Having a sleepover is an important and fun rite of passage for a little boy. If you are a parent, organizing one can be a challenge no matter what age your child is, but you shouldn't be discouraged. With a little preparation you will realize that the whole process will go smoothly and could be fun not only for the guests, but for you as well.
Steps
Plan your child's sleepover carefully. The more prepared you are, the better the organization will proceed. In this article, you will find useful guidelines for organizing it and ideas for setting up activities and choosing themes.
Method 1 of 2: Plan in Time
Step 1. Choose your sleepover guests carefully
- Obviously, the input must be given by your child, but try not to let them invite too many friends or people you know will be annoying.
- Guests should have no problem spending the night away from home. Kids usually start getting ready around the age of seven to nine.
Step 2. Choose the best day and time for the sleepover
- In general, it is ideal to organize one on a Friday or Saturday.
- Friday is ideal because kids will be tired after spending the day at school and it will be easier for them to fall asleep easily.
- Keep in mind that some families go to church on Sunday mornings, so they expect their children to return soon.
- Try to choose a reasonable time. For example, invite them to have dinner around seven on a Saturday night. That way the sleepover won't take up the whole weekend.
Step 3. Warn other family members to know what will happen
If you have other children, you may want to ask a relative to host them at their home for the night so they won't have a tantrum to participate in organized sleepover activities.
Step 4. Buy snacks and everything you need for the meeting
- It's worth buying snacks and dry foods, so you can clean up easily with a swipe of a vacuum cleaner. Here are some examples: popcorn, pretzels, chips, crackers, etc.
- Prepare or order a dinner that will be served at the table but that will not cause problems to be consumed and to clean up. If you want, use paper plates. Pizza is a great example.
- The next morning, serve a simple, easy-to-make breakfast before the kids' parents drop in to pick them up. Go for cereals, muffins, brioches, etc.
Step 5. Establish some ground rules without waiting for too long after guests arrive
You better do it after dinner for example. The rules should be suggested according to the age of the kids:
- Don't leave the house without asking first.
- Don't play prank calls.
- Stay in designated areas (this will make it easier to clean up the next day).
Step 6. Prepare for the unexpected:
- If a guest gets sick, be prepared to call their parents (you should write down everyone's numbers before inviting them to you) and ask your wife to give them a lift while you stay home and check that everything is okay.
- Some children may urinate in bed. You may think it won't happen, but be prepared for this possibility. Try to help the kid not feel embarrassed (for example, pretend a glass of water has been poured on the sheets) and show him where the bathroom is so he can clean up. You can help him further by looking for a change of clothes in his backpack.
- If at some point your child gets bored or tired, ask him to help you out for a second and give him a pep talk when you are alone. If the sleepover parties you organize always end like this, maybe you should put them aside for some time.
- You need to make it clear early on that you will not tolerate bullying and teasing at all. It's one thing to have a heated but polite debate about which movie to see, and quite another to target a kid and mock him. If the problem persists, call the parents of the misbehaving guests and send them home earlier than expected.
Step 7. Go check out what kids are doing often, but don't intrude all the time
For example, you can use the excuse of going and asking if they need more snacks.
Step 8. Decide what time the lights will go out
You may want to leave them on their feet a little longer than usual, but don't be surprised if in the middle of the night you have to go and ask for them to calm down.
Step 9. Don't forget that some kids are early risers
Provide comics, snacks and other pastimes to keep them busy without waking you or friends too early.
Step 10. Make a plan for everyone to come home early the next morning, to pick them up, or to drive them back
Step 11. Keep other parents' phone numbers handy, you never know
Method 2 of 2: Ideas for a Sleepover
Step 1. Evening dedicated to board games
It is ideal for younger guests.
- Prepare an assortment of board games that are family-friendly (but not too childish if the kids are over 10) and fun. Allow guests to choose one.
- Make sure they fix a game before opening another one.
- If you want, offer prizes in the form of small snacks, so that the winners get a reward.
Step 2. Chores
It can be difficult to find jobs that boys will like, but it's possible if you take their age into consideration. For example, teach how to make origami.
Step 3. Movie night
- Choose films that are suitable for all ages (keep in mind the rules and opinions of other families, don't leave anything to chance).
- Let them choose one or three, this depends on the length of the films and the time the kids will have before they have to turn off the lights.
- Pack some snacks and see how it goes often.
Step 4. Plan an indoor or outdoor camping trip
Depending on the age of the kids, you can opt for this theme at the sleepover.
- If necessary, prepare sturdy sleeping bags and tents (only if you are going to do it outside).
- Guide the kids by singing some traditional camping songs.
- Make some S'more cookies; you can do this on the campfire (but keep everyone under control) or using the microwave.
- Encourage kids to tell horror stories (but not too much) around the fire; in the house you can turn off the lights and give them torches.
- Check out how it's going in the middle of the night, especially if you plan to camp in the garden.
Step 5. Video games
This proposal will be particularly appreciated by teenagers.
- Choose a video game that all kids can play when they are at home. It is important to respect the rules of each family.
- Opt for games that allow at least two people to play at a time.
- Make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in case there are more guests than joysticks.
- If a guest complains because he is excluded or because he cannot play the video games he prefers, intervene so that he too is satisfied. Alternatively, you can propose turning the sleepover into a "movie night" or something else.
- Don't let kids spend hours and hours in front of video games. Have them alternate this activity with a more relaxing one, especially when there is 30-60 minutes of bedtime. Here are some examples: watching a movie or a TV show, telling a story, picking up a board game, etc.
Advice
- Develop games so that no one gets bored.
- Try not to invite too many people, so you don't run the risk of some kids being excluded or creating a chaotic and impossible to manage environment.
- If they are doing chores, be sure to give everyone the same tools, this to avoid creating jealousy among the guests.
- Determine a specific structure so that the sleepover runs smoothly.
