Kid Party Ideas: Slumber Parties

Slumber parties are definitely not about sleeping. If you where the first to fall asleep at any that I went too you where definitely in trouble, because you where going to be the first to get hit by a sleeping prank.

For the parents the hardest part of this is staying awake and keeping the noise down so if others are trying to sleep they can.

Small Slumber party's are much better than large ones, normally, because there is less noise and its easier to keep a eye on things, and there is so much more that a small group can do over a large one.
Slumber parties have some really cool perks most often they are remembered very well, and talked about for weeks.

They are often low cost becuase it done in ones home.
They are real easy to keep going specially with younger children which will often fall asleep early on.
You can easily keep a eye on the kids, becuase they will often have one room specifically for the party.

Slumber parties will have some unseen negatives possibly, specially with younger children

Home sickness, basically its a separation anxiety from not being in there bed with there parents near by. To help with this you may want to get the parents phone numbers and have the kids call there parents in the evening to say goodnight. Having the number will also allow you to call if there are any problems or if the child just cant handle it and has to go home.

Prep for the slumber party

Figure how many are going to be there.
Have plenty of snacks (strongly suggest non-sugary snacks after 8pm to help lessen sugar rushes)
Plenty to Drink (here again I would change the types of drinks offered after 8pm to less caffeinated and sugary drinks) By doing this as well the kids will grow tired a little quicker as well.
Have Movies, Games, and activities ready. No horror movies for younger children. This will cause nightmares and a higher need for them to call there parents. I suggest comedy's or upbeat cartoons.
Have a set time that parents will have to pick there kids up by. If you want the kids out of your home by 11 am. tell the parents the pick up time is 10am, inevitably one parent will always be 30min to a hour late picking up the kid.
Drop off time is to be a set time as well but be ready for some parent to drop the kid off 30 min to a hour early so if the party starts at noon a parent will try to drop them off early be ready for this.

I do suggest though that you do not allow any sleep pranks to be allowed, especially with large slumber parties. These pranks could end up scaring a child for a very long time. Older children it will be more for you to decide if its ok, even then some pranks are just cruel and should not be done.

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