How to Plan a Successful Slumber Party

It's a red-eye reality of parental life--kids love slumber parties. If you value peace, quiet, and a bit of sleep at night, invite nice kids, plan some great activities and make the ground rules clear.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Invite six guests tops, and even numbers whenever possible so there's never an odd boy or girl out. Skip sleepovers for kids under age six to increase the odds that you'll be snoozing at midnight instead of placing a phone call for a homesick child.
2. Ask guests to arrive with a sleeping bag and pillow in time for a no-fuss dinner (pizza, pasta). Designate a pickup time, such as 10 a.m., after a hearty breakfast.
3. Prepare activities suitable for a group of excited kids. Rent plenty of movies, pull out group games, or plan a simple craft project the kids can take home.
4. Ask a birthday child if he or she is OK with a sibling joining the party. If not, set up an alternate activity for the left-out sibling, such as a play date or sleepover. Or, plan an evening's activity (games, a family movie), that will keep him or her with you--and out of the way of the other kids.
5. Give your child the good-host talk before guests arrive. If TV's OK, discuss how long and what they can watch, and set an appropriate lights-out time. Remind him or her that solitary pursuits, such as computer games, prevent interaction instead of encouraging it. Suggest board games or outdoor play instead.
6. Tell your guests what your house rules are and let them know that you expect everyone to follow them. This should include explaining what rooms (such as yours) are out of bounds, as well as any limits on phone, stereo and computer use.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay within earshot of the kids at all times.
• Give guests a home tour and a flashlight to prevent frantic 3 a.m. searches for the bathroom.
• Let the kids know when the adults are going to bed and make sure they understand that you expect them to dial down the volume accordingly.
• Never forget that while other children are in your home, their safety is your responsibility. Act accordingly.
• Get emergency contact information from parents, such as a cellular phone or restaurant number, for that evening, during the night and in the morning. Ask about any food or pet allergies.

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