Suggestion/advice for sleepover?

I would add music and let them dance. It will burn off some of their energy and kids love it.

Another idea is to take them somewhere for something active. Since it is winter, perhaps roller skating or ice skating. Another possiblity is an indoor pool.

Ooo, tell ghost stories, or do games like “Light as a feather, stiff as a board.” I always loved those.

You can also have them do some arts and crafts (painting, beading, bracelet making, etc) that way they can take home what they made. Or you can let them do makeovers on each other! My mom bought a bunch of cheap makeup at the dollar store and we would do each others hair and makeup! I miss being a kid :(

You are very brave to have that many girls over! I’m not very girlie myself, but having a young daughter, I know she loves to have her nails painted. They have really neat stickers you can put on their nails when they are dry.

it will be good to have something to go away with after the sleepover.

make sure u have lots off junk foods, popcorns, a good funny comedy, some insane music, ghost story will be a good idea also, a trip to the arcade or something like that etc

Have some craft activities around, and they can take home what they make. Nail polish is a great idea too. Don’t bother with the loot bags, they’re going to be going out of style very soon if not now.

We did this for my daughter a few years ago and it was a great success for the kids.
From this experience here is some advice:

Flashlights are a big hit. The small ones can be bought cheap and used in a goody bag.
In the bags can also be a smore kit. Smores cooked in the fireplace are a blast (Parent doing roasting of course)

What ever you do- do not be tempted to get each girl a bottle of the string spray. The kids did it outside and while it was a real blast for them it took weeks to get it all off the patio.

A good kids camping movie is fun and popcorn. (suggestion- the parent trap)

11 girls. You are a brave one! You

What I did for my daughter, when she was younger, instead of a goody bag, we took a group picture, printed a copy for each girl and we made frames for them. Well, we didn’t make the frames, I bought unpainted frames from a craft store and put paints, glitter, all the trimmings (I have a big supply of craft stuff!), even buttons, out for them to decorate the frames. Paints and markers are enough, I just was trying to get rid of the stuff! We hot glued the picture (you do the hot gluing!!) to the frame and there was the take home! If you don’t want to print the picture at home – have your husband run out and print them at Target, Wal-Mart or a drug store – cheap & easy to do!

You might run into the problem of some of the girls not getting along – if that happens…put a DVD in!!!

Singing, dancing, nails….that will keep them occupied. Cheap nail polish – and if you have someone helping you – set it up like a nail salon.

You could rent a karaoke DVD and have the girls do that. I know my BFFs and I loved singing pop songs at the tops of our lungs.

A game I played in grade school (and, funnily enough, in an improv class as an adult) was where everyone sits in a circle and together makes up a a fairy tale, one word per person. Here are some other games they could play that will stretch their creativity.

Ice cream or cupcake/cookie bar! You get plain ice cream/cupcakes/cookies and all the toppings and let them go at it. Rent a few movies with your daughter. When it’s quite late, suggest they all pull out a sleeping bag and watch a movie. Usually the inactivity will put everyone to sleep.

Also, have snacks on hand. Lots of them.

Nail polish and other beauty stuff is usually pretty big.

Also make your own mini-pizzas. Use flatbread/half a pita/half an english muffin as a crust, have tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings, bake each girl’s pizza. It’s fun! You get to make your own food!

A VERY brave mother of a friend of mine when we were kids got a ton of cheap white t-shirts and let us paint them. Honestly? I do not recommend on account of the paint and your house, but it was super fun! Then we put them in the dining room to dry overnight.

The sandwich bar and dessert bar idea is a good one. Even at this age not every girl likes the same things. Mine always liked made to order smoothies/shakes where they could choose from a lot of different fruits, yogurts, ice creams. Then not everyone has to have junk to eat, but it’s there for those who want it.

I would be wary of telling ghost stories at a sleepover for 8 year olds. Some fof them might have vivid imaginations and have trouble sleeping afterward! Otherwise, I think all the ideas are great.

You could ask each of the girls to bring over some of their favourite dress up stuff. Set up a photo shoot in the living room with a digital camera. Simple backdrop or the girls can help decorate. Uploading to a photo-sharing site will be easy and convenient.

check out oriental.com for some great ideas for fun stuff. I kike the idea of a music theme. You can get a dozen inflatable micro phones real cheap and a few inflatable guitars. Put a fake microphone in an 8 year old girls hands and you have a party.

I don’t think that you need to give goodie bags.

I agree on the goodie bags. If you’re doing a sleepover, I think that’s a big enough treat and goodie bags are not necessary.

Thanks guys, this is extremely helpful! She got a camera and printer for Christmas, so I’m thinking the makeover/group photo/dress-up shots with making frames would be awesome! Also serving the sugar early and plenty of healthy late-night snacks is good too.

Every time she goes to a party she comes home with a goodie bag, so I guess I felt some pressure. But taking home a photo or two is way cooler and lasts longer than candy! Thanks guys!

You are a great stepmother, nocountry!

@nocountry2 – my oldest is getting ready to turn 15, wanna handle her party?? ;~)

@cak lol My youngest son will be turning 15 and you just reminded me how much easier a boys’ party is rather than a girls’ party. I’ll take a boys’ party over a girls’ any day! Pizza, soda and xbox is all that you need.

@jonsblond – for some reason, her friends like me. Last time she had a party, I wound up hiding in my room to get a break! I’m a mean wife, I threw my husband to the wolves. They like him, too. Scary.

@cak That just means that you are both cool parents!

@jonsblond – but when they all start giggling…they scare me! (and him!!)

Just don’t mention the pony and your’ll be alright