News Letter articles - issue 9

 

 

Sensational Sleepovers

Sleepovers are not only great fun but can also deepen friendships. Here are some tips on making your child’s sleepover a success!

PLANNING

Once you have decided your list of invites, check with the parents to see if the child has ever spent the night away from their parents. Also check to see if any child has any special health needs, food allergies or diet preferences.

Discuss with your kids in advance as to which of their most precious possessions need to be put away. Check that your child is happy about siblings being at his/her special sleepover. If not, try to arrange for the sibling to do another fun event, such as sleepover at another friend’s house.

INVITATIONS

Invitations should include a list of what the child is to bring-sleeping bag, pillow, pyjamas, dressing gown, slippers, a stuffed animal and a flashlight.

SUPPLIES

Gather essential supplies, like extra sleeping bags, air mattresses, pillows, blankets, towels, washcloths, toothbrushes, spare batteries and a basket of stuffed animals for kids to cuddle with at night. Be sure to have a couple of disposable cameras available for the girls to document their fun.

ON ARRIVAL

Let each guest know where the bathroom is.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

It's a good idea to keep the children busy with activities, so that there is no time to be bored. Stay outside and get fresh air for as long as you can. How about organizing a Scavenger Hunt? Or a game of rounders? Or a torchlight walk in the dark?

FOOD AND DRINK

Have a variety of snacks to offer guests. Avoid serving sugar-laden food that send kids into a frenzy! Make-your-own-pizza double as a fun activity as well as food. Offer an array of tempting fruits and vegetables with dip, small sandwiches, bagels spread with low fat cream cheese, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, popcorn and small plastic bottles of water.

INDOOR ACTIVITIES

A craft is a good way to start the party. One easy option that doubles as a party favour is to decorate a pillowcase! Cheap white pillowcases can be decorated with fabric paint (slip a piece of cardboard inside when decorating to keep the ink from seeping through to the other side). If done early enough in the evening, these can be used to sleep on at night.

Here’s a great idea, if you have a digital camera! Photograph each child. Print it out and let them glue the picture to a piece of cardboard. Cut out the picture and you have a paper doll! If you have a video recorder, how about making a video starring the guests?

Organise a relay race as follows: one toothpick needed per child and one marshmallow per team. Toothpicks are held in the mouth. The marshmallow is placed on the end of the first person’s toothpick and they try to pass it to the next person in line.

Or a team race! Have the children place their stuffed animal at the starting line then place pieces of coloured paper to mark off 15 to 20 spaces on the floor. Shuffle a deck of cards. Deal a card to each person, and have them move their animal the number of spaces shown on the card. An ace counts as 1; king, queen, or jack have to start at the start line or go back to the start line until the next turn. The owner of the first animal to reach the finish is the winner.

WINDING DOWN TIME

Ask the children to set up their sleeping bags (if they haven’t asked YOU first!)

Create a comfortable place to lounge and talk by piling pillows into a big squishy mound. If you have the space, provide a quiet room for those ready to go to sleep and a chat room for the night owls.
Present the children with a note book in which they can write their names and comments, or answer questions such “What's your favourite colour?” or “When is your birthday?”

Have the children try all sorts of toothpaste and vote on which one they like best

A CD playing soft music or Sharri's stories is a good way to promote calm!

Put a nightlight in the bathroom and keep hallways lit.

As the evening get late, the children can climb into their sleeping bag to watch an age-appropriate film. Then it's lights out for whispering secrets into the night.

Be prepared for a child who wants to go home. Be certain you have a way to reach all the parents in case this happens. Try to address the child's fears before you do call. A child who's afraid of the dark may be comforted by a dim night light.

Next Morning

Plan a special breakfast the next morning; for example fruit salad, bagels or croissants.

AND MOST OF ALL

….relax and resign yourself that you're not going to have your best night's sleep!

 

Sharri