Planning

Slumber parties - the sleepover can be an informal "just because" event with just one or two friends, or it an be a Birthday party with an entire group - it's a great way to get together with friends and do something a little special.  Popcorn, a movie and ice cream make a great informal slumber party.  However, you can take the slumber party up a notch and make a truly memorable event!  All you need are a few fun elements and the ordinary becomes the extraordinary!

How old does my child have to be?  Different kids (and parents) are ready for sleepovers at different ages.  Typically, most parents wait until their child is at least 8, but probably closer to 10.  Younger children need a lot more supervision and will be affected more by the sleep deprivation than older children will. 

• If your child really wants a sleepover and they are not yet ready for one, consider an evening pajama party.  This basically is a Slumber Party that ends when it's time to sleep.  It's a great compromise that should make your child happy.
  
• Different aged groups are going to have a different Slumber Party.  Keep in mind the general party information for your child's age group:
• Older Child's Birthday (5 - 10)
• Tween Birthday (10 - 12)
• Teen Birtday (13 and up)

Boys?  Girls?  Both?  Although your child may have a best friend of the opposite sex and they may have sleepovers, a slumber party is generally not the time to mix it up.  You are bound to have parents (and some guests) who will be uncomfortable.  Tread cautiously if considering a mixed gender slumber party.  This holds true for siblings as well.  Kids of slumber party age don't tend to relax and have fun being silly when there are members of the other gender around.  The dynamic just changes.

How many do I invite? 

• For the everyday sleepover, 3 or 4 at the most is a good number (avoid inviting 2 - because 3 can be a tough number to manage - someone always feels left out).  Enough that they all have room in one room to sleep, all can take turns playing videogames, and enough that you can manage the chaos without the "crowd effect" impacting your control.
  
  
• For the event sleepover - invite as many as your sanity can tolerate.  You'll need enough hanging out space, enough sleeping space, enough bathroom space, and enough food to feed everyone dinner, late night snacks AND breakfast. 
  
  
• Note, the younger your guests, the bigger the impact of staying up very late - you may want to consider a smaller group for younger kids to accommodate for overtired emotions.   

• Unless this is a giant family event, try to avoid including children outside the age range of you’re guest of honor (keep guests within one or two years of each other). 
  
  
• Kids aren't the best at accommodating or being sensitive to the fragile feelings of younger children. 
• Including an older guest may result in your party having more "mature" content than you were anticipating.   

Chaperoning? 

• Depending on the age range and number of your guests, you may need a little help.  Consider a "sleepover" of your own.  Invite a friend or family member to help out.  Even if it's just for the sake of your sanity - don't be afraid to ask for help!
  
  
• Adjust chaperoning to the age/number of guests.  No matter how "cool" a parent you are, chances are that your child and guests want to be somewhat adult free.  Ensure that you can monitor comings and goings and determine how often you need to peek in to see that everything is going smoothly.  Be accessible but don't be in the way.  

When do we start?  When do they leave?!?!

• Parties take a lot of energy and emotions - for the guests as well as you.  And a Slumber Party is going to last into the night.  If you want to keep energy high and spirits positive, don't start your Slumber Party too early or you'll end up with overtired, over-stimulated,  and overemotional early in the evening.  Consider starting your party just before dinner, around 5 or 6. 
• Serving dinner is a key to success for a Slumber Party.  Get some protein and fuel into everyone's bellies before they add in the sugar - this minimizes the sugar high that can lead to bad party energy.  Serve pizza, burgers or hot dogs and everyone will be  properly fueled for the evening ahead. 

• Setting a time for going home is a little more difficult.  Unless parents of guests have conflicts, try to keep it flexible.  Everyone may sleep in until 11, or they may get up early and be incredibly cranky.  If you need to set a time, try 10:30.  Typical sleep in time is around 9 - 10, so 10:30 allows you to get everyone packed up and fed, then out before they can start bickering because they are overtired! 

What should my Party Space be?

• There are a few rules of thumb for a Slumber Party space - particularly if you are hosting kids that are a little older (teens/tweens).
  
  
• Make sure the space is easily monitored - can anyone come or go without notice?  You don't want to be a jailor, but you do want to know where everyone is.
  
  
• You need a TV and DVD player, room for everyone to sleep, easy access to a bathroom, and carpet that you won't cry over when it gets ice cream or soda spilled on it. 
  
  
• If kids are sleeping on the floor consider making it pet friendly the week beforehand.  NO pets, and multiple vacuuming passes to minimize pet fur and dander that may aggravate a guests allergies.

Party Flow:

• A Slumber Party is longer than the typical 3 or 4 hours for a non-sleepover.  So Party flow works a little differently.  You want to keep the guests entertained, but you don't want to stack activities or they'll be exhausted (as will you!!!)  Here's an easy way to break it down:
  
  
• Start with an active period with games and activities that are fun and exciting.
  
  
• Have dinner around 7: 00 - a little later than a normal dinner, but it will keep them fueled into the night on something other than sugar! 
  
  
• Settle the guests into their party space, get pajamas on, beds rolled out, TV set up (or whatever else they will be doing) and monitor.  If party energy starts to sag, then have one or two activities that you can inject as necessary (such as manicures or mini-autograph/scrap books).
  
  
• For younger kids you are going to need to impose a "bedtime" (probably around 11 or 12).  Start winding down about an hour beforehand - settle everyone in with a movie and turn out the lights to lower the energy level. 
  
  
• Expect chatting even after lights out.  If you go in and yell, you will inject your energy back into the room and probably make it worse not better.  Let them whisper for a half an hour and then, if it doesn't seem to be tapering off, quietly open the door and remind everyone that it's time for sleeping and that there shouldn't be anymore whispering. 

Can I combine a Slumber Party with something else?

• Absolutely!  If you don't want a group of kids in your house all evening and all night, consider a combo event.  This gets everyone out for a while, gives them all something to do and minimizes the amount of time you have to keep the group entertained.  You just have to ensure that the activity meets the approval of the other parents (such as movie choice) and that you have enough transportation).  Here are some great combos:
  
  
• Bowling
• Movie
• Concert
• Arcade/Miniature Golf
• Sporting Event (even a local high school football game!)

• Combine your Slumber Party with an activity based Theme!  This structures your party and keeps everything easy and simple.
  
  
• A Spa party - girls get make-overs, do their hair, their nails, etc. and then have a slumber party afterwards.
  
  
• Movie Night - If a big hit movie just came out on DVD or there is a series of movies the group will enjoy - combine a Slumber Party with a Movie Premier theme - this will give you great inspiration for your food, beverages and decorations! 
  
  
• Video Game Tournament - set up a couple of TVs and gaming systems - have a few new or favorite video games and let everyone have a tournament!  Make sure you have enough games to go around thought!  Your Theme can be inspired by one of the games.

 

Theme

Creating a Sense of Cohesiveness and having a little FUN.

• Slumber parties can (and should) have a Theme.  It can be a simple color selection or you can consider the movie choices, or activity choices - inspiration can come from a favorite character or you can get silly with a different era (a groovy 70's party is fun!)  Consider the following:
  
  
• What is your child into?  Is there a hobby or interest that they are really into.  This is a great starting place for your Theme.  A sport, a television show, a movie, a type of music or activity… any of these can be the basis for your Theme.  If your child is interested in something too outside the norm then try to find ways to bring it back into the mainstream.  A little creativity can turn something "odd" into something "awesome".

• By the time your child is old enough for a Slumber Party they are probably wanting to feel "grown up".  Look around and consider what you would want as an adult and then kid it up just a little.  Over the top can be perceived as childish - but the kid that still dwells inside wants all the color and excitement.  It's a fine balance - include your child in the planning to get their perspective.   

 

Food

Refreshments - The heart of the party, amusingly, is the stomach!

• Food at a Slumber Party has the added element of timing as a variable.  You party won't last for 4 hours, it's going to last for 16.  Dinner, snacks, desert, beverages, and breakfast!  And if you don't want a room full of kids hopped up on sugar all night long, Slumber Party refreshments must be carefully planned. 
  
  
• Start with Dinner!!!! Feeding the group dinner ensures that there is something solid, with protein, in their stomachs before the soda, midnight ice cream sundaes, and junk food kicks in!  Make it fun, but make sure it's filling.  And the more protein the better! 
  
  
• Give them variety, and a fun presentation.  Veggies with dip, hot dogs, mac and cheese, nuggets with fun dipping sauces, burgers, pizza - have fun! 
• Consider involving the guests in the cooking process.  Is there an element that they can work on?  This provides an "activity" that isn't obvious as an activity - you know? 
• Personal pizzas that guests create themselves
• Loading wraps and cutting into pinwheels
• Macaroni and cheese bar (have broccolli, hot dog pieces, ground beef, etc. that can be added)
• Mini burger station

• Partying kids are ALWAYS hungry, so incorporate light snacks into your party for after dinner and into the evening.  Crackers, chips, veggies with dip, pizza rolls, chicken wings, fruit slushies - items with substance (not just sweets!!!) that they can snack on.
  
  
• When you are serving food into the night, consider your heating/cooling options and have a refreshment plan. 
  
  
• Beverages - sugar and caffeine, the mainstay of most kid party drinks will not help you around midnight.  Consider your options carefully.  What about a slushie bar with fresh fruit and juice?  Strawberry flavored milk?  "Spritzers" (7-Up and fruit juice)?  You won't be able to avoid the sugar, but you can at least provide options without caffeine.  You're sanity will thank you! 

 

 

FunStuff

Entertainment - When you want more than just your stereo…

• Slumber parties are easier, and more difficult, with regard to entertainment.  You don't need a "wow" entertainment for a slumber party quite like you want for a typical party, because the slumber element adds the wow-factor.  But that doesn't mean that you can't have a little wow right?  What about bringing in a nail artist to do manicures?  Renting a gaming system for off the hook video game tournaments?  Planning an all out scavenger hunt (did you know that there are professionals who do this???)  What about a Hip Hop instructor, a face painter or a caricature artist?  Just because it's a slumber party doesn't mean that you are limited to make-overs and movies!   

Activities - Get people talking! 

• Games and activities make a regular sleep over an amazing Slumber Party!  Have options available, and let the guests guide you.  Indoor and outdoor party games can work with a Slumber party - only your number and age of guests are limitations!  A Twister tournament, Hide and Seek, Ghost in the Graveyard, art projects, Pictionary…  Check out the Party Fun for Kids General Guidance and get inspired!
  
  
• Have 4 or 5 activities prepared and watch the Party Flow to determine when they would be good to do!

 

Prizes/Favors

A little something to remember your event by…

• It has become the norm for kids' parties to have a party bag for each guest - no matter the age.  These can be as simple as a bag of candy or as wild as your imagination and budget can manage.  It's just a little token from the host to each of the guests for them to take a little of the party home with them. 
  
  
• Have "prizes" for various activities throughout the party.  Ensure each child gets at least one as their favor.  Couple this with a small bag of candy or theme related item at the end.
  
  
• Activities during the party can also be the party favor.  Making a T-shirt or hat, an art project they can keep is great for a party favor.  Some small token at the end in conjunction with the art project is great.
  
  
• Find a theme related container and fill it with various items - theme related or otherwise.  Consider the age of your guests and their interests.  Attach a small Thank You note from your child to each party favor. 
  
  
• A bag full of candy is easy - but consider some fun alternatives. Art supplies, pictures from the party, books, or a CD of party music from your event are all great ideas.  If you look, you can find something pretty cool that doesn't cost more than that bag of
  candy did and is appreciated for a longer time.
  
  
• See Party Favors for Kids for more fun ideas!