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We're not
overlooking the fact that boys also like
slumber parties
(between us we've raised three boys who all like
sleep-overs). You can make the appropriate
substitutes for boys: favorite car or truck
instead of stuffed animal or Barbie doll, prizes
and send-off goodies appropriate for boys, etc.
Otherwise, it's pretty much the same-except you
may get less sleep if the guests are boys, as they
tend to stay up later and likely will eat more
munchies. You may also wish to read the article we
ran on November, 1998 on Super Sleep-Overs.
A great slumber party begins with good planning.
Over the years, our children have had several
parties so here's what we've learned to do (and
not do). First decide how many guests and then
check to make sure there's enough floor space for
that many sleeping bags and paraphernalia. Don't
invite too many guests; usually four or five
friends who get along together.
Not all pre-teens are ready for slumber parties.
It's better to check with parents first to see if
the child has spent the night away from their
parents, saving you a phone call to the parents in
the middle of the night and probable embarrassment
of the child. Also check to see if any child has
any special health needs such as diabetes and make
sure you're aware of any medicines and insulin
injections that will be needed. Find out if the
child gives their own injection or will need more
than just your observance. Also find out if there
are any food allergies. Is the child a vegetarian?
The invitations should include a list of what the
child is to bring-sleeping bag, pillow, pajamas,
robe, slippers, a stuffed animal or their favorite
Barbie, personal items, and a flashlight (have a
supply of extra batteries on hand). Be sure to
include the pick-up time for the next morning.
Don't hand out the invitations in front of girls
that aren't being invited to the party.
Remove all clutter from the party area, removing
all breakable items. Then transform your sleeping
space into a party area. Attach several brightly
colored streamers to the ceiling in the center of
the area, then stretch the streamers out to the
side, twisting as you go, for form a teepee shape.
Create a comfortable place to lounge and talk by
piling pillows in all shapes, sizes, and colors
from all over the house into a big squishy mound.
Put a nightlight in the bathroom and keep hallways
lit. When the guests arrive, give them a tour of
the "party" area, pointing out areas of the house
that are off limits. It's also good to explain the
"rules of the house" - no screaming, jumping on
the furniture, no television after the video, only
one person in the bathroom at a time, and all the
other rules they learned in school. Reassure the
girls that if they need you (the parent), you'll
be nearby. If they want you (the parent) to go
away, forget it-you'll be nearby."
You'll need to plan on some late-night munchies.
Discuss with your diabetic child ahead of time
just how much they may eat. Also ask the parents
of any other child with diabetes to instruct their
child. Good selections are tiny, quartered
sandwiches, mini-bagels spread with low fat cream
cheese, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, popcorn,
pretzels, small plastic bottles of spring water,
etc.
Plan on several games such as a stuffed animal (or
Barbie) race-line the animals (or dolls) up at the
"starting line," then place pieces of colored
paper to mark off 15 to 20 spaces on the floor.
Shuffle a deck of cards. Deal a card to each
person, then have them move their animal the
number of spaces shown on the card. An ace counts
as 1; king, queen, or jack have to start at the
start line or go back to the start line until the
next turn. The owner of the first animal or Barbie
to reach the "finish" line wins a prize.
Face painting is always fun. Face paints are
available at most costume or hobby shops. Have a
teenage sister or neighbor hired to help create
hearts, flowers, stars, butterflies, etc. on the
girls cheeks. Make sure to supply a mirror so they
can see what's being done. When it's time for
lights out, tissues and cold cream will easily
wipe off the paints so that they don't stain their
sleeping bags or pillows.
Flashlight limbo will get a lot of laughs. Turn
off the lights and have someone shine a flashlight
straight out, about 3 feet off the floor. Turn on
some "funky" music and have the girls take turns "limboing"
under the beam without ducking forward or touching
the floor with her hands or knees. If any part of
her body touches the beam of light, she's out.
After everyone's had a turn, lower the beam and
see who can go the lowest. That girls wins a
prize.
Ha! is played by having everyone lie down in a
circle with their head on another's stomach. Once
everyone's in position, the host girl starts by
saying "Ha!." Going in a circle, the next girls
says "Ha! Ha!," the third girls says, "ha! Ha!
Ha!," and so on continuing to add an additional
"Ha!" until everyone gets giggling and can't
continue.
Be sure to have a couple of disposable cameras
available for the girls to document their fun. As
the evening get late, everyone gets into their
sleeping bag to watch a favorite video. Then it's
lights out for whispering your secrets into the
night.
The next morning, serve the Breakfast Banana
Splits that we featured in our May, 1999 website.
This is when you can hand out super send-off
goodies such as scrunchies, hair clips, headbands,
or small bottles of bubble bath, sheets of
stickers, bejeweled key rings to clip onto their
jeans, etc. |
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