Elementary School Slumber Parties for Girls

Both of my girls hosted their first slumber parties in Kindergarten for their 6th birthdays (they are 3 years apart). I have done lots and lots of them since that very first one with my oldest (who will be 10 in a few weeks). I have found that its easier to have the party on a Friday night for a few reasons. First and foremost, all the girls will be up for school at their regular time and will have done all of their daily activities so they won't be as likely to stay up all hours of the night. I usually invite them over at 7 pm and pick up in the morning is no later than 9 am. You'd be amazed at how early girls will get up even though they've stayed up much later than usual, lol. By 9 am, they're pretty much "over" each other and start picking and bickering like girls do. I have had a few moms over the years that prefer to pick the girl up at the end of the night which is fine with me. I usually tell them around 11 is a good time...that way you're not rushed with whatever you have planned and 11 is usually the time I pop some popcorn and put in a movie and have everyone start settling down. Honestly, the more girls you have the better off you'll be too. Smaller numbers turn into "catty" groups quickly...with more girls, there is more diversity and less fighting. I've also learned to not plan a whole lot of activities. Have some "dress-up" clothes, some music and maybe a karaoke maching, if you have a video camera have that handy. They tend to like to "do their own thing" once friends start showing up. Good luck! I love having slumber parties with my girls :)

My neighbor and I just had one for both our daughters (8 and 9 years). Their bdays are a week apart. My daughter invited 5 (only 3 showed) and my neighbor's daughter invited 10 (they all showed). Drop off was at 5:30pm (either house). We met at my neighbors and transported all of them for bowling and pizza. Then headed back to neighbors where they swam until the wee hours. They were so busy, no one wanted cake! It was extremely tiring (at least for me). We had a few girls who were quite demanding and rude. We just politely corrected them and also were not afraid to tell them, "No, you can't run over to the video game area because I am responsible for you. either the whole group goes or no one goes!"

Oh..and I only knew 2 girls' parents out of the group.

My suggestions are..keep the numbers small (for what you can handle). Have a few good movies on hand just in case. You can't please everyone and it's going to be ok if you don't. IMO, age 8 and up are great for slumber parties. Kids younger than that are a bit hard to stay interested in anything longer than 5 minutes at a time.

My son had a couple kids come over for his bday (12 years old) and I just so happened to have purchased the Just Dance2 for the wii. We danced for 4 hours...laughing, aching and sweating.

Our daughter was invited to her first slumber party in second grade, she was 7. I think there were 5 total. That summer for her 8th birthday we also had 4 girls come over..
I actually took them out to dinner at a fun restraunt and then they played games, talked and watched movies all night.. They were so cute.. and all behaved really well.

Kay,

Actally my daughter who is 5 is going to her first slumber party on the 19th. I know the M. well and we talked a lot during her planning, so I thought I'd share what she is doing. She is inviting 5 girls and is starting the party at 7 pm. For parents who don't want there children to spend the night she is asking for pick up to be 9:30. She is a teacher so she has quite a few fun activities planned. She is ordering pizza and they are making special cup cakes instead of ordering a birthday cake. Also, pick up is 10:00 am. Happy planning!!!

This past summer.
My daughter was 7.
It was with 3 of her other good friends. And I know the Moms well.
They had such a blast, that I then had another one for her, that same summer. And for that one, 4 of her friends came.

The girls arrived at 4:00pm. I specified, that the girls bathe at home, BEFORE coming, and bring anything they want/need.
They went home the next day, at 10:00am.
They wanted to stay longer... but well, I was POOPED!

My daughter at her age and her friends, are real self-sufficient. They entertained themselves, even telling me "Mommy go away... we are fine..." They loved just bopping around the house, playing pretend, watched a movie, ate pizza and snacks and smoothies etc.
Such little women... it was cute.

I did it all myself. My Husband was home, and he helped a tad... but it was mostly just me. He picked up the pizza. And goofed around with them a little. They think he is funny.
It was real fun... for the kids.

I told the girls, they could call home ANY time... they wanted to. Even if I was sleeping. They all called their parents before bed to say good night and that they were fine.
I also told the parents, they could call my home, ANY time. If they needed to for whatever reason.

The girls slept in the living room.
I slept, in a nearby room... where I could hear them. I didn't actually sleep... because I was keeping my ears open. Just in case.
I gave them all flashlights to have near them. And I had nightlights throughout the house.

The fell asleep at about 10:00pm... and woke up the next morning before 6:00am! And started playing, right away! I then woke up and made them breakfast... bacon, eggs, muffins.

all the best,
Susan