Sleepovers

[shebird]

Just wondered what age and circumstances are appropriate for children to go to a school friends house for a sleepover.
DD2 age 7 has been invited to tea and sleepover at a classmates house next weekend. We don't really know the parents too well, other than a quick hello at the school gate. DD has really only been to sleepovers with very close friends or family before and they live the other side of town. Am I wrong to politely decline for now?

No you're not wrong. Too many parents agree to these far too soon. I think over ten is fine for sleepovers with friends...they're too little before then unless you're good friends with the host.

I agree, at 7 yo I'd want to know the parents.

I personally think that if your DC have been friends for a while and you have seen them at the school gate for a few years and have no bad feelings about them as a family then if DC want to go it is OK.

But on other hand if friendship relatively recent or you just feel uncomfortable about their parenting then say no.

My DD had a friend for a sleepover here at end of reception. We had chatted to parents quite a lot but certainly didn't know them well but expect they felt same as us that they were "people like us". But we wouldn't have been offended if they had said no.

My dd is 10 and still only goes for sleepovers where we know the family quite well.

The parents seem like nice people but I don't really know them very well. Im sure it would be fine but I'm just not comfortable with it. Also the friend can be a bit of an emotional drama queen at times and it might all be too much for DD.

My oldest was nine when she first went on a sleepover. My dd2 is eight now and just declined one with someone we know really well as she said she 'wasn't ready'.

Thank you all. I have declined the invite, much to DD2s dismay. I said she hasnt been to many sleepovers and I didn't want to risk an upset child wanting to go home in the middle of the night.