How to Host a Slumber Party

Slumber parties are a great time for friends to gather and have loads of fun. However, planning a slumber party can be a lot of work for parents. Help yourself out by planning several activities that keep little girls occupied while you put together dinner. Choose easy to make foods and games that require more imagination than anything else for a fun and easy slumber party.

Things You'll Need

• Toilet paper
• White shirts, socks, pillowcases
• Puffy paint
• Make-up
• Twinkies
• Frosting
• Candies

Instructions

Before the Party

1. Rent two or three movies and pop several bowls of popcorn the day before the party. Store popcorn in sealed plastic bags or containers.

2. Clear out the living room or family room for sleeping bags and pillows.

3. Organize a scavenger hunt around the outside of your house to keep all the guests busy while you prepare dinner.

4. Send younger siblings to grandma's house (or some other relative or family friend) for the night. They won't feel left out, and the girls won't be bothered by nagging little brothers or sisters.

Slumber Party Entertainment

1. Play "Mummy" by grouping girls into pairs. One girl wraps the other in toilet paper to make a mummy. The fastest pair wins a prize.

2. Decorate a plain white shirt, socks or pillowcase with colorful puffy paint. Hold a fashion show once the shirts dry.

3. Play hair and make-up. Ask each girl to bring some cast-off make-up from their mom (check with moms first) and let the girls go crazy making one another up. Have girls tie each others hair in old-fashioned rag curls, and wake up with Shirley Temple curls in the morning.

4. Skip baking cookies. Instead, decorate Twinkies with frosting and candies, to look like the girls in their sleeping bags. These make a delicious evening snack.

Slumber Party Food

1. Let the girls make their own pizzas. Set up a pizza-making station in the center of the dining room table, and give each girl a pre-made crust. Send them outside while you bake the pizzas.

2. Limit soda and sugar. Allow soda during dinner, then switch to fruit juice to avoid late night caffeine highs.

3. Offer healthy snacks, such as fresh fruit skewers and yogurt dip or crudités and ranch dip. Toss in some chips and candy to make a well rounded snack table.

4. Serve flavored popcorn, such as sweet kettle corn and Parmesan cheese flavors during the movies.

5. Have easy breakfast foods ready for the morning. Bagels with cream cheese, donuts and pastries are all good choices. Serve ice cold milk and orange juice for a calcium-rich breakfast.