First Sleep over Ideas

Updated on March 20, 2013
L.M. asks from Chicago, IL
9 answers

Hi ~ So my daughter is having a friend over for their first sleep over next week.

Any ideas on things to do to make it extra fun? I was thinking to make their own pizza, do nails etc. What have you done that is fun?

Arts and crafts? What was good?
Snacks?
Games?

It's cold by us so there will be no outside anything....

Thanks!

Updated: the girls are 7

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So What Happened?

I hardley planned anything and the girls had a blast, of course! Thanks for the ideas!

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F.C.

answers from Tampa on

My girls make their own pizzas and then make "sleepover" popcorn (popcorn with M&Ms and peanuts) then got to watch a few fun movies

5 moms found this helpful

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Dinner, movie or just let them be little girls and go play. Kids do not need to be entertained all the time. Melt them use their imaginations. They are amazing little creatures and can really make you laugh. Maybe they could put on a fashion show for you. Just let them have fun.

6 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I would just leave them alone. Of course have dinner and snacks, maybe rent a movie for when it's time to lay down, but honestly kids just love to play and have fun, they don't really need anything from us LOL!
I do usually make a special big breakfast when the kids have friends sleepover, the smell of bacon and lure of pancakes on the griddle gets them up and moving :-)

4 moms found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

just let them play. don't make it an event. the pizza thing sounds fine and if they want to do nails great. but unless it is a "birthday party" don't schedule it up. just let them play games and or watch movies etc. don't plan on organizing every minute.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Ask your daughter what she wants to do.
It does not have to be all M. planned.
My daughter had her 1st sleepover, at our home, when she was turning 8. Just a handful of girls.
I asked her, what she would like to do.
And the extent, that she wanted me, to be doing everything.
At that age, my daughter and her friends, were very self-reliant and independent. They are also good at thinking up things and not getting "bored."
I cooked what she wanted for dinner.
We had a movie planned, but to be honest, the girls did not even watch it for more than 1/2 hour, because they were "busy." And wanting to do other things.
It was pretty much, my daughter who took the lead in it.
And she and the girls had lots of fun.
Drop off was late afternoon and pick up was mid morning.
Per our, schedule.
I also stipulated to the other parents, that their child takes a bath first, before coming over. (most of the kids and parents know us very well and have been to our home MANY times). Or they could shower here. Up to them.
And also, plan a breakfast meal.
At that age even, my daughter and her friends, wanted to make breakfast themselves, too. They made pancakes and eggs. My daughter is very adept in the kitchen. And I made the bacon.

They went to bed late. Which was fine with us and the other parents.
They woke up before 6:00am, and were quiet, per my instructions to them if they woke early.
I had nightlights throughout the house and in the bathroom and kitchen.
I gave each of them a flashlight to have next to them at night.
I let them call their parents if they wanted to whenever.
And the parents were told they can call me whenever as well.
And I told the girls, they could wake me up as well, any time.... at night if they needed me for any reason.
I slept on a sofa in an adjacent room, so I could hear them if need be.
They slept in the family room on the floor in their sleeping bags. My daughter's room is not big enough for all of them.
They had a ton of fun.
None of them wanted to go home the next day!

My daughter has had many sleepovers at our house since then. And it has always mostly been, led by her lead.
I did not, do everything. I just make the meals etc.
My daughter and her friends are very self-reliant.
I was just around, to supervise if anything.
But I was not hovering.

3 moms found this helpful

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

How old is the birthday girl going to be? Makes a big difference when suggesting ideas?

I looked through your profile and I think maybe she is turning 8?

My son just attended a b-day party where they made crafts with duct tape. Sounds strange but the crafts were REALLY cool. You can make flowers for the end of your pencils and pens or glued onto barrettes for your hair, the boys made wallets, the girls made coin purses and ALL kinds of things really...and the colors and designs on duct tape these days are endless and really REALLY cute. I am sure you can Google or Pinterest it and come up with all kinds of cool ideas?! As a bonus whatever they make would be great 'party-favors' too!

The games are always fun too. Musical chairs and such...also a Google or Pinterest search would get you tons of ideas!

I like the nails idea. The face scrubs and masks are also good, they have all kinds of organic ones at our local health food store and organic market.

Board games are also fun!

I am sure whatever you come up with will be awesome!

2 moms found this helpful

J.C.

answers from Columbus on

If your daughter is a girly-girl, you could head to the local kids' consignment shop and get some bigger sized dresses for them to dress up in. I bought some gorgeous dresses for my daughter for around $5 each. Make sure you get a few sizes up, though. They'll be putting these over their clothes.

Have fun!

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J.K.

answers from Wausau on

Sleepovers themselves are built-in fun. It's not a party, so you should just relax. Sure, have pizza. Let them watch cartoons or a movie even if you usually restrict screen time. Mostly, stay out of the way and pretend to be upset when they are still awake and giggling at midnight.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

How old they are makes a big difference.
I was a teen when I went to my first slumber party.
We did hair (curlers), make-up, nails, talked a lot about boys, watched scary movies (Tales from the Crypt, etc) and had pizza and popcorn all night long.
If they are pre-teen, then crafts and age appropriate movies are fine, pizza and popcorn still work.
If you've got snow - can they build snowmen? and then come in for hot chocolate (and the inside stuff)?
It was closer to Christmas but we had a neighborhood caroling party where all the teens/kids in the neighborhood went round the block and sung 3 carols at each house.
It took us about 3 hours to make the rounds.
It was FREEZING (like 15F)- and it was a blast (although in between singing it was a running snow ball fight and it was common to get a snow covered tree shaken over you to cover you instantly in snow.
Hot chocolate and hot cider was wonderful when we got back to our hosts house.

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