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Your daughter's birthday is approaching and she has requested a slumber party. I can almost hear the anxiety in your voice, as you visualise loud music, incessant giggling and finding popcorn for weeks after the event. There is really no need to worry, as good organisation is the key to a successful party.
Steps to take …
Step 1: Tell your daughter how many friends she can invite and let her decide who they will be. Then send out the invites well in advance of the party, so that you have plenty of time to plan it properly.
Step 2: Have some music playing as the guests arrive and give them some time to chat together.
Step 3: Set up some glasses, fancy straws, cocktail umbrellas, fruit slices and cartons of juice in the kitchen. Have a competition to see who can make the most amazing fruit cocktail and give a prize for the best one.
Step 4: Divide the girls into teams and have a game of ‘Guess the Pop Star' and ‘The Perfect Makeover' and give prizes to the winning team.
Step 5: Put on your first DVD and serve hot dogs, chips and dips, pizza, popcorn and drinks.
Step 6: When you think it is getting late enough, you can gently coax the party guests up to the bedroom. Tell them that there will be a gift for them all in the morning, providing they keep the noise down.
Step 7: Have plenty of toast and juice waiting for your guests as they come down for breakfast.
Tips …
Make a list of all the things you are going to need and make sure you get everything ready before the guests arrive.
Try to estimate how long the games and activities are going to last - this will help you to plan the party better.
With your guidance, let your daughter decorate her bedroom with balloons, fairy lights, ribbons, etc.
Set out some make up, hair accessories, beads and string in a suitably well-lit area in her room.
Plan out where all the sleeping bags are going to go and have them set up long before bedtime.
Issue some torches, to ensure that no one falls on top of anyone when rushing desperately to the loo in the middle of the night.
Diplomatically issue some ground rules before bedtime - after all you are responsible for other people's children when they are in your care.
State the time you wish the guests to be dropped off and collected clearly on the invites.
State on the invites that everyone is required to bring a sleeping bag and pillow.
Have a few plastic aprons available for messy games, in case anything gets on someone's best clothes.
Finally, don't forget to have a camera or camcorder ready!
Warnings …
Make sure you are aware of any allergies, or health problems.
Don't invite too many guests - particularly if it the first sleepover.
Try not to be too bossy - remember that it is only for one night.
Things you will need …
Things to decorate the bedroom and/or downstairs
Makeup - for makeovers
Hair accessories
Beads and string - for jewellery making
DVDs
A selection of suitable music
Cocktail accessories
Fresh juices
Cocktail glasses
Food
Drinks
Birthday cake
Prizes
Plastic aprons
Torches
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