Hold a Late Night Instead of a Sleepover

Despite the fact that children and tweens/teenagers love sleepovers, parents are becoming more aware of the possibilities of child abuse, alcohol abuse, and other dangers during over-nighters. Are there ways to please both Mom/Dad and the kids on this matter while decreasing the risk of sexual abuse and illicit consumption? Yes, and the best way to manage it is for the adults concerned to reach a consensus on the issue and to choose "Late Night" instead. This option decreases the potential for abuse, and since the heads of the families agree, child peer pressure to hold a slumber party is diminished.

Late Night always starts and ends at a finite time, set by the host. It usually runs past the normal bedtime or curfew, giving the children a sense of freedom and novelty, and yet everyone goes home to sleep in their own beds, decreasing the potential for sexual abuse. With tweens/teenagers, this also lessens the likelihood of alcohol, tobacco, or drug abuse.

Children Aged 7-10
Start and end time: Approximately 7-11p.m., with parents picking up their charges and taking them home to tuck them in for the night.
Attire: Pajamas, or clothing to match a theme.
Snacks: Easy snacks such as flavored popcorn, frost-your-own cookies or snacks to match a theme.
Entertainment: Videos, board games, backyard treasure hunt (during daylight).
Optional Themes: Pirate adventure, fairyland, Hawaiian luau, treasure hunt, girl's night out.

Tweens and Early Teens
Start and end time: Approximately 7-1:00 p.m., with adults picking up their tweens/teenagers and taking them home for the night. It's especially important with this age group to remind them of the house rules, which should include not leaving the premises without permission. The host should not go to bed until everyone has gone home to help insure there's no abuse or alcohol consumption.
Attire: Pajamas, or regular attire, depending on the group.
Snacks: Go with traditional veggies and dip, chip and dip, or build-your-own pizza. Or, try Mexican Munchies party mix, yogurt and berries, or watermelon cut into shapes. Also, consider snacks on the barbecue or over an open fire, if a fire pit is available. Teenagers love roasted hot dogs, tin foil dinners, s'mores, and toasted marshmallows. Make sure to have plenty to eat and drink.
Entertainment: Videos, computer games, board games, facials, manicures, ghost stories around an open fire.
Optional Themes: Kids this age may or may not want a theme. Tread lightly so they don't think they're being treated as children.

Those parents who don't feel there's a risk of abuse involved with sleepovers will probably continue on their current course. Those who are concerned about news reports of sexual abuse, experimentation with criminal activity, or alcohol and drug abuse during slumber parties might wish to consider Late Night as an alternative. It's an effective way to help keep the kids safe from the potential for illicit experimentation with under-age alcohol consumption, sexual abuse, and other dangers, while still allowing them to have fun.

Sources:
Associated Press staff writers, "No Sleepovers! Many Parents Ban Tween Ritual," Today.com.
Child Help staff, "National Child Abuse Statistics," Childhelp.org.

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