Activities and Must-Have Items for Hosting Your Kids' Sleepover Parties
A kids’ first sleepover is a childhood right of passage. And when it’s your kid’s turn to host the sleepover, it’s an even bigger deal. Whether you’re planning a sleepover for your child’s birthday party or just a special occasion for your son or daughter to hang out with best friends, one thing is certain: both you and your child want to create an epic night that no one will forget. So how can you prepare for a memorable sleepover party? Make sure you have all these must-have items and kids' sleepover ideas to make for a fun night!
Cute, Super Comfy Jammies
It’s no ordinary party. It’s a sleepover, which means pajamas are a pretty important part of the festivities. Why not use the sleepover as an excuse to treat your child to brand-new pajamas? Make a day of it and take your kids shopping so they can pick out the pajamas they want to wear. Have them shop for pajamas that best suit their personal style and that they’ll love to show off to their friends. There are plenty of fun designs and colors to choose from, like rainbow pajamas. There are also super cool glow-in-the-dark pajamas with designs like rocket ships, race cars, dinosaurs, and even pizza slices! Finally, sleepovers around the holiday season call for festive matching pajamas, like super cozy plaid flannel pajamas or even a plush red robe.
Soft, Fuzzy Slippers or Socks
Go the extra mile and stock up on some fuzzy boys' slippers in addition to new pajamas. If your child’s sleepover party is a birthday celebration, consider swapping out traditional goodie bags for slippers for each of the guests. If purchasing a pair of slippers for all the sleepover attendees is a little too costly—especially if you anticipate having lots of kids—opt for fuzzy, colorful socks instead. Kids will love a pair of warm, fun socks with bright colors or cute designs.
Party Favors
What’s a party without favors? Of course, any good sleepover calls for a pizza dinner, lots of yummy snacks, and sweet treats. In addition to stocking up on plenty of food, have a few party favors for each child. For example, if you are hosting a sleepover for boys in the winter, stick with winter-themed items like cool boys’ hats. If you are hosting a girl’s sleepover, pick up a few cute headbands or other hair accessories. If the sleepover party includes pool activities, get party favors like goggles or other types of swimwear, and pool toys that the kids can take home.
Blankets and Pillows
Although many kids will likely bring their own sleeping bags, set aside a few extra blankets, flannel sheets, and pillows for anyone who might need them. Even if every kid does come with a sleeping bag in tow, having extra blankets around is perfect in case they get the urge to build a giant blanket fort. Looking for sleepover activities for kids? Host a fort building contest complete with prizes for the biggest fort, most creative fort, quickest-made fort, and more!
Decorations
What’s better than a sleepover? A themed sleepover! Talk to your child about what theme might be fun: a luau, a western theme, a summer camp theme, a mermaid party, or anything else, and plan the decor accordingly. If it’s the summer season, you could pitch a few tents in the backyard, roast some marshmallows, and come up with fun camp-themed games for the kids to play until bedtime. Even if they don’t have a theme in mind, it will still be fun to decorate the house or the designated sleeping area, like the living room, with balloons and streamers.
Novel Treats
A sleepover lasts far longer than the average party, so you will want to create a jam-packed schedule with lots of fun activities to keep the kids entertained. One great way to do that is by having novel DIY treats for the kids to dig into. Designate a time for all the kids to do fun things like make personal pizzas, decorate cupcakes, or make their own ice cream sundaes with lots of yummy toppings.
A Delicious Breakfast
After planning all the evening activities, come up with the ultimate sleepover breakfast for the kids to wake up to. You really can never go wrong with homemade pancakes or waffles, especially if you plan to add toppings like blueberries or chocolate chips. Or ask your son or daughter to choose a favorite breakfast that their friends will also like, and come up with an award-winning menu.
With these items, you'll create a sleepover party your children won't soon forget! Get them in on the planning process and ask them what theme they'd love, what snacks to offer, and what party favors to give the guests. Just a little effort will ensure your son’s or daughter's sleepover is a fond memory for years to come.