Make Your Child's First Sleepover a Positive Experience

Sleeping away from home for the first time can be quite an experience for both parent and child. These are some methods to lessen the anxiety on both sides and make the sleepover experience a positive step in a child's growing independence.

Be sure the child is comfortable and well familiar with the home and family that they are going to be spending the night with. This applies to family, friends of the family or classmates. Spending only a few hours in someone's company is vastly different than spending an entire night with them. You want to make sure that you have complete faith in the people you entrust your child's safety and well being to for an extended period of time. Your child should be comfortable in expressing themselves and asking for help if needed. Ask as many questions as you need to about the family unit and activities that your child may be involved in at the sleepover.

Give the adults that will be in charge of your child emergency contact information and any special instructions regarding your child. Does your child have any food allergies or specific fears that may come up during his or her night away from home? Be sure the caregivers know your home and cell phone numbers, a phone number of a close friend or relative that can contacted if you are unreachable, and your child's primary care physician. This may sound overly protective and maybe paranoid to some, but accidents and sudden illnesses do occur and it is better to provide the information and have it not be used, than severely needed and not be available in a time of crisis.

Prepare your child for the sleepover a few days in advance if possible. Remind them that they will soon be spending the night away from home and that they will have a wonderful time. Keep it light and positive and your child will likely view it in the same way. Reassure them if need be that they will be perfectly safe and well taken care of and that you will be seeing them the very next day. Answer any questions that are asked honestly and patiently.