5 Ideas for what to do in sleepovers
If your little ones have decided they’d like a sleepover slumber party, don’t panic! Yes, welcoming over-excited children into your home may sound scary, but you don’t have to think of 100 things to do at a sleepover. If you’re organised, there’s no reason it can’t be an awesome slumber party your child won’t forget. Here are ideas for what to do at sleepovers (that can double up as birthday party ideas, too!)
1. Ideas for what to do in sleepovers – don’t take things too seriously
Laughter and even a tiny bit of chaos are what children at sleepovers usually experience. So when thinking about sleepover ideas, have fun in mind.
Invest in fun toys the children can enjoy, like kids riding on Lamborghinis. If you have the space and the money, then riding in kids’ electric cars is one
2. Entertainment
If the children are restless, a good sleepover game can include setting up some board games for entertainment. Monopoly is a really fun game and you can assign someone to look after the money (the banker) while everyone competes to build houses/hotels and monopolise the board.
Other fun things to do at a sleepover regarding entertainment could be to rent the kids’ favourite movies and huddle up with a blanket. A movie before bedtime winds children down and sets them in a bedtime mood, whereas an active board game lifts their energies and enthuses them. Ensure the movie finishes at least an hour before bed so the kids’ eyes settle away from the screen. Too much screen time before bed can make kids go the other way.
If the weather is good, let them play in the garden before the movie and dinner so they can burn that excess energy. You can rent a marquee for a party, but, be sure not to overtire them – overtired kids find it very difficult to put their heads down at bedtime – just ask my two Duracell boys!
3. Dinner time
Getting your little ones to sit around the table is an arduous task at the best of times – this task is only made more demanding when they have several friends staying over. However, keeping energy levels high is important, especially when the kids plan to embark on several adventures throughout the evening.
4. Sleeping arrangements
Not all of us are lucky enough to have several spare guest rooms at hand, so for housing extra guests, it’s important to ensure you have enough bedding. Airbeds and sleeping bags are a great idea, and both are easy to assemble and can be positioned around your child’s room to make the best use of space. These cute little Snuggle Pods from LittleLife are brilliant and take up minimal space, so the kids get to sleep together in one room (when one falls asleep, the rest follow like Dominoes).
5. Put a few rules in place
Unless you want to be kept up all night, it’s important to establish a bedtime curfew. If you provide the little ones with an hour’s warning, you’ll find it a much easier task to send them off to bed when the time comes. If not, you may find hours go by while encouraging them to go upstairs.
FAQ
What are things to do at a girls’ sleepover?
Do you have any ideas for what to do in virtual sleepovers?
It doesn’t have to be boring if it’s a virtual sleepover. Some fun things to do in a sleepover that’s online could be:
- Show and tell
- Play online video games
- Group crafts
- Online quiz
- Play Pictionary or charades
- Online dance party
- Karaoke competition
What to do at sleepovers in the morning
If it’s a girl sleepover, your children can get ready together by doing their hair and (depending on age) makeup. If the sleepover is for a younger child, getting dressed together, having a morning ritual and eating breakfast together is fun.
What to do in sleepovers at night
Some things to do on a sleepover at night could include:
- Pillow fight
- Chat/gossip
- Card games
- Having a midnight snack
- Listen to music
- Sleeping!
What do you do during a sleepover with your best friend?
Whatever you want within reason! This is the perfect time for your child to get to know their best friend, so perhaps encourage them to ask questions that will help them better understand their friend.
What are some crazy things to do at sleepovers?
Not all sleepover games have to be crazy, but if you want some crazy sleepover ideas, here are a few:
One person doing a taste test of what the other guests have put out in front of them – a great example could be different flavours of ice cream - Truth or dare games are always crazy
- Obstacle course in the bedroom
What are some games to play at a sleepover?
The fun things to do during sleepovers will change slightly depending on age. A simple gathering around with duvets can be enough for younger kids, but older children may need a few target games to work around. Some great sleepover party games can include:
- Scavenger Hunt
Create an obstacle course in the living room - Truth or dare
- Card games
- Chinese whispers
What are some things to talk about at a sleepover?
Fun things to do in sleepovers always include a good ol’ chinwag amongst friends. The great thing, though, is you can chat about anything, but keep an ear out for any topics which may cause some concern, like adult conversations and bullying. You may learn something about your child you didn’t know before, so let them talk! Some good prompts could be:
- Lessons in school
- Feelings and emotions
- Favourite books/TV shows
- Talk about other people
Whatever your sleepover party includes, whether it’s for teens or for tweens, make sure it’s a fun one – and relax the rules a little – a fun sleepover is an experience your child will not forget!
*Collaborative guest post*
