Hosting a Sleepover
Someday soon your child may ask you if they can invite some friends over for a sleepover. As a father, you may sigh as you think of everything that goes into a sleepover (planning, food, activities, responsibility, etc.), but your child is brimming with excitement at the possibility to play host or hostess to his or her friends.
To plan a sleepover, the first thing you need to determine is how many kids you can handle. If you are married and have the support of your wife, this may make the responsibility of supervising the evening much easier. If you are a single dad, you may want to limit the party to a small number of kids so you can maintain your sanity.
Before your child invites his or her friends over, sit down with your son or daughter and develop a plan for the sleepover. Come up with games, movies, food, and other things to do that will keep the kids busy and entertained while they are at your home. Sometimes it is fun to develop a theme for the evening (like, pirates, makeovers, clowns, transformers, etc.) as kids enjoy dressing up and knowing what to expect. Bored children can get into trouble. Best to avoid trouble by keeping the kids busy.
When you have determined what will be happening at the sleepover, talk to the parents of the children who will be staying at your home. Let them know what activities you have planned for the kids and if you will be taking the kids anywhere. Ask if there are any food allergies their child may have and be sure to have each parent’s contact information so you can reach them in an emergency. Also, be sure to arrange how children will be picked up and dropped off from your home.
Before your child’s guests arrive, make sure your child is aware that the party may be aborted at any time if things get out of control. Remind your child that you expect good behavior from him or her and his or her friends.
With a little thought and careful planning, a sleepover can be a fun experience for you and your child.
