10 Sleepover Rules For Success

It's a fact of life: Kids love sleepovers. Sleepovers can be quite pleasant, at least with nice kids (and you don't let the not-nice ones come). So long as you follow the rules.

Here are my top 10 Sleepover Rules for Success to ensure all have a good time.

10 Sleepover Rules For Success

1 Plan The Night's Activities

Before the guests arrive, it's crucial to establish some good-host guidelines for your child. This includes the TV rules, the duration of viewing, and an appropriate lights-out time. (Notice, I didn't say bedtime. We're quite flexible with sleepovers at my house.)

Remind her that solitary pursuits, such as computer games, prevent interaction instead of encouraging it. Instead, suggest board games or outdoor play.

2 Give First-Time Guests a Home Tour

Give first-time guests a tour of the house. You want to avoid a 3 a.m. visitor roaming the house searching for the bathroom.

3 Make Sure Guests Know the House Rules

Make sure guests know and follow your household rules. This should include notice of where in the home (such as an adult's bedroom) is off-limits to visitors. By communicating these rules, you're being responsible and proactive in ensuring a safe and enjoyable sleepover.

4 Make Contact with the Parents

Contact the parents. You'll need to know where to reach them (cell phones, restaurant numbers) that evening, overnight, and in the morning.

Ask whether the child has any food or pet allergies you should be aware of. If you're planning a movie night, find out what rating of film the child is permitted to view. Set a pickup time now.

Clear any plans you have to go out and leave the kids with a babysitter with the guests' parents before they drop her off. Keep the parents' phone numbers handy.

5 Stay Within Earshot of the Sleepover Kids

Plan to stay within earshot of the sleepover kids. That way, you'll know what they're up to and can resolve any disagreements if necessary.

6 Prepare Guest Comforts

Prepare some comforts for each sleepover guest. Keep out a clean glass. Provide guest towels on a guest towel rack.
If there's no room for another rack, put a hook on the back of the bathroom door just for guest towels. Keep one drawer empty for guest toiletries.

If space is a problem, a caddy or basket will work nicely. Make a manicure/pedicure station for teens. (It might keep them off the phone for a while.)

7 Sleepovers and Siblings

If your kid shares a room, don't make (or even allow) the sibling to share the sleepover. Put the sleepover kids in sleeping bags in the family room.

The sleepover contingent won't want to include the sibling, and there's no reason to force the issue (sibling). It's not their sleepover yet.

8 Plan an Alternate Activity for a Left-Out Sibling

Plan an alternate activity for the left-out sibling if you can arrange a play date or sleepover for him, too - excellent!

If not, plan an evening activity, such as a family movie, to keep him with you - and out of the way of the sleepover kids.

9 Say Good-Night

Let the kids know when you're going to bed and that you expect them to dial down the activity volume accordingly. This is the time to reconfirm your previously chosen bedtime.

10. Prepare Really Cool - or Really Hot - Treats

Perhaps the most important sleepover rule for Success is to have a really cool—or hot—treat ready for the sleepover contingent.

Bake gooey chocolate-chunk cookies or order an extra-cheesy pizza—you get the idea. Do whatever it takes to make your home where kids want to go for serious fun.

This is probably the most important sleepover rule for Success: Make the night fun and yummy for all!