Your child may have outgrown the traditional party entertainer, but you’re still searching for a fun activity you can host at home. A ‘sleepover’ or ‘slumber’ party is an excellent option for entertaining slightly older children, typically ranging from 8 to 13 years old.
Host the perfect Sleepover party
1. Sleeping arrangements
The first consideration is, of course, where your guests will sleep. For those with a limited number of beds, this often comes down to improvisation with a mix of sleeping ‘top and tail’ with mattresses on the floor.
If this sounds like too much of a feat of engineering, several companies hire out attractive Teepees, and will come and set them up for you at your home, making it super easy!
2. Sleepover Entertainment
If possible, encourage guests to put their phones away and enjoy their time together. This will ensure that the party is actually interactive, and that the guests stay in the moment.
Here are some entertainment ideas that work great for sleepover parties:
Photo props
You can assemble several props and accessories for the guests to dress up in, including feather boas, tiaras, hats, and hair accessories. You can take photos and send these out afterwards, or if you’re feeling really organised, you could have these printed out ready for the guests to take home after the party (just be sure you have consent from the parents to share photos of your child if you have any group photos).
Spin the nail polish
A great idea courtesy of Eimear of Little Laughs… Everyone sits in a circle and each person takes it in turn to spin the nail polish. The person spinning then gets to paint a nail of the person it lands on, in the colour of their choice. The game continues until everyone has a selection of colourfully painted nails!
Storytelling or Ghost Stories
Gather everyone together for some spooky or silly storytelling time. Whether it’s reading from a book, sharing personal anecdotes, or making up stories on the spot, it can add an extra layer of fun and bonding to the evening. You could even do this with the lights out and only a torch for the storyteller – just be mindful of not scaring younger guests too much!
Pampering
Why not set up a mini spa in your home? Manicures, face masks, hair styling, lip gloss, glitter tattoos… All can make great pampering ideas depending on what you feel is appropriate for the age group.
If you want to make the whole party stress-free, how about hiring a professional pamper party provider to come and run it for you? You can find lots of options for Pamper Parties here.
Movie night
Slumber Parties can be long, and keeping kids or teens entertained can be hard work, so movies are a great way to break things up. They’re also great for helping younger kids wind down after all the excitement of the earlier activities and games (and the sugar they’ve probably consumed!) You could even make this into a movie marathon sleepover, and watch a series of films!
Top Tip: have a few suitable options ready and have the guests vote on which film so there are no arguments. If you let them have free reign, it’s highly likely they’ll spend half of the night trying to decide on a film they all want to watch!
**And don’t forget to take this opportunity to sit down yourself!
Crafting
Why not set up a crafting area where guests can get creative? Provide supplies for activities like friendship bracelet making, decorating pillowcases or sleep masks, or even creating personalised name tags for their sleeping areas. And the great thing about this activity is that these things can all be part of the ‘party bag ‘ that they take home at the end!
3. Food for a slumber party
Pizza is the obvious choice and many opt for a delivery, but a more interactive option is DIY pizzas. Bases can be made or bought and then each guest can choose from a variety of different toppings to make their own ideal pizza, which also makes it easier for those who don’t like a lot of different foods.
And what about a sweet treat? One fun idea that kids love is a chocolate fountain. Serve bowls of cut-up fruit and marshmallows and allow the indulgence to begin! You can buy very affordable chocolate fountains online here.
Don’t forget breakfast the next morning! Individual-sized boxes of cereal can give a nice choice for morning munchies (or even midnight feasts depending on how strict the lights-out policy is!)
You could also consider putting together a breakfast buffet of pastries and fruit that can be picked at throughout the morning, meaning you only have to worry about the initial set-up (and helping to eat it of course!)
4. Party Bag & Party Favours
One cute idea is to purchase matching pyjamas for your guests to wear during the course of the party. Although this is a considerable additional expense, it also works as a lovely gift instead of a party bag. Perhaps a more cost-effective option would be matching furry slippers or matching tiaras.
Otherwise, fill a gift bag with things like lip gloss, hair accessories, eye masks, and glow in the dark bands. These can also be used during the party and double up as take-home gifts. Or you could take it one step further, and have the guests make something to take home with them after the party.
(For other party bag ideas, check out our Party Bag Ideas blog here.)
4. Sleepover Decorations
The key to making a sleepover truly magical is with the decorations: the cosier the better! Colourful blankets, fairy lights and lanterns can all help create that magical atmosphere. Bunting that spells ‘sleep well’ or ‘good night’ is a really affordable way to make the party feel special.
Customising the space for each guest is another great way to add a special touch. You might consider hanging names above the beds they’ll be sleeping in, or choosing a cuddly toy for younger guests to have. These small things will make each guest feel really special, which makes for a great sleepover party!
Host an unforgettable sleepover party with these tips and ideas. From setting up cosy sleeping arrangements to organising entertaining activities like DIY pizza-making and spa sessions, hopefully, this blog has inspired you to get creative and create some magical memories too!
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