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“Grandma, can it be a sleepover day?”
Well…..we live 3 hours away, so unfortunately my response to this question is “Not tonight, but let’s see if we can plan something.”
When you read this, we will have just finished having the girls with us for ‘4 sleeps’ while their mom is in Atlanta for work. Even though spending the night at Amma and Papa’s doesn’t really require anything extra, we thought we might up our game for this extended time together just for some extra fun.
We think calling each night a Slumber Party will be super fun, and may also help them not miss mom and dad quite as much.
Today we’re sharing a few of the things we are planning, and also some tips to help the next sleepover with your grandkids be filled with sweet dreams…for everyone!
Send an Invitation!
We’re big on invitations – for just about anything. We’ll be sending the girls a cute invite, along with a list of anything they need to bring with them.
These printable invitations from the shop come in a set of 4 so you can pick your favorite one and add your personalization to it.
Party Favors
Flashlights and/or new jammies will be waiting for them!
First Things First
- Make sure you have everything you need from your grown kids.
- Mom and Dad aren’t just a few minutes away in our case, so we really try to set ourselves up for success here:
- If our grown kids are dropping them off, make sure they leave the carseats, and better yet, install them in your car.
- Do kids need meds? Make sure you understand all the details.
- Are there any bedtime routines that we might need to incorporate into our sleepover?
Crafts
The girls like to get crafting right away, so in addition to the ‘make what you can from what we’ve got’ style of art, I’ll also have supplies on hand to make some cute paper bag puppets.
Paperbag Puppets
You’ll need:
- Brown paper bags
- Mask template markers/colored paper/scraps of fabric
- Glue your masks onto the ‘bottom’ flap of the bag.
There are a couple of ways to go here – and in addition to the sleep mask, or super-hero mask, the sky is the limit.
- Create a super hero puppet. Add or draw eyes, and make your superhero costume on the remainder of the bag.
- Have the mask be a sleep mask. So don’t add any eyes to the mask, and then design some fabulous jammies!
You could also just have fun printing and coloring the masks.
Coloring Pages
These are great for the girls to use when I am needing to get a few things done! I typically google their favorite things or characters and print a few pages to have on hand. A simple google search is really all you need to find plenty of options.
Games & Activities
Board games – Always a hit! We are loving Ticket to Ride First Adventure, Monopoly Jr., Spot It, and especially Pop the Pig – because Kami (my two-year-old granddaughter) can play this one too!
Slime or Homemade Playdough – I’ve found we can’t go wrong with these activities. If your grandkids are in elementary school, consider having playdough challenges. We did this frequently at an after-school club we hosted. Challenge the kids to make their best donut, car, flower, piece of pizza, etc…and allow them to challenge your creative mind too! Then do a quick showcase for everyone to describe the special features of their creation.
Bingo – Kids LOVE bingo. It’s such a great game for all ages. Use bingo markers you have around the house and just keep an eye on the little ones if there are chokable pieces. Check out the slumber party-themed bingo game in the shop here. And if you are looking for bingo chips, I bought these a few years ago and they are still going strong!
Scavenger Hunt – This is a great way to get the wiggles out and have some friendly competition (or teamwork). My husband (Papa) plans to hide the items around the house while the girls and I work together to find them all. In the second round, he is going to set a timer for an added challenge. You can get a cute and simple scavenger hunt checklist in the shop right here using items you already have around the house.
Memory Match – For my granddaughters (ages 2 & 5) this is a great game. Usually, my youngest flips the cards over for me, and to her, it’s a great surprise every time as she discovers what picture is underneath -soon she will probably be matching me! Our oldest has actually become quite good at this game and it’s teaching her some great skills!
Glow Stick Dance Party
Get the glow sticks glowing, turn off the lights, and turn on some favorite tunes!
Often, a soundtrack from a current kids movie is a good option. (Encanto anyone?)
Stories We’ll Be Reading
The Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party
The girls are really into these books right now. This book about a sleepover that goes wrong helps kids learn about responsibility and accountability.
In this cute book, Larry the Polar bear, who lives in a hotel named after him, decides to have a sleepover and invite his zoo friends – complete with a menu of codfish and blueberries.
Food and Snacks We’ll Be Eating
Most likely dinner a couple of nights will be chicken nuggets or pizza. But we’ll have trail mix, lots of fruit and veggies, and cheese and crackers on hand. And stuff to make smoothies too! We’re keeping it simple.
For breakfast, we’ll be serving Papa’s Pancakes and fruit. Every. Morning. Because they love them. And Papa really does make the best pancakes.
However, if you’re looking for a super creative dessert, check out these Sleeping Bag Blondies from Taste at Home – they are adorable!
The ‘Pre-Slumber’ Party for Long-Distance Grandparents
Now I know that a lot of you reading this are long-distance grandparents like myself. If you know you won’t be seeing your grandkids in person for a while, don’t let that stop you.
We’re including ideas for what we like to call a ‘Pre-Slumber’ Party! We are grandparents determined that there is a way to do just about anything virtually!
- Set up a date & time to connect virtually with your grandkids.
- Send the Pre-Slumber Party Invite, and include the supplies needed, or include a gift card to cover the cost of supplies. Remember to keep this request simple!
- Prepare your space. Get your most comfy jammies on, and gather blankets, pillows, and maybe a flashlight to have around you.
- Print out and mail, or email the color and activity pages.
- Games and activities that work well virtually include Pictionary, charades, and bingo. Playdough is also fun to use while connecting virtually.
- Check out the books from your local library, or google a selected title. You may be able to find it online and watch/read it together.
- Enjoy some snacks together.
- Give some virtual hugs and kisses, and Sign off when it’s bedtime!
AND….with the ‘pre-slumber’ party, you could really spread it out! Just choose a couple of ideas, and save the rest for another time!
Whether you are snuggling up in person or giving ‘air hugs’ before bedtime, we hope that these little parties will be filled with fun and that you will cherish the moments that turn into sweet memories!