Five Tips to Prepare Your Child for Their First Sleepover
When your child is a toddler, the prospect of their first sleepover seems like a distant dream. After all, how will they cope without you there to read them a bedtime story and tuck them in? But as kids grow older, it’s something that becomes more and more of a priority with their friends.
Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do as a parent to help your child get ready for their first sleepover. The earlier you start preparing them, the easier it will be when the time comes! From toiletry basics to natural sleep remedies, here are five top tips to get you started.
- Establish a Bedtime Routine
As a parent, you might be tempted to simply tell your child to go to bed early on the night of their first sleepover. Easier said than done because they might be just too keyed up to fall asleep. Instead, try to develop a bedtime routine that’s as close to their usual schedule as possible so that they feel safe and secure when away from home.
By doing so, you’ll be helping to make the transition between home and away much easier. If your child’s friend is staying over after school, you might want to adjust the timing of the schedule slightly so that they’re not too tired at the end of their day. Otherwise, they might become too over-excited and be unable to sleep. A little bit of extra time to wind down and relax is never a bad thing, especially when paired with a natural sleep remedy.
- Let Them Pick Their Pajamas and Favorite Stuffed Toy
It might sound like a small thing, but letting your child choose the pajamas and stuffed toy they want to bring to their first sleepover will help them feel more in control. It’s the small things like this that can make a big difference to their confidence. If they’re wearing their favorite familiar outfit, they’ll be more likely to relax and fall asleep quickly.
If your child’s friend is staying over, you can encourage them to bring their own favorites, too. This will help them feel more at ease in a new environment and also shows that you’re supportive of both parties feeling comfortable in the situation.
- Don’t Forget the Small Things
This might sound like an obvious one, but there are lots of small things that kids often forget when they are staying with friends. You want to make sure that they have their toothbrush, enough toothpaste, natural sleep remedy, and any other small necessities so that they don’t feel lost in their new surroundings.
If you’re dropping your child off at their friend’s house, you might want to put these things in a small overnight bag to avoid them being forgotten. This also gives you a chance to remind your child to pack the things they need before they go!
- Help Them Practice Being On Their Own
When possible, try to help your child practice being by themselves. This can make a big difference even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time. By putting them in situations where they have to be on their own, you’ll help them get used to the feeling of being more independent.
They might be a little nervous in the beginning, but they’ll soon realize that not having you there doesn’t have to be a scary thing. It can be as simple as letting them read a book in silence in another room while you do household tasks.
- Show and Tell
As a parent, you might feel the urge to tell your child everything that they need to do for their first sleepover. It’s much more likely to stick if you try to show them what to do instead. This is a much more effective way of helping them learn what they need to know and will also give them some independence.
For example, you might want to help them unpack their bag and find their toothbrush, toothpaste, natural sleep remedy, and other necessities. Showing them what to do rather than just telling them will help them feel more confident when the sleepover actually comes around.
Sleepover Success
Your child’s first sleepover might be a nerve-wracking experience for you, but they’ll be much more relaxed if they’re prepared for it. Establishing a bedtime routine as well as letting them pick their pajamas, favorite stuffed toy, natural sleep remedy, and other small things will help them feel more at ease. Don’t forget the small necessities either, like a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Finally, make sure you go through the process with them and show them what to do rather than just telling them. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to helping your child get ready for their first sleepover.
