Fun Things To Do at a Sleepover For a Child That’s Homesick

Sleepovers were practically a rite of passage when we were growing up, so naturally you would want your child to partake in the activity as they grew up and have to learn to be away from their parents for the night as well as socialize with others. If you’re not sending your kid away to stay the night at their friend’s house, then you are probably the one hosting the sleepover at your place. Playing chaperone for your child’s sleepover usually isn’t a very difficult task – that is, unless a friend is getting homesick for their parents and to all that is familiar to them. One great way to avoid and prevent kids from getting upset over their lack of their parents for the night is to keep them busy and entertained – a great parenting trick. Not only will they forget to be homesick, the night will be one they will never forget!

Here are some fun things to do at a sleepover on a budget:

Play at least one interactive game. Whether it is a video game, like a fun multiplayer game such as Wii Tennis, or an old fashioned board game that everyone can partake in, like Apples to Apples or Cranium, there’s nothing like some friendly competition to keep a person occupied and concentrated at the task at hand.

Have them serve up their own DIY pizza. If you’re planning on serving dinner, a fun and cost-effective way to do so is to have a build-your-own-pizza bar. All you need is some pre made pizza dough, pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, and an array of various toppings like pepperoni and veggies.

Make it a movie night. Have the kids watch a movie that they’ve picked out and agree on ahead of time. The typical movie is about one-and-a-half to two hours long, which means a good couple of hours of solid entertainment right there.

Have them make sugar cookies from scratch. Much like the DIY pizza idea, sugar cookies are an easy yet festive way to keep a child busy. Aside from that, they could even have something to show (and give) their parents when they go home!

(Photo illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)