How to Host a Little Girl's Sleepover
Hosting a sleepover for your daughter can be as big or little a project as you want. If it's a birthday sleepover, you may want to go all out with decorations, elaborate games and so on. But for a basic sleepover party, just a few simple guidelines can make the night go smoothly, letting the girls have a great time while letting you maintain a sufficient level of peace and calm.
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Instructions
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Choose a theme with your daughter that is something she and her friends can get excited about --- but also something that leaves you plenty of room to work. For instance, a princess theme is a ready source of activities, movies, music, games and so forth --- or think outside the box with themes like Broadway or Campout Camp-In.
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Talk to your child about who she would like to invite. Remember, you will be responsible for your daughter's guests overnight --- knowing each child and her parents will make for a much less stressful evening.
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Send out invitations via mail, or let your daughter pass them out at school. Mailing is often a better option, as it avoids the social awkwardness that may be felt by children who are not invited. Have fun with the invitations, making them appropriate to the theme. Be sure to include your phone number, so that children's parents can contact you.
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Speak to the parents of each child who will be attending, confirming contact numbers for the night, drop-off and pickup times and any specific needs their child might have, such as food allergies.
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Set an agenda for the evening, including activities, movie times and the like. Allow flexibility in the schedule, but also have enough plans at the ready to keep the kids from getting bored. Do leave room for the girls to have their own time to chat and play without you present. Include your child in planning the evening, including the decorations, if you are using any. Make the party fun by including the agenda on a large piece of posterboard that will be visible to the girls. A good template for an evening might be food, then craft, then dessert, then game, then pajamas, then movie and popcorn. Plan for the last activity to be a movie to encourage quiet time leading up to sleep.
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Prepare yourself, your home and any other family members for the evening. Have the spot for sleeping laid out and decide what parts of the house are for partying and what parts are off-limits. If your daughter has a sibling who will not be involved in the sleepover, find another activity to keep him occupied and make him feel like he has his own thing going on.
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Give each girl a tour of the house upon her arrival. Point out the kitchen, bathrooms and so on. Make each girl feel comfortable, but also set up some limitations so that things don't get too crazy.
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Offer food and drinks, and have plenty of snacks to last the whole evening. (Remember to keep any dietary restrictions in mind.) Have a breakfast plan for the next morning, usually the sweeter the better --- cinnamon rolls, pancakes and the like.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't feel restricted to traditional "girly" themes if your little on has a stronger interest in something else. You can have as much "girly" fun with a "Star Wars" theme (Leia hairdos and Asohka makeovers) as you can with princesses.
References
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