Sleepovers

[Punk4ssBookJockey]

DD wants to have a sleepover for her 12th birthday. She's never had one with friends before - any suggestions on rules / activities or things I should make sure to provide? I'm planning to order pizza and have plenty of soft drinks and snacks available and basically leave them to it cos they are too old for a more structured party but want to have activities DD can suggest or I can introduce if things fall flat or they start arguing.

I'm thinking no phones in the bedroom at any point and phones to be left downstairs after 10 or 11pm (basically whenever I go to bed). Anything else I should be thinking about?

We might go out to the cinema or something early evening to fill some time before coming home to order pizza.

Agree. Cant believe how many parents would be ‘furious’ if their child didn’t have their phone! I think this is more about the needs of the parent and this obsession with having 24 contact and tracking of their child. Just let them get on with it. If there’s a problem, they’ll learn how to sort it by asking for help, or telling their friends, or going downstairs to get their phone if they have to.

As a teacher, I think parents are very nieve to think a group of 12 year olds, left unsupervised with phones, won’t push the boundaries. As someone else said, they’re only as safe as the lowest level of security on those phones.

Amazed by this thread

I’m another one who would be far far happier letting my year 7 go to a sleepover if phones were going to be left downstairs. Would support this fully and so would most year 7 parents I know.

I think some parents are incredibly naive about what sort of things kids might get up to with phones - especially in a group egging each other on - and how harmful it can be. It doesn’t have to be as bad as porn or ISIS as mentioned upthread, “just” sending round embarrassing/revealing photos or phoning kids who weren’t invited will have repercussions.

And some parents clearly massively overestimate the ability of a phone to keep their child “safe”.

I totally get what you mean about phones.
I was thinking of the last ones awake videoing those asleep and sending out...

However if mine were at a sleepover their phone is their safety link to me so I want them to have it.

Tough one.

they might not come if no phones

Sorry just realised this thread is old! apologies for reviving - although I’m sure the comments will still be relevant for other tween sleepovers.

Perhaps speak with the parents of the other girls and ask or suggest that they employ a lock down on their child's phone from 10pm so they can only ring/text parents and not use the internet or camera. That way the girls can keep their phones to contact home if they need to without any concerns about inappropriate use of phones. My daughter's phone is set up to do this every day anyway. I'm a teacher and understand your concerns - lots of issues arise from children using phones at sleep overs or in bedrooms.