Planning a Sleepover
TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-650 -- More Projects »
Family expert Dr. Bra Vada Garrett-Akinsanya offers tips for planning a successful sleepover party for children.
- Send out invitations in the shape of pillowcases (figure A).
- When sending out invitations, include a checklist of items that the children should bring--toothbrush, pajamas, sleeping bag and a pillow. Be sure to state on the invitation the times that they should be dropped off and picked up.
- For younger children, purchase inexpensive pillowcases and have the children decorate them with permanent fabric markers. Let them use the pillowcases for transporting their sleepover necessities.
- Hand out small flashlights as party favors.
- Distribute books for children to read when others are sleeping.
Have guests bring grubby overnight T-shirts so that they can sign each other's shirt with a permanent marker (figure B).Set boundaries for the guests. There should be a few basic rules such as no prank calls, no leaving the house, no fighting, and no mean pranks. Type up a copy of the rules as a reference. If anyone starts to cause trouble, threaten to send them home. Make sure that the children know you are there, but try not to embarrass your own child by giving them and their guests space.Make sure to provide plenty of snacks. Include a few healthy snacks so that the children don't overdo it on the junk food.Six to eight children is the largest amount of guests that should be invited. Plan a few activities. Let the children choose a few videotapes to watch (that you've pre-approved), or set up 10 half-gallon milk cartons for a bowling game.Sleepovers are a great way to establish trust between parents and children.
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