Monday, October 15, 2018

Ideas for sleepovers...Matthew (Matt) Key, Georgia


As a former fifth and sixth grade teacher a topic was always discussed among my students.  This topic was about something that happened a lot with them over the weekends…sleepovers.  Sleepovers are a rite of passage, but can cause stress.  Parents have to be courageous to send their child to another persons home and children stress worrying about social implications and if they will even be comfortable.  After these anxieties are handled, sleepovers can actually be fun and pleasant.  They often leave life long memories. Here are some ideas to help…
  1. Discuss it.
You want to make sure there is comfort with your child.  If there is anxiety before they even go; it probably will not go well. 
  1. Sleep at another family members house first..
Comfort may come by allowing your child to spend the night at a close relatives home before the actual sleepover.  This gives them comfort and prepares them for what to expect at someone’s house.
3.     Do it at your home first.
Have a sleepover at your house first.  Many times parents feel that this gets their child accustomed of what to expect at a sleepover so they have the experience in those events.
  1. Late-night trial.
If your child is younger, it might be a good idea to have a late night trial run.  Allow children to stay together for a while late into the evening without it actually being a sleepover. 
  1. Talk to the other parents.
The only true way to ease the anxiety is to talk with the host parents before the sleepover.  This helps you gain peace of mind with what the plans are and any details that help you know what to expect.
 Matthew (Matt) Key, Georgia

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