How to host a first kids’ sleepover

Having your child’s friends over for the first time can be a bit daunting for parents. Here’s how to make it go like a breeze (they might even get some sleep)…

By Misti Traya
 

Your child’s first sleepover can be daunting. Whether it’s the first time they’re staying at someone else’s house or a friend is coming to theirs, there exists a potential for calamity. I’m not saying I wouldn’t pick up my crying child from a slumber party at midnight, just that I’d prefer not to.

Most children have their first sleepover between the ages of 4 and 8, an age group known for being finicky. Their moods change with the wind and they have the attention span of baby hummingbirds. An activity they’ve been begging to do for weeks is suddenly deemed unfun after a few minutes.

With that in mind, here are some ideas to add some loosely structured fun and keep your child’s first sleepover going smoothly.

The basics

First, make sure you’ve got a note of emergency contacts and allergies.

Other than that, the best advice I can give is about timing. Establish drop off and pick up times so everyone is clear. It is my experience that a good sleepover is like the best of stories: they begin late and wrap up early. Always leave guests wanting more. In an ideal world, a child sleeping over arrives for afternoon tea and leaves just after breakfast. This time frame seems to allow for the maximum amount of fun without anyone getting sick of anyone’s company.  

Start with tea

Tea is great chance for a child to settle into your home. They can have a parent or carer there with them while they have a bit of a snack. Then once their blood sugar is up and they’re comfortable, they’ll race off with their friend and not shed a single tear about saying goodbye.

After the children run off is a good time to chat with the other child’s adult about night time rituals like bedtime, night lights, stories, etc. Whether your teatime spread is shop bought or homemade is up to you.  

Here is what my tea table includes: a tablecloth, a bud vase with a few cheery flowers in it, scones (Nigella Lawson’s recipe for Lily’s scones is a winner), clotted cream, jam (I have a friend who mixes fresh berries in with her store bought preserves. It’s a genius idea and adds a bit of freshness.), something savoury – sausage rolls or sandwiches, a plate of fruit, and of course, tea.

Fun and games

Sometimes my daughter and her friend play nicely by themselves until supper. Sometimes, they need inspiration. My go-to activities are:

• Giving them music and letting them create a dance routine. This lets them be creative and expend lots of energy. There is one caveat. If you convince them to put on a show, you must be willing to sit through it. Brace yourself. It will not be as good as Hamilton.  

• Making a fort with sofa cushions, blankets, and chairs. This is especially fun if they’re going to watch a film later because this becomes their special movie viewing den. No mums or dads allowed. Just more popcorn and sweets please!
• Arts and crafts can fill hours. They can make tin foil tiaras (above), paper doll chains, ribbon wands, pompom dolly peg fairies,or decorate sleeping masks. If you all are feeling ambitious, you can even make your own no-sew sleeping masks.
• Playing beauty salon. I usually keep it to just hairstyles and not makeup or nail varnish. You never know which ingredients might give a child a reaction and young ones don’t necessarily have the patience to let their nails dry. My husband, however, always looks adorable with an Alice band given to him by the girls.  
• Making and racing balloon cars. They’re easy to do and squeeze in a bit of science. You’ll be surprised how fast they go. The cat certainly was. Besides, who doesn’t love physics and fun?!
• Building with LEGO or other blocks. This is great for all budding architects and engineers. I often task my child and her friends with building a city before dinner. Later they can wreck it like Godzilla.

If all else fails, you can always put on Trolls. Every parent knows the power of a screen…

Supper

Supper can be another great activity; not just consuming it but having the children help make it. I find they are more likely to eat a meal if they’ve helped. This is why I let them add toppings to pizza or fill their own tacos or roll their own meatballs. Alternatively, have them help with pudding. Sundaes, jam tarts, and brownies are great as they don’t take long to make but are extremely satisfying.

Depending on the weather, an after-dinner stroll is nice for a last bit of exercise and fresh air before settling in for the night. Wrap up warm. Take torches. Ask the children which constellations they see in the sky. What do they hear? Are there animals around? An evening nature walk, even in a city is a wonderful thing.

Bedtime

Most children have some sort of night time ritual. Incorporate your guest’s. It will help them feel more at home. My daughter sleeps with a fan on for white noise. Her bestie requires a night light. If both children are used to reading a story before bed, let them each choose one for you to read. Or even better, let them read stories to each other. Kiss every teddy who needs kissing and if prayers need saying, say them. If your guest wants to call home to hear their adult say “goodnight and I love you,” make sure that happens.

Always have an extra toothbrush in case your guest has forgotten theirs.

It’s also a good idea to give them their own sleeping space. Children often like the idea of sharing the same bed, but in reality that’s not ideal. They need their own space so as not to wake each other in the night. This is why I love Z beds (below). They are comfy Z-shaped seats that are really fold-out beds in disguise, and though they are foam, they are comfier than any futon and come in a variety of colours and patterns. They suit the limited space we have in our flat.

Of course, when we move, our daughter has asked for a Paddington Captain’s Bed which includes a trundle bed perfect for sleepovers. I can almost hear the sounds of future pillow fights now. Go on then, let’s have another slumber party!

At The Children’s Furniture Company our furniture is specially designed for practical family needs – like sleepovers! 

Browse our range of trundle beds and other sleepover solutions here.

See also our blog post: 5 great sleepover solutions for children.

Misti Traya is a writer from London and mum to a 7-year old daughter.