Are sleepovers crucial to a child's social development?

[spookyskeleton]

Personally I can't be arsed with the whole sleepover thing but some of my friends are obsessed with continually having their DC's friends over for sleepovers. My DC are 8 and 6. My 8 year old has been to a couple of sleepovers at friends and we have had one of his friends back. He tends not to get invited that much - probably because I don't return the invite

Am I impairing my DC's social development with my reluctance to join in the sleepover merry go round?

No. It's a load of shite and should be a big treat not a common occurrence. I hate playdates so the thought of a sleepover makes me want to gouge my eyes out.

wips glad it is not just me! Can just about tolerate short playdates

My kids have only had sleepovers at my parents so far. Parents find it tiring but insist they want to every 6 months or so, in case there's some emergency at least the children will be used to sleeping there. Ds ended up there for 2 nights rather than the planned one when I gave birth to dd.

Both mine would like sleepovers in theory but not in practice - tried a couple times with another child in ds's room and they've had to be removed to another room in the end. He's only 6 so hopefully in a couple years it will be an option (my parents are willing to have one child over more often than two), and we can have the odd night out.

No. Of course not!

I seriously hope not.

Due to not being dry at nights til into her teens, DD1 had about 3 sleepovers in her primary years. She happily has friends who aren't interested in sleeping at others' homes either.

DD2 has had a few extra, but only because it has worked out that way.

I'm not keen on them. At all. I like my sleep too much.

We've hosted none for DD1 and only about 3 for DD2. And each time tempers have been frayed before bedtime.

Not for me, thanks.

Mine are 8 and 6 and they have never done a sleepover.

They are fine.

i did not do a sleepover until my teens.

It's a new fangled thing and i don't hold with it.

I don't know that I would use the word "crucial". I also definitely agree with the pp who said that they should be a treat, not something that's happening all the time. Plus, I have 5 DC. I have plenty of kids to look after on a day to day basis!

I think it is good though, for DC to be away from mum and dad every now and then. Encourages independence, grows confidence, they learn how to conduct themselves in new situations and around different people. School camps are also great for such things.

I do think they have their place, i never enjoyed them much as a child and would always come home crying, so not for me.

But good maybe to see how other families live?

Who knows

Ghastly.

Not at all. My sister and I never slept over with friends as children and didn't miss out. Ds3 (8) has never slept over or had anyone here. My teenagers have stayed with friends a couple of times and ds2 (17) had 3 friends sleepover for his birthday when he was 10. They are all perfectly well developed socially.

I don't think DC need constant sleepovers as they are often a bit tiring but I went on loads of sleepovers as a child (from a very young age) and often had friends for sleepovers and they are lots of fun. Why deprive your DC of something that is such a standard part of growing up and that is cheap and accessible? What's not to like?