Sleep-over for 9th birthday party - any advice?

[silverbirch]

So, my dd wants to have 2 or 3 friends over for a sleepover for her 9th birthday. I have never done one of these sleep-over-as-party things (and neither has she).

How do they work?
What sort of time do you start and finish?
What do the children do?
Is it ok if it is mixed girls and boys at this age?

TIA

9 is a great age for a sleep over and with only 2 or 3 friends should go well although if its the 1st one don't expect too much sleep as they will be really excited. Mixed is not such a good idea I have done this with dc1 and it was not a good experience and I would never do again and I have been asked by dc2.
Usually invite them over sometime before tea and have a theme if you want, have some activties planned- making, painting nails, dancing,film, give them time alone as well.Also make it clear what the ground rules are about bedtime and food etc.
For one of our sleepovers I actually did a plan on the invitation of what was going to happen and made it sound quite funny, also putting on bedtime and the kids thought it was great.
Pick up time in the morning 10.00am is the normal and in our house bacon sandwiches is a must.

Forgot to say, you should also be prepared for the odd upset, missing mummy but that usually depends on the children.
Also at one of our many sleepovers the grils were getting a bit livley and couldn't settle so my husband read them all a story and it went down really well(6 x 10year olds). Not would you would expect but sometimes the simple things are the best.

I agree with you about having things to do...we got rid of my dh and had a girlie night, painting nails, watching DVD's eating popcorn and making our own pizzas for tea. I was quite strict about bedtime and said after 10 they had to be quiet and at least try to sleep. It worked and they were asleep by 10.30p.m. They woke early about 6 ish but entertained themselves in the bedrrom until 7. We then had a treat breakfast in the local cafe and parents came to get them at 10. I was surprised how well it worked. DD1 had 3 friends over aswell.

I have some advice - Don't do it!

Thanks for your advice ... I'll try and keep it to just girls ... if I can't talk dd out of it altogether (she seems fairly determined!)

Just go with it she will love it. some of the best parties my dc have had have been sleepovers. We had one bad one, purely because dd was too young.