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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Considering a mass sleepover!!

126 replies

2anddone · 16/02/2017 12:52

Ds does Year 6 SATs this year and I am considering an end of SATs party for his year group.
It would be a sleepover in the village hall from 6.30 until 9.30 the next morning and would include pizza tea and breakfast the next morning.
It's not his birthday or anywhere near his birthday and the majority of parents/ children in the year are incredibly close having known each other almost their entire lives!!
I was thinking of asking for a contribution of £5 per child to cover tea/breakfast/snacks/hall hire.. it wouldn't cover the entire cost but would help.
I know I (and a couple of parents who have agreed to stay) would get no sleep and it would basically be an up all night playing games, watching movies and generally being loud and having fun.
So you lovely people of mumsnet AIBU to even consider a mass sleepover, should I stick to just 8 in my front room and cater/entertain out of my own pocket?? crosses fingers and hopes there is not too much flaming!

OP posts:
MsJamieFraser · 17/02/2017 21:43

It's sounds awesome and one that I wish I had thought of, as my boy loves sleeping out HmmConfusedGrin as does his mates.

I don't know if you can get them,

I'm having 18 boys staying over tomorrow night for ds1 birthday, il let you know how it goes...

For a game we are doing marshmallow towers and donut dangles (donuts swinging from a string and you try and eat them) he's also an avid footballer so we have ballon keepie uppers, and attack the coach with loo roll and make him a mummy (dh is coach and he is not aware) however did question the extra 24 rolls of toilet roll on the shopping delivery Grin

MsJamieFraser · 17/02/2017 21:48

Ignore the "I don't know if you can get them"..

A few years ago Asda done these football finger marble sets, we brought them for 20p at the time, but on googling them I've seen they are discontinued.

However they do look like this

Considering a mass sleepover!!
tanyavt · 17/02/2017 21:56

Our school (also small village school) does this for the children in Year 6 before they leave- they all sleep in tents on the field in the school and use the school facilities. Might that be an option?

apringle · 17/02/2017 22:07

Sounds so fun and a memory they will cherish forever!

mumof3boys33 · 18/02/2017 16:31

I did a year 7 sleepover for 8 boys in the living room and wouldn't do it again! Some of them were extra hyper and climbing on the furniture having pillow fights most of the night. They hired a film which was on but no one watched it.
The next day when they were gone it took a long time to get all the chewed up, spat out sweets off the carpet! My son had told them all to bring sweets. It would be better in a hall though, with help, as long as you are prepared for no sleeep. Our primary school does a sleepover every year for years 1 and 2. They love it. They are younger though and do go to sleep eventually. Good luck!

couchparsnip · 18/02/2017 16:55

Our Y6 have a sleepover after SATS. They all go in the hall and watch movies on the big whiteboard screen. DS is in Y6 this year and thinks it will be 'epic'. The parents contribute about a tenner and the PTA organise chaperones. I think some of the teachers like to stay over as well. They've done it as long as I can remember so it must go down well!

Jian · 19/02/2017 04:24

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BathshebaDarkstone · 19/02/2017 04:27

I think you're insane! Grin

tigercub50 · 19/02/2017 08:36

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Benedikte2 · 19/02/2017 09:35

Sounds fabulous idea and will be an occasion the kids will remember forever. You are obviously a tolerant lover of children and able to take the strain most of us wouldn't be capable of so go for it and good luck

ChrisYoungFuckingRocks · 19/02/2017 17:59

A thought - if they're not going to sleep much anyway lol. When I was at school (in South Africa) we used to have sponsored 'stay awake nights', where the whole school (or class in this case) get sponsored to stay awake all night for charity. We played games, sports, watched movies etc, and it wasn't actually that hard to stay awake. Plus the day after they'll all be sleeping, so their parents will have an extra break Wink.

Also, if you do the sponsorship for say school sports equipment or something, perhaps the school will let you use their hall for free Grin.

user1487622990 · 20/02/2017 21:49

I've never be one for an all nighter so if I went to something like this I would want to be asleep for at least midnight.

You need to have somewhere quiet for those who don't want to be up all night (most year 6's shouldn't be up all night and won't be able to cope with the lack of sleep) to be able to sleep if hey want to.

WatchingIZombie · 20/02/2017 21:55

They used to do this at the primary school I used to work at. All the children loved it and it was something each new year six group looked forward to when it was their turn! The only difference is they used to sleep in tents pitched in the school field. :)

Original poster
2anddone · 21/02/2017 10:13

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! No way could my ds cope with an all-nighter it took him 3 days to get over his last sleepover!!
Do you think I would be unreasonable to have a 'lights out' time? I am not saying 9pm or anything Early but maybe a midnight snack and then lights out by 1am??
Figuring I will start the evening with games and activities and dinner then move onto a couple of films with lights out after that?
Also do you think classic films are the way to go assuming then most won't have seen it?
Year 6 is a funny age for choosing films can't do Harry Potter as they don't all like it, some think they are too old for Disney, would comedies like Mr Bean's holiday or similar work? I was going to go with Ferris Buellers day off but there was a shit, arse, bull shit and crap in first 15 minutes and it's rated12 so not sure parents would approve??
Any opinions welcome please :)

OP posts:
BathshebaDarkstone · 21/02/2017 10:18

DD's already at that funny age in year 4! I've started buying her DVDs with a PG rating. Percy Jackson?

Twistmeandturnme · 21/02/2017 10:20

National Lampoons vacation films. Dreadful but about the right level.

I'd say avoid Ladders; it's a fun game but we get quite a lot of accidental stamping/ankle twisting injuries at Brownies with this, which would be miserable on an overnight.

Twistmeandturnme · 21/02/2017 10:21

...I take it back; apparently some of them are 15 certificate (oops, sorry).

Original poster
2anddone · 21/02/2017 10:49

I am starting to wish it was in December I can think of loads of Christmas films....maybe I should theme it Wink

OP posts:
Twistmeandturnme · 21/02/2017 12:38

Daddy Day camp and Daddy Day Care.

nicebiscuit25 · 21/02/2017 12:48

Ask the school if you could borrow the gym mats gives them something to sleep on

nicebiscuit25 · 21/02/2017 12:53

You could also give them all tokens for snacks so you get 5 tokens crisps is one bag of sweets is 2 can of drink 1 that kind of thing or pic and mix sweet shop tubs or Haribo and stuff everyone can pick 100 grams each set it up like a shop

harderandharder2breathe · 21/02/2017 12:55

Tbh I'm not sure films are the best idea, as it's such a difficult age for films anyway and then even harder to find one that they'll all like and not have seen ten billion times. If you're going to do it, ask everyone to bring one PG rated film and then get them to vote. I wouldn't show 12s as some parents won't give permission so kids could be left out.

MaureenMLove · 21/02/2017 19:32

Think I'd do just one film if I had to, but I'm inclined to think a film isn't the way to go too! Are you confident that you can keep them all still enough for 1 film, let alone 2?Grin

What about some sort of craft activity? Maybe even decorating their own tshirt. (Think that may have been mentioned already!). Then, if you dare, an indoor camp fire, with singing and action songs. Round it off with hot chocolate and a bed time story?

It doesn't have to be midnight, does it? Once it's dark and they've been running around excited for a couple of hours, I reckon you could make it 11'ish lights out and they wouldn't notice or care. Half the fun, is the sleeping with their mates in a big hall!

Original poster
2anddone · 10/03/2017 17:20

Letters went out today there's no turning back now!!

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 10/03/2017 17:47

DD had a sleep over last year at the school at the end of y6.
I think they did lights out by around 10:30 (they had school the next day), and did calming stuff including hot chocolate in the hour or so beforehand.

How about donating any left over money to the PTA?

Definitely not a 12 rated film!

You are very brave Smile