- A teen who wants to go to a sleepover very often may have something to hide. They could be just claiming to sleep at a friend's house and sleeping at the house of a boyfriend or girlfriend instead. They may be going out to parties that parents do not approve of. They may be hiding drinking and drug activities. Having an unsupervised teen sleepover in your home can make you responsible for bad behavior, alcohol consumption, or drugs.
- The benefits of allowing teens to attend or throw sleepover parties are to show that you trust them to be alone with their friends for an extended period. It allows the teens a chance to feel independent and on their own even if just for a night. If the teen is sleeping at someone else's house, a teen sleepover also gives parents a taste of freedom where they can do their own thing if there aren't any other children at home.
- Teen sleepovers tend to begin in the late evening and end between 10 a.m. and noon. Expect the teens to stay up all night, sleep late and to be ravenous when they wake up. Occasionally, teens may want to spend two nights in a row, especially over a holiday vacation or in the summer when school is out.
- Teen sleepovers are a way for friends to bond and get close and also to for new friendships to be made. Teen sleepovers are a rite of passage, especially for girls, as it is a time of independence from parents and of bonding with friends, and sharing secrets.
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There are several possible type of sleepovers that your teen may approach you about. It is, of course, up to each individual parent to determine if these are appropriate and should be allowed.
Teens will want to have spontaneous sleepovers, requesting to stay overnight after spending an afternoon or evening together. These are very popular among parents.
Teens will request sleepovers with several kids of the same sex. These are also popular among parents.
A teen as young as 14 may request a coed sleepover.
Teens may request a coed sleepover in a hotel as a birthday or other celebration.
Older teens may want to have a sleepover with a girl/boyfriend. - Before sending your teen out on a sleepover, you should get to know the parents hosting the event. It is important that they have similar values to you so that your teens do not get exposed to anything that you do not approve of. If you are hosting a teen sleepover, it is important to give the teens some space, but to remain in earshot at all times so that you will know if the teens are misbehaving or bullying one of the other teens. If you are holding a teen sleepover at your house and you have kids of the opposite sex, it is best to arrange for your child who is not having the sleepover to spend the night elsewhere to avoid issues.
