooms they are allowed to go in and rooms they can't go in.  Make sure to show them the restroom and also the room they will be staying in.

Start Cooking

Start cooking food for your guests.  While the kids are waiting for the food to cook, offer finger foods such as a vegetable tray, chips, pretzels, and other delicious finger foods.  Also, offer drinks such as juices and water.

Bring Out the Games Or Movie

Once the kids have finished eating their dinner, bring out games to play or a movie to watch.  Make sure the room is comfortable with plenty of pillows to sit on.  Besides, your child's friends may want to have a pillow fight!

Stay Nearby

It is important that you, as the parent, stay nearby.  In an emergency, it is important that you are easy to reach.  If the kids at the sleepover are young, this is especially important.  Younger kids may be afraid of the dark or may forget how to get to the restroom, which means you should be nearby to help those children.  If any of the kids are afraid of the dark, consider giving them a nightlight.

After the Sleepover:

Offer Breakfast

After a good night's rest, your child's friends will be ready for breakfast.  Talk to the parents beforehand to make sure their kids don't have to be anywhere early in the morning.  Try serving a healthy breakfast that your guests would like.  Make sure none of the food is a choking hazard for young kids.

Walk the Kids To the Door

Once breakfast is over and it is time for the kids to leave, walk them to the door.  If their parents will be picking them up, tell them that their kids had a great time and discuss any concerns you have.  If the kids will be walking home, call the parents to let them know that their kids left your house.  That way, the parents can expect when their kids will be home.

Start Cleaning Up

After your child's sleepover party, there will be a lot to clean up.  Start washing dirty dishes, put away the games, and sweep up crumbs.  If your child is old enough, have him or her help you clean up.

Other Tips For Hosting A Sleepover

Don't Host A Sleepover Until Your Child Is Ready

Most children are ready to have a sleepover when they are five to eight years old. However, some kids may be ready sooner or later than this age.  Signs that your child is ready for a slumber party include if she/he shows interest in having a sleepover, has friends she/he is close to, and if your child likes planning out parties.  Also, consider if the kids coming to the party are ready to spend a night away from their parents.  If the kids are young, consider having their parents pick them up right before bedtime instead of having them stay the whole night.

Don't Offer Sugary Snacks Right Before Bed

About an hour before bed, you should stop serving sugary snacks.  Sugar will keep all the kids awake, which means they will be very sleepy in the morning.  Your child's friends can still keep eating snacks, but don't give them sugary snacks.

Have Extra Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

Most of the kids should bring their own toothbrush and toothpaste.  However, some of the kids may forget to pack these essential items.  Have a few extra toothbrushes and toothpaste available for the kids that forgot to bring theirs.

Communicate With the Parents

Don't forget to keep communicating with the parents.  Ask them ahead of time if there is anything you should know about their child (does their child have food allergies, is he/she afraid of the dark, etc.).  When their kids arrive at your sleepover party, call them to let them know their kids arrived safely.  Call them again when their kids leave. Communicating with the parents ensures them that their kids are safe.

Keep the Slumber Party Small If This Is Your Child's First Sleepover

If this is the first sleepover you and your child every hosted, try keeping it small.  As you start getting the hang of hosting a sleepover, you can add on to the guest list.  Perhaps you could start with 5 kids on the guest list for the first sleepover party.

Final Thoughts 

I hope this article has answered all your questions about hosting a sleepover.  There are so many ideas for having a fabulous slumber party.  There are multiple fun sleepover games and sleepover activities that your child and his or her friends can play.  You can also serve fun snacks for the kids.

Start out by planning for your child's sleepover.  To do this, start a guest list and send out invitations to those kids.  Your child may also have fun planning a theme for the sleepover. When the guests arrive, make sure you show them your house and, most importantly, the restroom.  Begin cooking their dinner, and give them some finger foods to snack on while they wait for the food to cook.  After dinner, bring out fun sleepover games to play and maybe a movie.  About an hour before bed, try to wind things down by not serving any sugary foods.

Make sure you stay nearby, especially if the children are young.  Let them know which room you will be in.  In the morning, plan on serving them breakfast unless their parents instructed otherwise.  When the kids leave your house, let their parents know that their kids are on their way home.  Remember, planning a sleepover doesn't have to be stressful. Hopefully, you and your child will make some fun memories.  Have fun!

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