How to Have a Fun Preteen Girl's Sleep over Party

Plan a slumber party for your daughter and friends.

When you decide to host a preteen girl's slumber party, have a game plan in mind. If your child is like most, one of her favorite catch phrases is "I'm bored." Have a structured yet fun evening for your daughter and her friends.

Things You'll Need

• Popcorn or soft pretzels
• Movie
• Goody bags
• Pillowcases
• Karaoke machine
• Chocolate chip pancakes ingredients for breakfast

Instructions

1. Set a budget. Figure cost of snacks, decorations, movie rental and goody bags. You can save on decorations by constructing some yourself. Print your own Happy Birthday banner off of the computer -- print one letter per page and string them together. Some dollar stores have helium balloons that they will blow up for you. Snacks can be as much as you want to spend: pizza rolls, bagel bites, popcorn --caramel or cheese -- soft pretzels, delivery pizza, homemade smoothies. For the goody bags, the dollar store is the place to go. Get toy boas or hats for the girls to dress up in while they do karaoke. Buy a plain solid-color pillowcase for each girl to decorate at the party. Include small bottles of nail polish, gum and candy.

2. Designate an area for crafts, possibly near the television so they can work while they watch the movie. Decorate the pillowcases using stencils and colored pens. Use pieces of felt and fabric glue to further personalize.

3. Have a dinner in mind. Even if the party starts after dinnertime, the girls will be hungry. After dinner, have cake and ice cream. Sing "Happy Birthday," then open presents, designating one girl to write down which gift came from which guest. Or, have someone take pictures as each gift is opened. That will make it easier to write the thank-you notes.

4. Do the craft -- put paper bags under the project for easy cleanup -- and let the girls watch the movie. You can clean up the kitchen and wrapping paper while they're doing this.

5. After the movie, the girls will still have energy to burn off -- all that cake and ice cream. Turn on the karaoke machine and let 'em rip. If you have a camera, record a keepsake.
   Take pictures, too. Later, you can make a scrapbook for the birthday girl. Include goody bag candy wrappers and other mementos, and have each girl write a message to include.

6. Serve a snack such as soft pretzels -- no candy this time. Give them water to drink. You do want them to fall asleep eventually.

7. After the snacks, girls will be getting a little tired, but of course won't admit it. Start getting their sleeping area ready. If you have a TV in the room where they will be sleeping, set the parental controls on it. There is usually one in the bunch who wants to be daring. Turn the lights off, tell them when you want them sleeping, and turn on the TV to a trusted channel. Leave the room, but check on them later to see if they are falling asleep.
   Turn the TV off, but leave a light on somewhere so if they need to get up to use the restroom, they won't stumble.

8. Prepare breakfast about an hour before you think they will wake up. It's nice to make something they don't have on a daily basis. Try whole wheat pancakes with chocolate chips. They probably don't have chocolate too often for breakfast. End the party about 11 a.m. The girls get up about 9 a.m., eat breakfast and sing karaoke until their parents pick them up.

Tips & Warnings

• Have each child's home phone number.

• Ask their parents about any allergies ahead of time.

• Make sure each parent knows when to pick up her child.

References

• Tweenparent.com: Sleepover Party Ideas for Tweens
• Fun-Frugal-Mom.com: Super Fun Indoor Party Games