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When is your child old enough for sleep overs
This issue came up recently with my daughter who is three and a half years old.
We recently let Ana Isabel spend an afternoon at a friend's house without either of us there. It was the first time we did that. We don't have family in the area. So we don't get to drop her off at grandma's or abuelita's house.
My wife was more comfortable with the idea of letting Ana spend the night elsewhere. Me, not so much. Of course, my wife had a lot of sleepovers in her childhood. In my immigrant family, it wasn't something we did.
We concluded that Ana is too young yet. But I know the day's coming sooner than I would want.
Here's what an expert says about sleepovers. And if you're ready to take the plunge here's some advice on how to organize a sleepover for the pre-school set.
How old where you when you had your first sleep over?
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work...
Joy Oglesby has an infant daughter and a sister 13 years her junior, whom she babies to the now-adult...
Cindy Kent Fort Lauderdale mother of three. Her kids span in ages from teenager to 20s...
Rafael Olmeda and his wife welcomed their first son in Feb. 2009, and he's helping raise two teenage stepdaughters...
Lois Solomon lives in Boca Raton with her husband and three daughters...
Anne Vasquez loves to worry, or so her husband says...
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces...
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 13, and Lily, 6, and is married...
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator, and father of three blonde, blue-eyed kids all under six years old.
Comments
I was about 5 when I had my first sleepover that wasn't with family. Before then I had spent weeks away from my parents with other family members, so it wasn't that much of a change. I was very shy so this was a way for my parents to help me break my shell, especially when I was the one who said I wanted to go. There were other sleepovers after that where I did not stay due to the shyness, so each time is situational, and should be judged on the child's reactions. My daughter is very independent now, and even though her schedule does not allow for a lot of sleepovers, she lets me know what she feels is appropriate or inappropriate for her, and we discuss it from there. Therefore, there are no real arguments in our house about never being treated like a grownup!
Posted by: Kim Buelow | March 22, 2009 10:36 AM
I'm with you Luis. Sleepovers are overrated. And I'm shocked that I'm saying this because I begged and begged as a child to be allowed to 1) have sleepovers and 2) attend sleepovers. My parents (also immigrants) never allowed it.
It's too much responsibility to place in the hands of someone else. And for what? Kids could have plenty of time to play and still make it home for bed time.
Posted by: anne | March 23, 2009 12:34 PM
Don't deny your children the youthful fun/experience of sleep overs because you are an overly paranoid mother Hen. Remember Finding Nemo! If you make certain that nothing ever happens to your children, then that's exactly what will happen to them, Nothing!
Posted by: Please | March 23, 2009 4:30 PM
And let's not forget the story of Polly Klaas, who was kidnapped during a slumber party in her own bedroom and later killed. I'm pretty sure the friends who were with her that night would have second thoughts today of needlessly entrusting the lives of their children to another parent.
Posted by: anne | March 23, 2009 5:20 PM
i think it is ok it let your child go on slumber parties when they are old enough and they are prepared enough.many childs dont take their safety seriously and aren't aware of their surrounding.dont deny the fun to your child but make sure you prepare them for anything
Posted by: Caroline | March 24, 2009 9:07 AM