THEMED SLUMBER (AND BIRTHDAY) CHILD’S PARTY CHECKLIST
A group of giggling girls can only last so long before boredom sets in.
So planning activities to get them through the night is important. When my daughter asked
me for a birthday and slumber party combination for her twelfth birthday, we sat down
together to plan the big event.
Our first job was to decide on a theme that took into account
my daughter’s interests, and she chose surfing. Through all of the planning, my daughter
participated in the decisions. The checklist that follows lists ideas and things you can
consider in putting together a themed slumber party. We’ve also given you examples along
the way using my daughter’s surfing theme.
Choose a theme for the party (one of your child’s interests or hobbies).
Choose a date for the party (a date where the whole family can sleep a little longer the next morning).
On the day of the party give siblings something to do elsewhere or make arrangements for them to stay with friends or family.
Invitation:
Design an invitation from the theme
(we purchased inexpensive flip flops in different colors. The invitation (shaped like a
surf board) was tied to the flip flops. The invitation announced that the invitees were
to wear the flip flops to the party.
Include the date, place, time, what to
bring for sleep over, what time to be picked up in the morning, your names (parents and
child), RSVP request and phone number for guests or guest’s parents to call. This also
gives the parents your phone number if they need it prior to or on the date of the party.
Mail or hand deliver invitations (in this
case they were hand delivered).
Make sure you know how to contact each of the participants’ parents in case of an emergency.
Make sure you know if any of the guests have allergies to food or special needs
Decorations & supplies:
Napkins
Trash bags
Disposable but sturdy plates, utensils and glasses
Ice
Digital camera
Project supplies
House rules:
Present house rules to party guests
include rules on phone calls, leaving the house, etc.). We did this with the theme of the
party in mind using a poster with surf terminology. Once everyone knew the terms, the rules
were presented -- Prevent a party 'wipe-out,' no 'body surfing' outside the house and no
phone calls to other 'grommets.' The guests then were asked to interpret the surf
terminology in the house rules.
Sleeping room:
Make flashlights available in the sleeping room.
Add a night light in the hallway and bathroom.
Set up bedding as soon as all the party attendees arrive.
Food & Drink (evening):
Serve food in individual servings. (We used beach themed large cookie cutters to cut sandwiches, pizza and individual birthday cakes.)
Serve drinks in theme format. Fruit juices with sparkling soda in tall glasses decorated with fruit to look like tropical drinks.
Set up snacks including healthy choices.
Activities:
Plan activities, group projects, movies, etc. that go along with the theme and age of guests. Here are some examples for our surfing theme.
Group project: We purchased inexpensive plastic air mattresses in all colors. The guests decorated each with colored masking tape. These were then taken to the ‘sleeping’ room and placed on the floor with each girls bag, sleeping bag, blankets and pillows placed on top.
Group project: Each guest designed and decorated their own surfboard - precut out of backer board - using stencils, stickers, and other themed items. A photo was taken of everyone standing with the decorated surf boards. The best photo was printed for each guest and put in the decorated frames as a memento.
Group project: Each guest decorated an inexpensive frame with sea shells, sea glass and other beach themed accessories.
Movie and activity: Watched a beach themed movie that we had pre-selected and served food and drinks. Before the movie everyone drew a name of a character in the movie. They then had to act out one of the scenes after the movie.
Food & Drink (morning):
Set out food (fruit, muffins, etc.) and drinks (orange juice, apple juice) that guests and members of the family can help themselves to as they get up.
Set out disposable but sturdy plates, utensils, glasses and napkins.
Preset a table or area where the guests can sit and eat breakfast.
