Erin O'Reilly, (from left), Haley Forman, 10, Rosie Clemens, 10, and Kendall Broughton, 10, play the Xbox game "Just Dance" at the Forman home. Photo by Sarah Pastrana
Julie Forman has never discouraged her daughters from throwing, or attending, slumber parties because she remembers clearly how much she enjoyed them as a child.
?Growing up I loved sleepovers because you got to go to someone else?s house, be with all your friends and have fun until late at night,? the mother of two from Elkridge recalls. ?I did it and know how much fun it can be, and I want my daughters to have those memories, too.?
On a child?s social calendar, sleepovers rank right up there with trick-or-treating and birthday parties. But what can be 15 hours of fun for a child can translate into 20 hours of anxiety for a parent trying to plan an entertaining party with no drama.
?There?s no such thing as throwing a slumber party together,? Forman advises. ?You have to plan ? who?s going to come, what activities the kids can do, what kinds of food to serve. It doesn?t have to be anything expensive or complicated, but if you don?t plan ahead you?re going to end up calling moms in the middle of the night because someone is scared or bored or feeling excluded.?
Forman?s daughters are 10 and 12, and she?s survived many sleepovers.
?If it?s your first time hosting, the best piece of advice I can give is keep it small,? she advises. ?Crowd control is a lot easier to manager when you only have three or four guests.?
Here are six basic guidelines to follow that can help alleviate stress and ensure a memorable party for all involved:
1. Pre-Party
There are simple steps you can take ahead of time to make things go smoothly when the first guest arrives. Make sure your invitations have a definite start and end time, what each child should bring (sleeping bag) and what meals will be served. When a parent RSVPs, get a contact number for them in the event a late-night phone call is warranted. Designate a specific area of the house where the kids will be by rearranging furniture to maximize the space and removing anything breakable. Finally, make sure all parental controls are activated for your television and computer.
2. Finger Foods
No matter what age your guests are, expect them to eat twice what you?d expect. Make it easy on yourself by buying finger foods like chips, grapes, cookies, cheese and crackers and maybe a small bowl of candy. Juice boxes and water bottles might cost a little more, but they cut down considerably on spills that need to be cleaned up. Keep serving bowls small so you have to go in periodically and refill them. It?s a good excuse for popping in and checking out what is going on without looking like you are snooping. For older kids, late-night pizza is always a big hit, particularly after the 10 p.m. ?power surge? (See? No. 3 ?Get physical?)
3. Get Physical
For some reason that has yet to be explained, kids at a sleepover seem to have a burst of energy around 10 p.m. Everything can be running smoothly, and all of a sudden you have kids jumping on the couch, wrestling on the floor or turning cartwheels down your hallway. Constructively channel this burst into a physical activity like a scavenger hunt in your house or yard, a brisk walk through the neighborhood (let?s see who can run backwards fastest to the corner), or pull out the game console for ?Just Dance? or ?Dance, Dance Revolution.? If all else fails, let them loose in the yard for a game of flashlight tag before the neighbors go to sleep.
4. A Dull Roar
Prepare yourself for a lot of noise. You know how high the volume gets pushed when one or two friends come over. Multiply that by how many guests you expect and don?t be shocked when, in spite of your firmest reminders to ?keep it down,? your partygoers squeal, laugh, vie for the spotlight or shriek out of sheer excitement. Remember that they are kids. While every parent will have a different level of tolerance, if you are expecting a quiet evening, you are setting yourself up for a night of frustration.
5. Wind Down
Rent several appropriate movies for the end of the evening when you want the party to transition to a slower pace. Usually at least one or two guests, if not most, will fall asleep during a late movie. They are also good in the morning once everything has been cleaned up and guests are waiting for parents to pick them up. It can be fun to schedule a sleepover on or near the DVD release of a popular movie. Check out http://www.movieweb.com/movies/2012/family?s=date for dates in 2012.
6. Breakfast
You might be tempted to whip up a hot, hearty breakfast for your guests, but keep it simple with a self-serve meal. Some kids will eat like birds; others might still be stuffed from goodies the night before. Instead of heaping their plates with foods that might not appeal at the moment, set out an easy buffet where they can help themselves to as little or as much as they want. A bowl of fruit salad, cereal bars and doughnuts and bagels should cover all the bases. Water, juice and milk will wash it all down.
IS YOUR CHILD READY FOR A SLEEPOVER?
Some children never think twice about sleeping away from home. Others aren?t ready until middle school. Here are some clues that might help you determine if your child is ready to be away from home until tomorrow.
Might Not Be Ready
1. Has trouble saying goodbye to you. When someplace new, wants you to stay until he or she feels comfortable.
2. Can?t sleep through the night without calling for a parent or visiting their bedroom.
3. Has trouble solving problems without an adult?s help.
4. Is afraid of the dark.
5. Routinely wets the bed.
Note: Often numbers four and five can be accommodated but talk to the host parent first and have a plan in place like a nightlight or an extra set of pajamas.
Ready
1. Has slept over previously with family members.
2. Is extremely excited about the sleepover and shows no hesitation.
3. Talks about the sleepover without expressing fear or asking too many ?what if? questions.
4. Sleeps well and through the night at home.
5. Feels comfortable trying to solve own problems.
For more ideas, check out these books and DVDs:
? Super Slumber Parties by American Girls, $9.99
? Snooze-A-Palooza by American Girls, $9.99
? Melissa & Doug Slumber Party Box Of Questions, $9.99
? Best Ever Sleepover DVD, $9.99
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