Its party time
Slumber parties are great fun for young girls and are always memorable experiences. Hosting a party can be a stress-free affair with a bit of planning ahead of time. Keeping the girls entertained, feeling included and happy are the main concerns so it is important to plan activities and go shopping ahead of time and make sure no one is left out. Does this Spark an idea?
Party Favors
Put together a favor bag for each girl and a couple of spares for unexpected guests. Get some colorful bags and fill them with things to keep the girls entertained during their visit. Some ideas are a drink, muesli bars, candy, an activity book, a notepad and marker, a coloring book and pencils, Silly Putty, a T-shirt or pillowcase to paint, a mini torch, a travel toothbrush. Buy the items in bulk and stick to a budget, because favors can get expensive fast.
Painting Personal Pillows
Give each girl a plain pillow case and access to non-toxic paints and/or gel pens. Encourage them to customize their own cases with their name and pictures of their family, pets, favorite things, sparkles or they can draw something on each others pillows. The same can be done on plain T-shirts or canvas shoes.
An adult should oversee the process. Get the girls to make these up earlier in the evening so they have time to dry before being used.
Baking Treats
Get the girls in the kitchen and teach them make a simple snack such as cupcakes, biscuits or ice cream sundaes. Mini pizzas can be made from split English muffins are a great idea as each girl can do her own individual toppings. Pancakes are a great and easy breakfast treat. Make sure each girl has a fun job and keep the cleaning up for the adults. The recipes can be copied out and added to the favor bags.
Hunt for Treasure
A scavenger hunt around the house and/or property can keep the girls entertained for as long as you have hiding places. A small pile of treats at every third or fourth clue will keep them entertained and on the hunt. A simpler variation without clues is to give the girls a treasure map with several x's marking treasure spots. A glow in the dark scavenger hunt works well indoors or out. The girls have to wait until it's dark before they can start.
Playing Dress-ups
Keep a chest of dress-up clothes and accessories collected over time or get a variety of items from the local thrift store. The girls will have lots of fun dressing up in oversized costumes. Provide them with a large mirror and organize a back yard fashion show, allowing the girls to showcase their wackiest combinations.
Tinfoil, tissue, crepe and colored paper, beads, ribbons, tape and other art supplies can be used to make hats and jewelry.
Game Time
Bingo - Try playing picture bingo with young girls.
Alarm Fun - Get one child to hide a timer set at 3 minutes either in a room or outside. Let the other children try to find it before the timer goes off.
Marco Polo - One girl is blindfolded and has to try to locate the other girls.
Sack Racing indoors - Set up a simple course around the house and have the girls pop around it in their sleeping bags.
Provide a basket of favors for the winners to collect a prize from.
Movie Marathon
It is a slumber party tradition to end the evening with a movie or three. Put together a collection of DVDs that the girls can watch, and pull out a few board games. Get together some snacks and drinks, perhaps the snacks the girls made earlier and let them snuggle up in their pajamas and sleeping bags in front of the screen. The girls will enjoy pulling out and using their newly decorated pillow cases.
Considerations
Keep activities short and fun. Some children may have food allergies, be sure to ask parents. Always have spare gifts and favor bags for any unexpected guests. Be flexible and remember it can be daunting for some young children to be away from home. Be calm as things may get accidentally stained or broken and make sure every child feels included. Have fun.
Tags: each girl, girls entertained, ahead time, around house, favor bags