My First Sleepover Ideas

Let children know it's okay to be nervous.sleeping girl image by Marzanna Syncerz from Fotolia.com

While one child may be ready for sleepovers in preschool, another may be 10 years old before she's ready to spend the night at a friend's house. Parenting magazine suggests that a child is ready when she can handle being separated from her parents and goes to sleep easily. If you're the one hosting the first sleepover for your child's friends, plan plenty of activities so children won't have time to be homesick.

Teddy Bears

If you're hosting the sleepover, encourage all the children to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal. Include the animals in all of the evening's activities, like having a tea party for the bears or making miniature versions of each child's dinner for her bear. Having a stuffed animal with her at all times will help each child feel more comfortable, and if everyone has one then no child has to feel embarrassed about clinging to her bear.

Whether you're sending your child to his first sleepover or you're the host, pick up some books to read to children so they know what to expect. Books such as "Arthur's First Sleepover" or "Biscuit's First Sleepover" should be available from your local library. If you're hosting, make some cookies and hot chocolate for the children and have treats and story time soon after they arrive at your house. These books can put children at ease and make them excited instead of scared about their first night away from home.

Set up a scavenger hunt that will help all guests learn what the sleepover rules are. Write out basic rules like "Use walking feet in the house" and "Lights out at 10:00 p.m." on index cards. Hide cards throughout the house. On the back of each card, write a clue that will lead children to find the next card. Make the last clue lead to something fun, like a movie for the children to watch or a make-your-own-sundae bar. This activity will also give each child a tour of your house so she won't get lost later on.

When your child goes on his first sleepover, send along not only a sleeping bag but his favorite pillow and the living room blanket that he likes to snuggle under before bedtime. If you're the host, ask every child to bring at least one item from his bedroom so each child can make his sleeping area feel as close to home as possible. Have the children do a "show and tell" with their items before bedtime.

If you're sending your child on her first sleepover, make a small care package that she can take with her. Stick a family photo, a note and some small toys into her backpack. Include enough toys for all the children so she can give one to each of her friends. You might also include her favorite homemade snack to share if you check with the host parent first, or a cell phone that has your home number programmed on speed dial. If she wakes up scared in the middle of the night, she can call you for comfort without having to wake up the hosts to use the phone.