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Thinking back to all the times my kids had sleepovers, or even our Girl Scout camp outs, I can remember the one thing that every single night had in common – the last thing anyone wants to do is sleep!
Say goodbye to your worries of a house full of excited guests and too many hours to fill with kids thinking about anything but sleep! Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered with a mix of top-rated games and activities that’ll help break the ice, get their creative juices flowing, help them move their bodies and having fun all night long. With a little bit of planning, you can give them a sleepover they'll never forget!
A great way to make sure that your party is moving along is a balloon countdown! Write down the name of an activity on a piece of paper and stuff it inside a balloon. On the outside of the balloon, write the time you want to start that activity and have the children pop the balloons at the designated time to find out what they’re doing next. It’s a fun and easy way to keep the night flowing.
Encourage your guests to start the night off with an ice breaker like the classic Ha Ha Game or the Left/Right Pass Game. It’s the perfect way to get the evening started and get rid of any nervous energy.
There are so many amazing options if you’ve got a group that loves showing off their creativity! Include activities that get their creative juices flowing - make friendship bracelets, pillowcase decorating with fabric markers, making paper plate dreamcatchers, blindfolded makeovers, tin foil or toilet paper fashion show, or a paper airplane challenge.
Maybe you prefer to get their bodies moving! Giving them ways to get a little energy out can include games like Freeze Dance, Simon Says, Balloon Tag, Flashlight Tag, Flashlight Charades, a TikTok dance challenge, or a selfie scavenger hunt.
Get them talking with games like Would You Rather, 3 Truths and a Lie, Truth or Dare, Who Is Most Likely To, or Never Have I Ever. Prepping a list of age-appropriate questions makes these games fun for any age - even adults!
Don’t think you have the time to plan all the activities yourself? You can find printable sleepover game packs, like this one, on Etsy.
Of course, at the end of the night, it’s great to have a wind-down activity like a movie or game that will encourage them to relax and settle in for the night - like Keep Going Chain Storytelling, I-Spy, or a Movie Bingo.
In all your planning and preparations, don’t forget that it’s easy for kids to get overwhelmed - especially if they’re new to sleepovers. Try using a special code word or phrase that you and your child can use to let each other know when they need help or a calming distraction without drawing too much attention to themselves or any of their guests. This creates an easy safety net to provide them with support if they need it.
After all these years, I’ve found that kids will generally find ways to entertain themselves, especially the older they get, but you never know when you’re going to need a few tried and true party games or activities to keep the kids from becoming too restless.
Have you tried any of these games already? Or maybe you have some other great ideas to add to our next list? Share them with us - we’d love to hear from you!
Email me at PitchedPerfectPartyCo@gmail.com.
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