Sleepless Nights and Slumber Parties

Please realize that there really is no such thing as a SLEEPover for kids. Really, it's more like a WAKEover. Also, there are no SLUMBER parties, only GOT-YOUR-NUMBER parties. (That's you, parents, especially if you think those preteens are really sleeping!).

When you, as a parent, agree to host an overnight party for your youngster, you need to be prepared for the inevitable sleepless night. Once you understand that, you will be ready for anything.

Here are seven tips for a successful overnight party:

1) Select a suitable location.

Slumber parties can be quite successful at home, particularly if you have a basement or recreation-room. Why not book an economical local motel room, and plan for the children to swim in the motel pool? Your guests will tucker themselves out and possibly even sleep for a few hours, and your home will be preserved!

If you do decide to host the party at home, pick a spot where the kids can actually act like kids. They will need some semblance of privacy, although you will want to peek in on them from time to time.

2) Draw up a manageable guest list.

Keep it short: no more than 5-6 children. Make sure your young guests are old enough to stay overnight without growing homesick for their parents.

Consider your space. The children will need room to roll out their sleeping bags.

3) Print clear details on your invitations.

Tell parents exactly when the party begins and ends. Clearly state whether you plan to provide supper and breakfast. Announce exactly where the party will be held and what the activity plans are, particularly if you will be transporting any children. Instruct guests about what they will need to bring (pajamas, sleeping bags, pillows, etc.) If it is NOT a birthday party, let guests know that, so they do not feel as if they need to bring gifts.

4) Plan a few fun activities.

Crafts, cookie-decorating, games, and movies will help the time flow smoothly.

5) Set some ground-rules.

In our home, the rules are simple: No additional guests, no late-night phoning, no internet, and a specific deadline for lights-out. Obviously, the kids will stay awake and giggle late into the night, but you can certainly enforce a bedtime. They can huddle in sleeping bags and socialize quietly. (Plan to pop in periodically throughout the night. (I like to surprise the kids with late-night pizza, a midnight snack, or other excuse to show up suddenly.)

6) Offer a low-maintenance breakfast.

Put out cereals, donuts, fruit, and other items before you go to bed at night. If children awaken early, they will be able to help themselves. (By morning, their energy level will be sufficiently sapped that they may not need as much supervision as they did the night before.)

7) Keep your family's schedule easy for the next day.

The entire household may be a bit sleep-deprived. You will all recover within a day or so, and you might consider this a gift to your child, particularly if he or she is the birthday boy or girl.

BONUS IDEA:

When my daughter was seven, she wanted to have a slumber party. Most of her friends were not yet allowed to participate in sleepovers. Guess what we did!

We had an UN-Sleepover party. Guests arrived in the pajamas, with sleeping bags and stuffed animals. We had movies, popcorn, and pizzas. Parents picked up their children at 10 pm, all ready for bed! It was a huge success!