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https://www.parents.com/your-one-stop-guide-to-hosting-the-coolest-slumber-party-for-your-kid-11695354

Let’s be honest: slumber parties have gotten a lot more intense since we were kids, with parents going all-out to host the coolest and most over-the-top sleepovers these days. While not every slumber party has to be extravagant, an occasional super-sized bash is just what’s needed, especially when it’s to mark a special occasion, like a significant birthday or a milestone in your child’s life.

We connected with party planners and fellow parents to help us put together the ultimate guide for parents who want to throw a slumber party bash to remember.

Ready to dive in? Here we go.

Planning Your Slumber Party

The first thing to do is pick a date. Typically, weekends are best. Saturday nights are usually a winner, because you’ll have the whole day to prepare, and Sunday to recover. Trust us—both you and your kids will be totally spent after the party, no matter how much sleep everyone gets.

 As for how many kids to invite, you should consider things like who your child is closest with, and which group of kids are most likely to get along with each other. You’ll also need to think about how much room you have in your home. “A big consideration is certainly space,” says Elissa Onda, owner of Sweet Dream Sleepovers. Consider how much room the kids will need, asking yourself questions like whether you will provide sleeping spaces for them or if you’ll ask guests to bring a sleeping bag.

What’s the best guest count for a slumber party? You’ll want to keep the head-count relatively modest for the best results. “Around five to eight kids gives you the chance to create an intimate vibe where everyone feels included and connected,” says Virginia Frischkorn, founder & CEO at partytrick

Picking a Sleepover Theme

While you don’t necessarily have to have a theme for your slumber party, setting a cohesive vibe can end up being super fun!

“I recently threw my 8-year-old daughter a sleepover that was a hit—a ‘themed party complete with balloon arches, [tents] for sleeping, matching pajamas, and a DIY spa kit to help them get their zen on,” shared Frischkorn. “It was an unforgettable night, and I’ve had so many other parents and party planners ask how they can create something just as memorable and fun.”

 Frischkorn shared some other potential themes that are both fresh and inclusive, but also budget-friendly.

• Nature/Outdoor Adventure: Bring the outdoors inside! Get some simple tents and string up some lights. You can add a nature scavenger hunt (either outdoors or inside) for extra fun.

• Superhero Party: Who doesn’t love a bit of superhero magic? You can have the kids dress up, frame the party as a training camp for the kids, or even come up with your own, original superheroes to be.

• DIY Spa Party: Create a relaxing experience with DIY facials, face masks, nail stations, and a calming playlist.

• Under the Stars: Dim the lights, give everyone flashlights, share spooky stories, and end with a s’mores station to top it off.

• Art Party: For this, think DIY crafts, tie-dyeing, jewelry making, simple sewing projects, or decorating tote bags. There are endless possibilities here.

Coming Up With Sleepover Activities

When it comes to putting together a successful sleepover, “activities are a must,” Onda shares. Some of her most beloved sleepover activities include curling up for an outdoor movie night and doing a sing-along.

Frischkorn shared some other popular ideas:

• Craft Projects: Decorate t-shirt or pillowcases; make necklaces or friendship bracelets.

• Scavenger Hunt: Make a treasure hunt around the house, or outside, if the weather is nice.

• Movie Marathon: Pick a few family-friendly flicks. Bonus points if they tie into your party theme.

• Karaoke Contest: Get an inexpensive karaoke machine or find some karaoke tracks online. Let the kids belt out their favorite tunes at the top of their lungs.

• Classic Slumber Party Games: The classics never fail. Consider Truth or Dare, charades, freeze dance, or Twister.

• Glow Stick Dance Party: Have your child pick their favorite tunes and let the kids dance the night away with glow sticks.

Sleepover Décor Galore

The décor for your party can match your theme. So if you’re doing a nature-themed party, you might decorate your home with flowers, leaves, and even real rocks or stones. An “under-the-stars” party might include glow-in-the-dark stars, glow sticks, tealights, or a moon lamp.

Other ideas include:

• Transforming your space into something magical with balloon arches

• Setting up tents for a cozy sleep space

• Stringing some fairy lights for atmosphere

• Doing a special table setting like a tea party, or something that matches your theme

Don’t Forget About the Food!

Yummy party food is essential, but you don’t have to go wild. “When it comes to slumber party food, we always recommend keeping it simple, as you will be juggling a lot that night,” Onda says. Remember that kids may be too preoccupied at times to sit down and eat. But don’t worry—they will surely get hungry.

Here are Frischkorn’s recommendations for the ideal slumber party foods:

• Mini Pizzas: Consider having the kids decorate their own personal pizza with toppings they love.

• DIY Snack Mixes: Put out a bunch of simple snacks and have the kids create their own snack mix.

• Cupcake Decorating Stations: This is always a fun one and is a great activity.

• DIY Smoothie Bar: Kids can mix their own fruits and toppings for a refreshing (and healthy!) snack.

• Popcorn Bar: For this, you can put out a variety of flavors and toppings and let the kids create their own popcorn masterpieces.

How to Get the Kids to Actually Sleep at a Sleepover

Okay, as much fun as slumber parties are, you want the kids to get at least a little bit of sleep. One way to do this is to consider the fact that darkness and dimmed lights can help children naturally get sleepy (science provides it!), and you can also incorporate activities that are relaxing and sleep-inducing.1

So, consider things like dimming the lights in your home starting at 9pm or 10pm. This is the time to break out the tea lights, fairy lights, or flashlights. Get the kids cozy in their sleeping area and hand out things like eye masks, matching slippers, or special stuffed animals or blankets. If the crew is into it, you can even try a guided meditation or a kid-friendly ASMR video.

All of these things can be framed as part of the slumber party fun.

The Bottom Line

Remember that you don’t have to go completely all-out to have a memorable slumber party. You don’t have to break the bank to throw a fun party either. You can feel free to use the ideas in this guide, but also take what you want and leave the rest behind.

As Onda notes, above all, “slumber parties are a great way for kids to build connections and strengthen existing friendships.” You can accomplish that whether or not you throw the most lavish slumber party or not. The “perfect” party is one where kids get to be together, bond, and have fun.