50 top sleepover ideas

Sleepovers are milestones on the way to independence and a way to make great memories of friendship. Discover the activities, food, snacks, games and strategies that make slumber parties fun and even help keep them from becoming “no-sleep” overs for parents and children.

Strategies for planning a sleepover

1. Have just 1 or 2 friends for first sleepover. The 1st time novelty + lots of littlies = a long night all round. @Bernie3calel
2. Have a structure. As they get tired, they get bored. Nice to have tricks up your sleeve. @claradteddy
3. I have activities planned to start with but then let the kids take control on what they want to do. @Tantrums2Smiles
4. Plan one main activity. It can take up an hour or 2 and gives focus to the evening.
5. Go over the times and rules at the start, let them have fun then make it clear there is a time for sleep. @thesoupdragon44
6. I always have a couple of movies/board games set aside if they can’t think of what to do. @PiaMaria79
7. Don’t expect that your child, even if they are older, can enforce your rules with their friends. You will need to set the rules and ensure they stick to them yourself.
8. Take lots of photos and print them in the morning for the guests to take home https://t.co/OU8ZpUxz2B @funky_fifi

Fun sleepover activities

9. Try a oneside sleepover. Everybody wears onesie and take them out for ice cream. They’ll love the silly fun of being out in a group all dressed similarly!
10. Take them for a massive hike, a runaround or other physical activity in the afternoon. @storyofmum
11. Let them do makeovers. Just lay down some towels for them to sit on to keep the floor clean!
12. Do a Royal Sleepover: children come in costumes, food has new names (“Princess Popcorn”) and everybody gets a crown!
13. Make tie-dye t-shirts. Do them early and they can all wear them home the next morning, which makes goodbyes more fun.
14. Treasure hunts are always fun and it doesn’t matter how much room you have. Do them inside, in your garden or even have the children go in groups visit homes of neighbours that you know to get “clues” you’ve arranged from each one. Makes prizes for everyone and the winning team chooses between two attractive options — the next activity, say. @JHowze
15. Make them do a tidy up to find clues or treats hidden in the mess. @angep1969
16. One fab sleepover the boys recreated music videos. Was hilarious. Miley Cirus Wrecking Ball brought the house down! @lynnylemon
17. Karaoke is a classic.
18. Plan some pranks. Another good activity to do in teams…or play pranks with your partner on the kids. @BritMums
19. Making dens! Usually with a thousand bedsheets and then sitting under them with their torches on lol! @Tantrums2Smiles
20. Water fights. Keep it simple with plastic cups and a bucket, a hosepipe or get fancy with water balloons. @BritMums
21. Do a “crazy fashion show”: Give two teams a bunch of old parents’ clothes (big shirts, sweatpants, jacket, hats) and they have 5 minutes to create the funniest outfit. There’s a winner each round (you or a 3rd team of kids can be the judge) until everyone has had a go. @BritMums
22. My daughter and her friends always loved Just Dance but any group Xbox or Wii game provides fun — and tournaments! @JHowze
23. Have a board game bonanza. Once one is finished, start another.
24. A few weeks ago, my daughter and friends took all their blankets out to the trampoline to look for shooting stars @coldcuppaclub
25. If it’s slightly older, a girls pamper sessions and mocktails are great fun. @ikkle87

Inspired sleepover food and drink tips

26. Have personal lap trays for food! @StuartDonlop1
27. If they are old enough, get them to bake their own treats! @missjesawyer
28. We love decorating cupcakes as an activity and they can eat it afterwards! @coldcuppaclub
29. Get a small cooler they can keep in the bedroom. It saves fetching and carrying drinks all night/morning! Was well worth it! @funky_fifi
30. Make fajitas. It’s affordable and you can set it toppings so everyone can build their own! Easy if you have vegetarians and vegans too! @AModernMother
31. Make jacket potatoes and do a “baked potato bar” where they can serve themselves and make their own version, with cheese, bacon, spring onions, shaved carrots, beans — or anything else! @JHowze
32. Chilli is a great slumber party food, with meat and vegetarian versions.
33. Buy a cheap popcorn maker – only about a tenner – hours of fun! @gambofi
34. It is easier as kids get older: table football, marshmallow toasting, hot chocolate and they are as happy as Larry. @pinkwinkgirly
35. Decide on the main meal first thing so you can have the delivery or homemade meal ready just before they get hangry. @BritMums
36. Do a cookout, even if it only means eating outside. Jacket potatoes and sausages are a firm favourite!
37. Jazz up bedtime hot chocolate with sprinkles, whipped cream, or the full-on polar bear, suggests @goriami

How to get children to sleep at a sleepover

38. Is there a trick? I just wait until they’re finally exhausted! Usually about midnight. https://t.co/ZRU0Gz4g3Q @missielizzib
39. They usually wear themselves out as the night goes on. I try not to be too strict @CymruEm
40. Do chill-out activities in the hour before bedtime. You might have to get more involved but it pays dividends when they settle quickly. We do a memory game: A bunch of items on a tray covered with a tea towel. You remove the towel for 60 seconds then they try to write down as many as they can remember. @BritMums
41. Bribe them with the promise of bacon sarnies for breakfast if they sleep! @Luckysammyg
42. My kids have a ‘midnight feast’ when they sleep at Grandmas…normally at 8.30pm! They love it! Then they’re ready for bed. @Tkw2014
43. Sometimes putting on a DVD in the bedroom can help everyone chill out and lay still thus falling asleep. @Tantrum2Smiles
44. I’ve changed the time on the clock before now so they think it’s later. @ChelseaMamma
45. We try not be too strict about when they need to sleep, they usually tire themselves out with all the giggling. @coldcuppaclub
46. I turn WiFi off at midnight @FalcondaleJan

Best place to hang out

47. We have a safe enclosed garden, the summerhouse is the perfect sleepover den https://t.co/9zeFSzz7xY @pinkwinkgirly
48. I find movies are always a hit for the wind down before bed as it gets them in the bedroom chilling out before sleep @Tantrums2Smiles
49. Let them sleep in a tent in the garden. Even if it takes a while, at least it will be quieter for you! @AModernMother
50. When I was younger we had an old brick shed. Me and friends loved sleeping in there despite it being dirty and cold. @Evette77

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