How to survive your child’s slumber party

 

 

 

“Mum? Can I have a slumber party for my birthday?”

At some point, your child is going to ask for a slumber party. This CAN be a source of stress for many mums but today we’re sharing some  must know tips from a sleepover specialist to ensure yours is a roaring (or snoring) success.

If anyone knows how to throw a great slumber party, it’s Mel Jacobs.  Her business, Sweet Dreams and Goodnight,  is putting a new spin on a birthday favourite and bringing delight to parents and kids alike. Whilst Mel is offering something new to the kids’ party scenes in Perth and Melbourne in terms of setup, here are her old style hints to ensure your party doesn’t turn into a nightmare.

 Be Prepared

We don’t mean stock the Tim Tams and the popcorn (although these are pre-requisites for any successful sleepover).  Before the party starts, it’s important that you, as the parent in charge, have some basic details for each child in your care.  You can either ask for this information before the party, or grab a notepad and speak to the person dropping them off.  As a minimum, you should have the following:

  • Contact number of someone in case of emergency
  • Any allergies the child might have
  • Any medication they may need during their stay
  • Any other relevant details (sleep walkers, fear of the dark etc.)

           

Set the Ground Rules

 No need to go all Sergeant-Major on the kids.  Ease them into the rules of the house with a quick tour to point out all the necessary areas – toilet, bathroom, kitchen, bedroom.

Show them where you will be throughout the night, so you can be found if needed.

Throughout the walk-around, make it clear what is and isn’t allowed, so boundaries are set early and everyone can have a great time.

Leave a Light On

Remember you are going to have kids sleeping in a house that is strange to them.

To a lot of little humans, being in the dark in unfamiliar surroundings is scary and a small nightlight can make it seem just that little bit safer.

Where possible, try to leave a light on that can direct the way to the bathroom/toilet.  There’s nothing worse than waking up in the middle of the night, in the dark, having to stumble and feel your way to the loo!

Keep an Ear Out

No need to helicopter parent, but stay close by so you can keep an ear and eye on what’s happening.

Sometimes unfortunate situations can occur (homesickness, bedwetting or even bullying).  It’s good for the kids to know that you are close by if needed.

Gain agreement about social media

Finally, and this isn’t an old hint, but certainly one that should be discussed in this day and age – gain consent to post pictures of the party-goers.  While you may be happy to have pictures of your children on your social media feed, not every parent feels the same.  As a matter of courtesy, check first with the parents/guardian of each child attending to see how they feel before posting pictures containing their image.

A little planning goes a long way

Sleepovers are almost a rite of passage in childhood – staying up all night, sharing secrets and tucking into a midnight feast (don’t forget those Tim Tams).  Sure you may not get any sleep until the wee small hours, continually telling them to “Turn it down!”.  Yep, you’ll probably have tired and grumpy little people for the rest of the day.  But with a few easy steps, you can pretty much guarantee you’ll help to make memories they won’t forget in a hurry.

Now of course slumber parties don’t have to always be kept for the young ones! Relive the fun from your childhood with a gorgeous slumber party setup to celebrate a special girls weekend away or hens party setup before heading out to town! The gorgeous teepees from Sweet Dreams and Goodnight can tailor for all sorts of celebrations!:

If you’re interested in having Sweet Dream and Goodnight help you with your next slumber party, contact Mel on0402 463 812 or visit www.sweetdreamsandgoodnight.com.au.  Franchises are now available.

 

Mel Jacobs is the founder of Sweet Dreams and Goodnight, Australia’s original and best slumber party specialist.  Originating in Perth and with franchises now available, visit the website to see why this great company is being nationally recognised as a leader in kids’ party entertainment.

 



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