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Sleepover at your House

Sometime around the age of seven or eight your child will express an interest in having a friend over to spend the night. Whether they just want to have one friend or a few friends, there will be many situations that you need to plan for. Unfortunately, having another child as a guest in your home is never simple, and having them for an entire night presents a few unique situations all its own.

With some preplanning and a little imagination, you can ensure that your child and his or her friends have a great time while keeping everyone safe and happy. The following is a list of tips to contemplate when planning your child's first sleep-over.

• Limit the number of children. This is especially important for the first sleep-over. Every new situation brings up events that you have never imagined. By keeping the gathering small, you will be better able to handle any unexpected events and learn from them for the next time.

• Invite children in even numbers. Although most parents never think about this, it is best if you have an equal number of children. That way if children pair off to play a game, there is not an odd child that is left out. For first sleep-over it is best to invite just one other child. For larger celebrations such as birthdays, you can invite up to five other children, bringing the total number of kids to six. Anymore than six and it will be too hard to entertain them all while keeping them safe.

• Contact each child's parent personally. You need personal contact with each parent in order to ask about special needs their child might have. Does their child take any medication? Do they have any special diet requirements or allergies? This is also a good time to get an emergency contact list for the child. You should also discuss any concerns the other parent might have.

• Plan a few activities. While your child and their friends will probably entertain themselves for most of the evening, you do want to be prepared in case they get bored or in case they engage in an activity that is off limits. If that is the case, then you can use the planned activity to redirect them into safe play.

• Keep a set bedtime. Of course your child is going to want to stay up later since they have a friend over and they are going to be much more excited and wound up come bedtime. Having a set bedtime will make lights out easier. Also, have a quiet activity planned for right before bedtime. This will help your child and their friend relax enough to become drowsy.

• Be prepared for the child that wants to go home. This is a very common occurrence in children of a young age. Discuss this possible with the child's parents before and be ready to act on their wishes.

• Maintain constant supervision. While you do not have to stand over your child the entire time that they play, you do need to at least be aware of their activities at all times. Children are more apt to engage in risky behavior when a friend is around. Monitor their activities and restrict any harmful activities.

Even with a lot of preplanning, some situations are bound to arise that you are not prepared for. The most important key to a successful sleep-over is the ability to stay calm. Remember the reason for the evening and try to relax. More than likely, everything will go well and your child will have a great time.



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