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A child's first sleepover party should be a memorable one. Whether you choose a theme for it or just have a romping good time with the guests, here are some tips for making it the one all the kids will talk about.
First, you'll want to come up with a gameplan for the evening. Have your child think of a list of sleepover mates to invite. A good rule is that your child can only invite the number of kids that corresponds with their age. For example, if your child is 6, they may invite 6 guests. If the idea of 6 children is too much for you, decide on an amount of kids to have over.
Now you're ready to start the fun part. You and your child should decide on games, party favors, and a theme for the party, together. Let your child do most of the decision making, but help guide them by suggestion and logic.
If you'd like to have a theme sleepover, but can't think of anything original, try these ideas:
Campout Sleepover: Buy adhesive glow-in-the-dark stars, moons, and planets, and attach them to the ceilings and walls of the designated room. Try to arrange in the shape of different constellations. Pitch a tent (or two) for guests to sleep in. You can buy greenery at your local craft store, or artificial plants, and place around the room to give an outdoor effect. Purchase hot dogs and marshmallows and pick up a few twigs outdoors. With a small indoor grill, you can grill out just like at a real campout. (Parental guidance should always be present when using grill.)
Next, you'll want to make the perfect campout invitation, buy a rubber stamp in a shape that corresponds with camping(i.e. the moon, campfire, or a tent) and stamp on the front of plain cardstock. Fill in the time, place, date, and what items each child should bring.
When the other children arrive, you can have a treasure hunt, in the designated room, by hiding a prize and giving clues to where it is. To make it really fun, make up riddles and see if each child can figure out where the prize is hidden. Grill out hot dogs and marshmallows for supper, and sing campfire songs. Just before bedtime tell ghost stories, and then lights out! Have children look up at the stars and try to find various constellations.
Rock Star Sleepover: The rock star sleepover is sure to be a hit with any youngster. Have your child choose a favorite rock star and center the party around that person. Set up a section of a designated room to resemble a stage. Purchase a play microphone and/or other band materials. Go to the Salvation Army or a thrift store and pick out clothing that resembles what the rocker wears. Visit the beauty section at a discount store and buy washable make-up, hair color and accessories. When all the children have arrived, everyone gets to dress up as a rock star. Hold a concert on the stage with your band materials. Some kids can be in the audience cheering away, while others are on stage lip-syncing to their rock star's favorite tunes.
Other activities and foods that no sleepover is complete without include: popcorn, pizza, chips and dip, nail polishing, hairstyling, movies, and lots of music. Just because this is your child's sleepover, doesn't mean you can't join in. This is your chance to show them how cool you really are. Play games, let them do your hair, or if kids are older, tell them stories about crushes you had when you were their age. This doesn't have to be a time when a bunch of kids invade your home, instead make it a bonding time for you and your child.
How To Get Kids To Help Clean Up:
Well, if you've blended in like it was suggested above you probably won't even have to ask for their help. They'll pitch in on their own. But just to be on the safe side, you should always have rules before the party begins, and one of them should be that everyone helps clean up. You can designate a duty to each child. For example, one person can be in charge of picking up empty dishes, another in charge of running a mini-vacuum, etc. One way to ease the clean-up is to purchase disposable items such as: paper plates, silverware, napkins, and cups. Buy two liters of pop, or juice boxes. You can store a garbage bag in the corner of the room for everything to be thrown away at the end of the evening.
As a parent it is your responsibility to talk with parents about the plans going on at the sleepover. You need to be clear on what will be taking place, and let them know about plans you have. Find out about any known allergies, especially skin allergies, if the children will be putting on any make-up or hair color. Get parents' permission and keep the plans set.
Every party should include a favor, or gift, for the kids from your child. Visit the party favor aisle and have your child pick out items he/she would like to distribute to the other kids. Be sure to include thank you notes for coming to the sleepover with each favor. Not only will this first sleepover be a success with the kids, but the parents will remember how responsible you were, too.
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