How do you facilitate your dc's sleepovers?

[lovelyjubilly]

As in, once the child is actually here in the house.

6yo dd has a friend over for a sleepover for the first time and I just realised that I have no idea if there's a 'done' way of doing it!

They've had some dinner and are now playing in dd's room. Do I enforce a bedtime at some point? Let them play until they drop? Ply them with sweets? Put a film on?

How do you do your sleepovers?

My son is 10 and he has the same friend stay over every other weekend and their night is playing computer games, pizza and sweets, chocolate and then a film in bed. There is no done way really just whatever they enjoy.

At that age I'd let them play by themselves for a bit then get them in PJs and settled down to watch a film at about 730-8.
I would usually let them have sweets/popcorn with the film with the aim of sending them up to bed for 9:30-10.
They probably won't go to sleep straightaway but at that age it'll only take a few shushes before they've worn themselves out and are asleep.

If they were older I'd put the film on later but I'd still have them dressed for bed by 9 even if they stayed up later (2am last sleep over!! for DD(9))

We set a bedtime but - as it's a special event - it's later than usual. At that time they're in bed with the light off. About 2am they may actually stop talking and go to sleep. DVDs, games etc are supplied if asked for, but apart from food and a later "lights out" we tend to leave them to it.

At 6yrs old I would have let them stay up later than usual, playing outside if weather ok. Then try to get them settled watching a film by around 7pm maybe, with the intention of lights off after that...but would expect chatting and giggling to go on much longer.

Also no bed time really they sometimes fall asleep watching a film.