Sleepovers don’t always need to be planned to be fun. Generally, the fun of staying over with friends makes the night great for every kid, even when you keep plans simple. That said, if you want to host a particularly fun party–perhaps for a birthday or to kick off the beginning of a school break–these activities can be great options to make it a sleepover to remember.
Outdoor Movie
Movie nights are classic sleepover activities. Kick it up a notch for the next sleepover by using a projector and a white sheet to host an outdoor movie party. Invite your kids’ guests to bring sleeping bags and pillows outside to get comfortable and watch a show under the stars. In the summer months, allow the kids to enjoy a camping sleepover and sleep in the yard after the show. In colder months, simply get an outdoor heater and a lot of blankets and serve hot cocoa while the movie plays. Bring the party inside once the movie has ended.
Cooking Class
Sleepovers and delicious snacks and foods go hand-in-hand. Keep your tweens and teens occupied by providing the ingredients for a kid-friendly dinner or snack. Provide a kid’s cookbook or a Youtube video with instructions on how to prepare their food. Some great options are cookie pizza, a waffle bar, or a pasta bar.
Paint Party
Painting parties are becoming more and more popular for adults. If your local area has wine and sips, contact the instructor to see if they would be willing to teach a child-friendly paint class. Host a party with canvases and some paint and see what all the kids create.
Surprise Snack and Game
Snacks and board games may be a sleepover staple, but that doesn’t mean it has to be predictable. Take the kids to the store of your choice and have them each walk down the snack aisle with their eyes closed. Instruct them to stop at a random location and pick the snack in front of them. Have one or two of the kids do the same in the game section. At the end of your shopping adventure, everyone will have snacks to share and a couple of new games to try out!