Help me get through 24 hours...

[Dreadingitliketheplague]

Of what I can only describe as hell. My DS is going to be turning 9 in a few days, and, as I am as skint as a very skint thing i thought it would be cheaper to do a sleepover....for 7 9yo. What am I going to do, It was a great idea at the time, although, now the evening is slowly creeping up on me, im am absolutely dreading it. What can I do to entertain seven 9 year old boys? Pin the tail on the donkey and pass the parcel are apparently "lame" as is board games. Help me please, My life is in your hands MN'ers

Lots of good ideas here. If your house allows I find it causes less hassle (for me!) if there are two sleeping spaces,one for those who want to sleep and one for those who wat to stay up all night talking. If I’m having a large number I get them to bring their own sleeping bag, sleeping mat and pillow.

If there’s a nearby park or nature trail buy them all a cheap torch (that they keep in lieu of party bag) and take them spotlighting.

When I had a sleepover for 9 year olds I found they were happy to entertain themselves for a long time with “little kids” games - running through the house having light sabre battles, and playing hide and seek etc.

I thought 9 year olds generally amused themselves?!

You don't want to get them worked up into a pack mentality and a Lord of the flies scenario.

That WILL happen at some point helpful

Thanks everyone, A lot of good ideas, I've put them all past the child and most got his approval...wow.

Please come back and tell all!

FIRE...

What kid doesn't love to burn stuff? Not a poxy barbecue but a proper fire with bits of wood to mess with. If you go out for a walk beforehand, get them all to collect firewood if possible, but have a secret backup supply at home in case they can't find much. Ask them to light the fire themselves. If you provide a million matches and minimal kindling which is not entirely fit for purpose , that will keep them busy for ages give them a good challenge. Matteson's smoked pork sausages are pre-cooked, so they can chop the sausages up, impale the chunks on sticks, incinerate them and scoff them without risk of food poisoning. Then do the marshmallows and the boiling of the billycan for cocoa.

Madlibs (loads online you can print to use just make sure they are aimed at kids!)
Who Am I game (you can just use post-it notes and write your own rather than buy the game)
See if you can borrow some skittles/ten pin bowling set and maybe Twister?