Party Ideas for Your Child's First Sleepover

Party ideas for a child's first sleepover do not have to be expensive. It is important to plan ahead for your child's sleepover so guests will not be bored and you will not be broke. Here are a few tips to make sure your child's first sleepover will be a hit.

Most "first sleepovers" with friends happen when a child is between five and nine years old. The first sleepover may occur earlier or later, depending on the parents' and child's wishes. Just remember to choose age appropriate activities for your young house guests. Basically, sleepovers consist of pizza, lots of yummy food, movies, games and at least one pillow fight. Choose your guests wisely so everyone will get along and no real fights will occur. The best sleepover will be one that goes smoothly and has activities set up ahead of time so no one is waiting or bored.

The first thing you will want to plan after the guest list is a menu for your child's first sleepover. While planning a menu, you may want to be thinking of activities and games as well. For example, if you have a daughter, the little princesses might love to have a real tea party. You will need to purchase or make finger sandwiches or cookies to go along with the tea. If you are having pizza, cookies would be best with the tea. Next on your list should be munchies. Popcorn is usually good with movies. You could also get potato chips or cheese curls. Ice cream is also good as a television or movie time snack when everyone has settled down.

If you are going to have games for your child's first sleepover, make sure they are age appropriate and the children will like them. Pick the games with the help of your child. Your child knows best what his or her friends like. You can always have a few games for the guests to choose from. Do not wait to let the guests choose all their activities for the evening. My friend's sleepover was a disaster, with no one knowing what they wanted to do or which games to play. We learned to have just a few games picked ahead of time and to say, "This is what we are playing."

Have crafts handy if you want to keep the kids busy. Give everyone pillowcases to make their own pillow. Have materials and decorations laid out ahead of time. Let the children know that once they are finished with their pillows they can use them for a pillow fight. Only allow a pillow fight if you have a room with no breakables and a safe area for everyone to fight. Outside is a great place for a pillow fight.

You can also have craft-related activities for your child's first slumber party, such as making placemats for the tea party, making crowns or hats or even making a small keepsake craft to take home. Crafts will entertain the children and give you some peace. Have the craft area ready ahead of time. This will save the aggravation of everyone waiting while you look for materials.

Be sure that you set a bed time for your child's sleepover. Even if the children do not go to sleep, make sure they are all in bed. They can talk and giggle amongst themselves, as long as they do it quietly. One of the best things to have when holding your child's first sleepover is a room away from everyone else for the sleepover to occur. Trust me when I say that little girls and boys can be noisy!