Ideas for a Sleepover
- Sleeping over at a friend's house is exciting in and of itself, whether your kids sleep in the living room or in sleeping bags in the bedroom. Make the sleepover even more of a treat by planning a backyard campout. Set up a tent in the yard and have the kids set up sleeping bags as soon as they arrive; add an unexpected touch by stringing Christmas lights up inside the tent and out to an extension cord. Build a small campfire -- you can make one in a large, shallow pan if you don't want to affect your lawn -- and have the guests cook s'mores and hot dogs over the fire.
- For an indoor sleepover for girls, make the evening a treat by planning spa treatments. Depending on the ages of the girls, you might plan manicures and pedicures, facial masks and foot baths. Give each guest a bathrobe and a pair of slippers, and prepare party favor spa packs that include nail files, small bottles of nail polish, toe separators and individual face mask packs. Light candles to set the scene and hold the spa treatments in the bathroom to minimize the mess.
- During a sleepover, have your child and her friends make crafts to provide an activity and give them something to take home the next day. Buy plain T-shirts and fabric paint for custom shirt-making, or have kids decorate tote bags, flip flops, slippers, or even pillowcases. You can also buy blank picture frames, jewelry boxes or bulletin boards. The prospect of a creative outlet and a small gift to take home can be an exciting part of a sleepover for both the host and her guests.
- Before bedtime, tire your child and his guests out with games. During warm months, hide a selection of glow-in-the-dark stars or bugs in the back yard and have guests run around outside for a spooky treasure hunt. Indoors, have all but one boy hide in sleeping bags and have the "it" boy determine who is who by poking or trying to get a laugh. You can also hold a miniature talent show, or play board games and hide and seek.
