Thinking back to the most memorable and fabulous birthday parties I was invited to as a kid and my mind immediately brings up visions of late night sleepovers. For there is something a little bit special about a birthday party that continues through the night, isn’t there? Sleepovers promise an evening of school yard tales being whispered beneath fairy-lit tents, and of midnight snack runs while fighting off sleep so as not to miss a moment with your very best friends.
If your child is begging for a sleepover party and you are looking for ways to make it a just that little bit more special, we have put together some of the best ideas we have come across when planning and attending our own sleepover parties in the past. The result being a list of things that we think worked really well and stood out as the most memorable. From cute little DIY invitations ideas and tent set ups, to entertainment ideas and even morning after plans, below are some fabulous ideas on how to host your own sleepover party – with sparkle!
DIY Sleepover Invitations
Before the big night has even arrived there are invitations to get out and weeks of excited build-up to plant in the minds of your guests. To help set the tone for the party, there are plenty of super cute and fun invitations you can make that perfectly highlight the sleepover theme. Rather than just send out the usual printed party invite though, if you have the time, energy and desire, why not have a go at making the party invites yourself? Better yet, get your son/daughter involved in the process too. I have always done this and it actually makes for a great craft activity you can share.
Mini Tent Invitations
If you are planning to set up tents for your party guests then one of our favourite ideas for a DIY sleepover invitation is to make it a mini tent in itself. Sounds complex, we know, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you choose to make an elaborate teepee tent invite complete with lace and ribbon like the one above, or simply cut out a triangle of card and then glue on two smaller triangle material sections as the tent opening, I promise you kids will go absolutely crazy about this tiny detail.
Another fun idea is to make mini ‘passes’ to the different entertainment things you will be doing at the party and pop them into the tent invite’s opening. If you are going to be doing a movie night, pop in a mini movie pass. If there are games to be played, maybe a mini board game cover, or simply a mini cut-out of an eye mask etc. Trust me, it will be a hit.
Mini Sleeping Bag Invitations
Most sleepovers involve kids snuggled within the confines of a sleeping bag and this too makes for a great sleepover invite. Spotlight (and other craft or cheap shops) sell plain white, Boy and Girl shaped cardboard cut-outs (similar silhouette shapes could be printed & cut out at home to reduce the cost). Any scrapbooking lovers amongst you could easily jazz these up, although simply having your child decorate them with snazzy drawn on pyjamas would be fabulous too. Party details can be neatly scribed on the back of the cut-outs.
Sleeping bag envelopes can be made by folding a square piece of paper (thatโs the same length of the cardboard person) in half and carefully gluing along the bottom and half way up the side where the two edges join. Just be careful to make sure the person will be able to slide into the sleeping bag when it is done. The top corner of the sleeping should be folded back toward the fold in the paper to reveal the cardboard person sleeping inside.
Sleepover DIY Tents
An easy way to take mattresses strewn on the floor from basic to brilliant is to make each child their own individual tents! Yes, you could hire a company to come and set this up for you, but for the money you could save to do this yourself (plus the fact you can re-use these over and over again at future parties) it is definitely more credible than crazy to give it a go.
Making your DIY Sleepover Tent
I promise you, it is actually a lot more easier than it sounds (and looks) too, as long as youโre able to saw a few lengths of dowel and use twine to knot them together. For the โAโ end pieces of each tent: cut four equal lengths (make sure theyโre long enough to stand on either side of a mattress/foam bedding). Place one piece on top of another to make an โAโ and wrap twine around them to hold securely. Repeat for the other โAโ end piece. Cut another length of dowel for the โroofโ, joining the two โAโ pieces and allowing the structure to stand freely. Lay a flat sheet sideways over the roof of the tent and tuck spare fabric under the mattress to create tent effect. Seriously, hot glue will be your best friend for making sure that material stay onto the wood if you are worried the kids may pull it down. Fairy lights or glow sticks attached along the timber โAโ frames add a definite touch of awesome. Bonus: these are easy to dismantle and store.
Decorating your DIY Sleepover Tent
Lights, Lights and More Fairy Lights!
No matter what the age or gender of your party people, I guarantee fairy lights are a must when it comes to decorating your tents. Nothing looks more magical at night than a row of small individual tents that are lit up and sparkling on the edges. Battery operated small strands can be bought from places like Kmart and secured to the front beams of the tent by either hot glue, wire or by simply winding them around the poles and hooking them into the top point of the frame.
Bunting
You can either make your own or buy some from any craft or two dollar store, but either way a section of bunting strewn between the point of each tent is a great way to bring them all together and add another little decorative edge to the tent set up.
Lanterns
Another item that really adds to the excitement of a sleepover party is a small lantern for each tent. Small, ornate lanterns can be found in Ikea for only $7, and cheap battery operated tea candles (for safety) can be picked up at Kmart to pop inside of them. This perfect and fun little item will be carried around all night by the kids, regardless if they are inside and all of the lights are on!
Cushions and comforts
Aside from mattresses and sleeping bags, cute little character cushions found at dollar stores and places like Kmart and Big W will add a super cute touch to each tent. Something to snuggle down with at the end of the night and to have a bit of fun with beforehand, you can either get the same one for each guest (soft heart, sloth, Beanie Boo) or give them each their own character / animal that you think represents them the most. These also double up as a great little thank you gift for each child to take home at the end of the party.
Midnight Snacks and Drinks
A final idea to add to your tent area is individual little ‘midnight snack and survival’ tins. Ones like the ones pictured above are perfect for a party with girls as they each have their own friendship slogan printed along the front. These can just be filled with some silly little items, like some mentos for a midnight snack and maybe some ear plugs for when someone’s loud whispers are keeping them awake!
Entertainment Ideas
DIY Photo Booth + Frame
Have you noticed the photo booth phenomenon that is taking over special events? These days, theyโre not just for weddings, which is great! Thankfully, a sleepover โphoto boothโ is really easy to create. Lay a large flat sheet out on an even, floor surface. Choose a range of physical or printed props to lie on the sheet (e.g. colourful cushions or stuffed toys), so they face the correct angle when the photographer (i.e. you!) stand on a chair above the scene.
Another simple, effective and in my experience, immensely popular photography prop is an empty, ornate photo frame that is large enough for a few heads. Kids and parents alike enjoy this simple idea of holding the frame themselves; the photograph should include the detail outside the frame too.
Outdoor Movie Night
If the weather is clear, one of the best entertainment ideas for a sleepover party is an outdoor movie screening. Whether you have your own projector and an old sheet, or choose to hire one with a proper screen, setting up a favourite movie to watch is a winning idea regardless how fancy the set up is. They probably won’t even take much notice of which movie has been chosen as the excitement of laying out under the stars to view it takes away most of their attention. Lay out an array of sleeping bags, cushions and beanbags for them to snuggle down into and maybe even set up a movie theatre table complete with popcorn, fairy floss and treat bags for them to choose from.
Party Games
What better entertainment is there at any party than a slew of party games to play? If you are looking for some ideas then you may want to go though some of our lists here:
The Best Truth or Dare Questions for Kids
Next Morning Breakfast Bar
Another great way to add sparkle to your sleepover is to make breakfast bright and cheery. Believe me, you are bound to have a little train of bleary-eyed zombies searching for some food and having a table of delicious options is just what they will need. You do not need to go overboard with a big buffet to make this special; in fact, setting up these incredibly simple details is what will help make the occasion memorable to your guests.
Similar to lolly buffets that are all the rage at the moment; creating a breakfast version not only requires a small amount of effort, but it also allows the guests to serve themselves (depending on your guests’ age, naturally). The Reject Shop sells a fabulous range of cheap glassware (apothecary and cocktail style) that will guarantee you get 10/10 for your wonderful breakfast display. Otherwise, salad bowls full of Coco Pops, Fruit Loops, Nutri Grain and oats would not only look great but save on costs too. Yoghurt; fruit; chia seeds โ the options are vast and exciting! A pancake grazing platter like the above is also another easy option.
In general, regardless of how fancy or detailed your sleepover party is, most kids are pretty easy to impress. No doubt the excitement of sharing the overnight adventure with their friends is special enough. Even so, by adding just a few extra creative details, even if it is just one or two of the ones we have mentioned, you can host a sleepover experience for them all that they are unlikely to ever forget.
Weโve got lots of other great Party Ideas on the website, including Low Stress & Healthier Savoury Party Food and Cool Party Bag Ideas.
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