Sleepover Saviours: How to Survive a Night With Even More Children
Prepare your home for when you're outnumbered and they have you surrounded
When your first child becomes old enough to have a sleepover, it’s exciting. It brings back memories of the old days. You remember fondly hanging out with your friends watching movies, wearing your pyjamas and gossiping through the night. That lasts till about midnight, when you find yourself struggling to keep your voice from screeching as you implore the little darlings to go to sleep. After all, you need to get up in about five hours to make pancakes. Will they ever go to sleep?
The sleepover is a battle between good (you) and evil (the children sleeping over). They are innately skilled in the torture technique of sleep deprivation and they’re not afraid to use it. In order to win this battle, or at least survive without post traumatic stress, approach it with military-like precision. Your house needs to be prepared in advance, with plans for the evening drawn up and an exit strategy discussed (just in case). Trust me, the following will help:
The sleepover is a battle between good (you) and evil (the children sleeping over). They are innately skilled in the torture technique of sleep deprivation and they’re not afraid to use it. In order to win this battle, or at least survive without post traumatic stress, approach it with military-like precision. Your house needs to be prepared in advance, with plans for the evening drawn up and an exit strategy discussed (just in case). Trust me, the following will help:
Keep them contained
Basically, you want to keep the mess and noise all together in one spot. Organise an activity to keep them amused; this can be anything from biscuit decorating or finger art, to nail art designing and monster face painting.
10 rainy day kids’ activities to save your sanity
Basically, you want to keep the mess and noise all together in one spot. Organise an activity to keep them amused; this can be anything from biscuit decorating or finger art, to nail art designing and monster face painting.
10 rainy day kids’ activities to save your sanity
One great place for this is the backyard. The kids would love an evening ‘camping’ or ‘glamping’ under the stars in teepees, and you get to keep the house tidy and the noise outside. It’s a win/win.
If you (or your kids) are lucky enough to have an outdoor trampoline, this is a great way to keep the kids in one place … and it will help out with step 1 (above), too! Recruit your partner, or a friend/fellow parent to sit out with you while you supervise.
Most people can’t afford a home with a huge indoor sports room, but this room is absolutely brilliant and worthy of a shout out. Kids can run around and shake out their energy and then, come nighttime, pull down the hideaway beds concealed in the walls (that’s right, there are beds IN THE WALLS!). All you would have to do is throw in a couple of boxes of pizzas and some drinks, close the doors and enjoy the peace and quiet!
Stay one step ahead of the game
If you plan ahead you can make the evening run more smoothly. Placing extra towels and even extra toothbrushes in the bathroom before the kids arrive means that getting them ready for bed can be quick and painless – they should be able to organise themselves with little intervention. It’s also a good idea to prepare all the meals and snacks ahead of time. Or at least organise your takeaway brochures so that ordering doesn’t take up too much time. Let’s make this as painless as possible.
If you plan ahead you can make the evening run more smoothly. Placing extra towels and even extra toothbrushes in the bathroom before the kids arrive means that getting them ready for bed can be quick and painless – they should be able to organise themselves with little intervention. It’s also a good idea to prepare all the meals and snacks ahead of time. Or at least organise your takeaway brochures so that ordering doesn’t take up too much time. Let’s make this as painless as possible.
Customise a sleepover room
If you have the space, and have a few children, it’s a great idea to plan a special sleepover zone in your home. You’ll use it for years when your kids are growing up and then maybe even later on for the grandkids. It makes sleeping extra kids a breeze. This living area can be easily customised to your kids’ interests or sleepover theme. First things first, string up the fairy lights and add an abundance of pillows for them to snuggle up next to in sleeping bags. For an extra special treat, hang themed decorations from princess pompoms to planets.
If you have the space, and have a few children, it’s a great idea to plan a special sleepover zone in your home. You’ll use it for years when your kids are growing up and then maybe even later on for the grandkids. It makes sleeping extra kids a breeze. This living area can be easily customised to your kids’ interests or sleepover theme. First things first, string up the fairy lights and add an abundance of pillows for them to snuggle up next to in sleeping bags. For an extra special treat, hang themed decorations from princess pompoms to planets.
If you can, consider beds like these. They are great because they enable the kids to sleep together, but have the curtains so that when you’ve made your fifteenth trip in to say “stop talking”, you can pull the curtains to make individual little cocoons for each child. They also give the kids some privacy and hopefully muffle the sounds of snoring, too!
Make it dark
When I say dark, I mean bottom of a coal mine in the middle of winter dark. You want to make the kids think it’s later than it is at bedtime and block any signs of the sun in the morning. The goal here is to keep them asleep for as long as possible. If you don’t have the blinds and curtains capable of complete block out, you could drape thick blankets over curtain rods to make it darker. Do whatever it takes. Really.
When I say dark, I mean bottom of a coal mine in the middle of winter dark. You want to make the kids think it’s later than it is at bedtime and block any signs of the sun in the morning. The goal here is to keep them asleep for as long as possible. If you don’t have the blinds and curtains capable of complete block out, you could drape thick blankets over curtain rods to make it darker. Do whatever it takes. Really.
Make it cosy
Sometimes kids don’t want to sleep on beds, they just want to curl up next to each other and snuggle into their sleeping bags. This room is especially great because it has a starry sky and minimal natural light. In a room like this you could let them watch a movie on a laptop or iPad and then, when it’s over, turn out the lights and let the twinkly ceiling lull them into sleep. A cosy living room with thick carpet works just as well, just clear the floor of furniture and let them lie there. Again, customise with a string of fairy lights and listen out for the gentle snores.
20 kids’ bedrooms you secretly wish you could have
Sometimes kids don’t want to sleep on beds, they just want to curl up next to each other and snuggle into their sleeping bags. This room is especially great because it has a starry sky and minimal natural light. In a room like this you could let them watch a movie on a laptop or iPad and then, when it’s over, turn out the lights and let the twinkly ceiling lull them into sleep. A cosy living room with thick carpet works just as well, just clear the floor of furniture and let them lie there. Again, customise with a string of fairy lights and listen out for the gentle snores.
20 kids’ bedrooms you secretly wish you could have
NOW IT’S TIME TO ENJOY SOME ‘ME TIME’…
The case for being productive
Now that we’ve got the kids all sorted, it’s important to plan for your own evening. One school of thought says to accept that this is not going to be the best night of your life and be productive: clean out your wardrobe, tidy the pantry or sort the laundry. This gives you useful activities to do, but you’re not so engaged (or happy) that you’re going to resent being pulled away to go supervise the kids when necessary. On the other hand, if your wardrobe looks this pretty maybe you could just sit and smile at it.
The case for being productive
Now that we’ve got the kids all sorted, it’s important to plan for your own evening. One school of thought says to accept that this is not going to be the best night of your life and be productive: clean out your wardrobe, tidy the pantry or sort the laundry. This gives you useful activities to do, but you’re not so engaged (or happy) that you’re going to resent being pulled away to go supervise the kids when necessary. On the other hand, if your wardrobe looks this pretty maybe you could just sit and smile at it.
The case for being unproductive
Sometimes ignorance is bliss. When the kids are all sorted and set for the night, snuggle up on the couch with a good TV series (may I recommend House of Cards?). You can turn the volume up so loud that you can’t hear a thing. Eventually they’ll fall asleep – and House of Cards has three seasons. Trust me, they’ll give up before Frank does.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss. When the kids are all sorted and set for the night, snuggle up on the couch with a good TV series (may I recommend House of Cards?). You can turn the volume up so loud that you can’t hear a thing. Eventually they’ll fall asleep – and House of Cards has three seasons. Trust me, they’ll give up before Frank does.
Read a book
If you’re a conscientious parent and want to be more alert for the sleepover experience, it might be a better idea to curl up with a book, rather than a TV show. That way you can still relax and entertain yourself while remaining alert and able to hear what’s going on with the kids. You can tell what time they’ve gone to sleep and maybe hear some juicy gossip, too!
If you’re a conscientious parent and want to be more alert for the sleepover experience, it might be a better idea to curl up with a book, rather than a TV show. That way you can still relax and entertain yourself while remaining alert and able to hear what’s going on with the kids. You can tell what time they’ve gone to sleep and maybe hear some juicy gossip, too!
Meditate
Caring for other people’s children can be stressful. Especially when they’re noisy. And dirty. And arguing with your children. Now is the time to stop and take a few deep breaths and focus on the present. A room like this would be so perfect, but you can meditate anywhere in your home – though far away from the kids is best. If you’re having trouble focussing, try some apps or download some guided meditations from iTunes.
More: Ommmm! 8 Tips to Set Up the Perfect Meditation Space at Home
Caring for other people’s children can be stressful. Especially when they’re noisy. And dirty. And arguing with your children. Now is the time to stop and take a few deep breaths and focus on the present. A room like this would be so perfect, but you can meditate anywhere in your home – though far away from the kids is best. If you’re having trouble focussing, try some apps or download some guided meditations from iTunes.
More: Ommmm! 8 Tips to Set Up the Perfect Meditation Space at Home
Have a bath
Grab some candles and bubble bath and head for the tub. It’s probably best to do this when the kids are fast asleep, and always make sure you lock the door. There’s nothing less relaxing than having a group of kids finding you naked in the bath when they’ve gone looking for the toilet.
Grab some candles and bubble bath and head for the tub. It’s probably best to do this when the kids are fast asleep, and always make sure you lock the door. There’s nothing less relaxing than having a group of kids finding you naked in the bath when they’ve gone looking for the toilet.
The exit strategy
Just in case they really aren’t going to sleep, or someone wants to get away from the group, it’s a good idea to have a spare bed or two made up in a different room (probably your child’s unused bedroom). Some children really do love and need their sleep and recognise this about themselves. They’ll want to take themselves off to have a good night’s sleep while their friends keep on talking … and talking … and talking…
TELL US
What’s your kids’ sleepover strategy? Share your stress-free sleepover tips in the Comments.
MORE INSPIRATION
12 Dream Spaces for Kids’ Sleepovers
Shared Kids’ Rooms: How to Turn Them into a Win-Win
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Just in case they really aren’t going to sleep, or someone wants to get away from the group, it’s a good idea to have a spare bed or two made up in a different room (probably your child’s unused bedroom). Some children really do love and need their sleep and recognise this about themselves. They’ll want to take themselves off to have a good night’s sleep while their friends keep on talking … and talking … and talking…
TELL US
What’s your kids’ sleepover strategy? Share your stress-free sleepover tips in the Comments.
MORE INSPIRATION
12 Dream Spaces for Kids’ Sleepovers
Shared Kids’ Rooms: How to Turn Them into a Win-Win
20 Cheerful DIY Additions for Kids’ Bedrooms
10 Kids’ Bedroom Themes That Go the Distance
You simply can NOT go into a sleepover situation with a group of children full of energy. They need to be tired. Exhausted. They need to be on the brink of collapse. If you have a pool, throw them in. If you don’t have a pool, organise some sport on the grass or a trip to the local playground. Also, it’s a good idea to keep the sugar to a minimum – save it for the morning when they’re about to go home to their parents.
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