What is it about a sleepover the inspires and energizes kids? I loved spending the night at my grandparents house when I was little. I loved to bake, watch special movies with popcorn and get special love and attention.
So go ahead and plan a slumber part for one or all of your grandchildren! Be sure to invite grandpa to join in on the fun!
Creating a Kid Space
Create a space indoors or outside for a campout, complete with s’mores and sleeping bags. You could build a homemade tent out of blankets in the living room. Or let the kids have the guest room or line up the sleeping bags on your bedroom floor. I prefer to sleep in the homemade tent with them. Whatever you decide, be flexible; they may have some other sleeping arrangement they prefer.
If they are old enough and enjoy thrills and chills, rent a scary movie and hug them during the tense parts. If nostalgia’s your thing, leaf through photo albums and other memorabilia. If you are competitive, challenge them to a game or tournament.
You could do it all in one night. It will depend on their ages and when they will tire out to go to sleep. No bedtime at grandma’s house.
Older-Grandkids Variation
An invitation to stay overnight with plenty of time to talk (and lots of food) may be all that’s needed for teens. They will love the attention.
Long-Distance Variation
Plan a similar experience during you next visit to see your grandkids. If you’re staying in a hotel, invite them over for the night. If you are staying at their house, offer to handle everything and let their parents get away overnight. Send the parents to your hotel room.
Most parents appreciate sleepovers because it gives them a chance to have a date night and then sleep in the next day. A few, however, complain that sleepovers at the grandparents' house make their children overtired and cranky. Some claim that the children are overindulged by the grandparents and are hard to please when they return home.
Perks of Sleepovers
Spending the night away from parents can foster a child's independence. It's also informative for children to see how other households function, in a way that's not obvious during a short visit. If parents or grandchildren are opposed to sleepovers, grandparents can suggest a reverse sleepover, in which they go to spend the night at the grandchild's house.
Themed Sleepovers
If you want to make the grandkids' sleepover a bit more like a party, you can have a theme.
A classic sleepover theme is camping out. Depending upon the age of your grandchildren and the weather, you can pitch your tent (or build one from blankets) inside or out. You can use string lights and lots of pillows and blankets to make it cozy inside. Serve classic camp food such as hamburgers or hot dogs, and be sure to stock up on flashlights or glow sticks.
An animal theme should be a hit with younger children. Have them bring favorite stuffed animals. Play animal rummy or put together an animal jigsaw puzzle. Use a big piece of butcher paper to create an animal mural. For breakfast, make pancakes in the shape of animals.
Slightly older children will like a song and dance party. Borrow a karaoke machine or set up a music video game such as Dance Dance Revolution or Let's Dance. Pick up some inexpensive accessories such as boas and bowlers. You will need to cut the dance music a bit before bedtime, to let the grandchildren wind down.
Movie Nights
For a fun movie night, recreate a movie theater experience at home. Stock up on classic movie candy and serve popcorn in movie-style containers. You can even print out movie tickets. The little ones will enjoy "selling" the tickets or concessions.
For a fun variation that's a bit more work, move the party to the backyard. Hang a sheet for a screen and rent or borrow a projector. Use the camp out theme above to go along with this.
You can also build your movie night fun around the selected movie. For Moana, for example, you could buy a few grass skirts and leis and have a hula contest. Serve tropical fruits and meat on a stick.
For Finding Nemo, you could create seating by filling a kiddie pool with pillows. For snacks, serve Goldfish crackers. After-movie activities could include playing Go Fish or blowing bubbles.
Virtual Visits to Other Countries
For a sleepover that's fun and educational, center the fun around another country. Make the dinner menu and other activities related to that country. Involve the children in food preparation and serving to the extent that their ages make it practical. For the table, carry out the theme with a simple centerpiece or print out flag placemats.
Italy. Serve easy pepperoni pizza or make a batch of spaghetti. Serve gelato for dessert. Dress the table with a red-checked tablecloth. Press-on mustaches will add to the fun. Be sure to put on a little opera during dinner.
China. Serve egg rolls or soup and make a pot of rice. Let the grandkids try using chopsticks. The grandchildren can make paper lanterns decorations, and or let them try a simple origami project.
Mexico. Serve tacos and fried rice. Make or buy a pinata, and listen to mariachi music. This celebration can be timed to coincide with Cinco de Mayo or with the Day of the Dead.
Any way you do it enjoy every moment and make lasting memories. They will remember these moments and the way you made them feel special.
What will you do to make memories with your children or grandchildren? Comment below, I would love to know.
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