3 Reasons To Think About: What About a Children’s Sleepover Party
As children looking to what they like in their life, a sleepover party is a part of it. My oldest got two of those sleepover parties, my middle daughter want one too.
A few days ago my middle daughter got a playdate with her friend. We had a little conversation about whether you’re supposed to have a children’s sleepover party or not. She came up with the number of children you should invite and why ten or above isn’t working. She made a good point about that when you have this number of children the environment won’t be nice and that you can’t pay any attention to all of the children who attend this party. When her sister got one of those parties, a few children went home because they didn’t like to stay with this number of children. And the sphere was so much better when these people turned home, she said.
As said, my oldest daughter got two of those parties. She invited ten children, both times. Both times were not really great parties indeed. There were a few friends not listening at all to what we were saying as adults. Like talking when they should sleep.
Yes, that is a part of it, but when they are ruining it for other children, then they get consequences.
One time there was a girl — the same age as my daughter — not listening at all, she didn’t like the party — I heard later. As we asked to be silent — as there were children wanted to sleep — she didn’t listen and she played games on her phone in bed. Everybody didn’t like that behavior but they didn’t dare to say something about it. I was strict with my rules, no talking and no phone in bed. Two descent rules, I thought. It is sleeping time and no playing-games-on-phone-time. So, I said to her that she had to give her phone to me and I will keep it until the next morning. She didn’t agree with this decision. I said that she had to go to sleep. 45 minutes later, I still heard people talking and doing other things. But I was glad I was in my bed to go sleeping. After a few minutes, that girl came into my room without knocking on my door.
This is the conversation I had with her:
Her: I insist you give my phone back. I can’t live without that phone.
Me: I will get you your phone back in the morning as soon as I am awake.
Her: I don’t like that party. You have to call my mother now. And I want my phone back.
Me: I won’t call your mother right now to pick you up. It is in the middle of the night at 1 o’clock. I understand that you don’t like the party, but it is bedtime now.
Her: I want you to call my mother, now. I really don’t like it here. You are too strict. Too many rules.
Me: I understand you don’t like it here, but it is in the middle of the night. Your mother wants to sleep as well.
It went on for 15 minutes.
She was very disappointed. And she went to bed again after all.
This made me think if I want to go through this again with my second daughter. In the first place, she has different kinds of friends. More quietly and easier to chat with. And I know now that I have to let my daughter invite not more than five friends.
Three reasons to think about having a sleepover party or children sleepovers
- The number of children to invite
- The things you have to prepare
- Your own well-being before, during and after the party
The number of children to invite
The number — as that friend of my daughter puts it well — matters a lot. When your child invited more than five friends, it will be very busy. There will be too much noise. Some children don’t like that many children. They’re quiet children who don’t like too much noise. As a parent of your child, you have to think about that too. It is not only for your own benefit but also for your child and her friends.
The things you have to prepare
There are a lot of things you have to prepare for the party. About how many children to invite, what activities to do, how many children to invite, what food and drinks to use, where will the party be held? There are tons of things to think about before doing a sleepover party.
Your own well-being before, during and after the party
Before digging into this concept, you have to think about your own well-being before, during and after the party!
Before the party, you have — as said — prepare a lot of things. You have to think about many things before sending the invitees. You have to buy things for the party, you have to prepare yourself mentally for it as well. What state will you be? When you are anxious about it, or when you are not having the fun — as well as your child — before the party, then that will your state of well-being during the party.
During the party, you have to be aware that there will be children not listening to you as a parent, they will go ahead what they want to do. That makes you very tired during the party. This cost you lots of energy and also time. Not only to fix things but also to be there for the other children and especially your child.
What to do when you give it a shot
- Prepare very well
- The number of invitees
- What to do after the party
Prepare very well
When you decided to dig in this concept you have to prepare very well. This is what I learned from organizing two of those parties.
What do the invitees need to bring with them? What do you want to do at the party? What supplies do you need? How long are they staying? What do you need from parents and are they helping during the party? These are things you have to think about. Think about them or not? I am a simple woman and I want to keep things simple. So I always did a game and movies. That’s what my oldest daughter wanted to do as well.
Make a plan for the day, and also when you have to a task before and during the party. Write it down and discuss it with your child.
The number of invitees
This is a very good point of my second daughter’s friend she brought up a few days back.
You should think about how many children you want your child to invite and who fits better when certain children are together in one room playing together.
I think this is a good point to think about because is not only good for your child’s well-being, but also for yours. You will get tired after all. And when there are too many children, you will get overwhelmed. A lot, I can say from my own experience.
What to do after the party
Cleaning of course. Also, send these lovely pictures from the party to their parents in one group WhatsApp (or another messenger with photo possibilities). Say thank you to them that their child was there, for their presents and for them being there. That your child loved the party very much and they may play with each other any time again.
Don’t forget to have your own zen moment after the party. Don’t do anything than having your me-time after the party. Take a glass of wine or your favorite tea with a magazine to read and let the rest go.
Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper, Medium.com. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.
Writing is her passion since childhood. Never had she ever done anything with it until a few months back.
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