How to Host the Best Slumber Party Ever | Slumber Squad Sleepovers

Gone are the sleepovers of my youth where you’d gather a group of kids on the basement floor, snuggled in Smurf sleeping bags and scarfing down popcorn or dancing in jammies to MTV into the wee hours of the morning. Welcome to the new, and much fancier sleepover of today. It’s the birthday party of everyone’s dreams.

Professionally designed setups and decor with themes and matching everything. Intsa-worthy, Pinterest-inspired perfection. Don’t worry if you think you can’t handle the new trend. A local business will help you pull off the most magical sleepover you could ever imagine; Slumber Squad Sleepovers is here to help pull off the “Best Day Ever”! 

Slumber Squad Sleepovers is a full-service operation that provides decorated tent sleepover parties to amazing kids in the Indianapolis and surrounding area. Slumber Squad Sleepovers provides everything needed for a magical, memorable, EASY sleepover event. 

Thank you to Slumber Squad Sleepovers for sponsoring this article. Check them out at slumbersquadsleepovers.com and follow Slumber Squad Sleepovers on Facebook for special deals and updates. 

Create a Slumber Party Theme 

The theme of your party can be centered around a specific color palette, a movie or television show, a food or beverage, a holiday, a favorite pastime, celebrity… Anything can become a theme or focal point of the party. Slumber Squad Sleepovers have a huge variety of themes ranging from “Outdoors & S’mores”, “Marvel-ous Superhero”, a “Barbie” & “Swiftie” package, and more.  Make sure to reserve your date with Slumber Squad Sleepovers well in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on the theme you want.  Their reservation form can be found on their website under the Contact Us tab.  

Set a Party Budget

Establish a budget for your party with input from your guest of honor. Take into account food, drinks, decor, invitations, games, prizes, and other expenses. Working together on this will help your kiddo learn about money and the cost of things. Determining a budget will also help you figure out the guest list. Just for reference, we found that the average party package at a venue is $300 for 2 hours of fun with 10 guests. If you’re doing an at-home party, we love the idea of Slumber Squad Sleepover parties because the set-up doubles as decor AND an activity. Party packages with SSS start at $160. 

Plan Your Guest List 

Knowing who is on your guest list will help you plan for supplies like food, party favors, decor, games, and activities. Slumber Squad Sleepovers offers setups for a max of 10 guests. However, with enough lead time, they may be able to accommodate more.  

Send Out the Invites 

Purchase or create custom invites that you can send or drop off to your guests. If your guests live in your own home, set them up on top of pillows or bathroom mirrors to give the air of formality. One local family dropped off matching pajamas and slippers for their guests as part of the invitation package. Who could say no to that?! 

Slumber Party Snacks and Food 

Snacks and beverages that match your theme can be so much fun to plan. If planning this out isn’t something that brings you happiness, then just go for the popular standbys. Pizza (like this giant pizza that’s as big as a preschooler!), quick and easy popcorn recipes, soda pop, and candy. Be aware of any dietary restrictions present in the group and communicate with those who have sensitivities or restrictions so they are aware of what to expect and can help you plan for their needs. Don’t forget about breakfast ideas that you can make at home, a sheet pan pancake that the guests can help make, or call it in and get the best donuts! 

Establish rules ahead of time for where food can be consumed. Slumber Squad Sleepovers suggests that guests do not eat in the sleeping areas in order to avoid grease stains and other impossible-to-remove spills. 

Design a Slumber Party Space 

Set up a designated space for sleepover party activities and sleeping. Make it comfortable and fun. Each themed tent comes with a set up for each guest that includes decorations, a tent, an air mattress, bed linens, decorative pillows, a lantern with tea light, and more to make the perfect sleepover setting. Just add guests! You’ll have the most Instagram-able, comfortable, and talked-about overnighter! 

Communicate with the Parents of Your Guests 

Be sure that parents know how to reach you and that you know how to reach them in case a situation arises. Discuss options that each child has for returning home in the event that they get homesick or don’t feel well. Find out if any of your guests have food allergies or other medical needs that will need your attention, such as medication. Let parents know which movies you plan on sharing with the kids so that they can opt their child out of a movie that they may not want them to see. 

Establish a “Lights Out” Time 

The party doesn’t need to end and sleep doesn’t need to be forced, but at a certain time, the lights should be lowered and the evening festivities and activities should be replaced with quiet fun. This is the perfect time to turn on a movie and encourage your guests to make their way to their own bed area. Slumber Squad Sleepovers themed party tents make this space so special, so inviting and so personal, that bedtime will be a treat! Let the guests continue to chat in lowered voices, the best fun is the time spent talking, telling stories, and sharing memories.  

Indianapolis Area Children’s Birthday Party Guide

Sleepover Activities and Fun 

Create an order or list of activities, but don’t plan out the timing. That way if everyone is happy doing something, they can spend as much time as they want on it, but if it’s time to move on, there’s some direction for that. 

Popular overnighter activities are baking, arts and crafts, video games, board games, movies, spa activities and just hanging out. 

Our children love traditional party ideas like going toilet papering and making prank calls. If these activities are on the agenda, arrange a phone list ahead of time of friends and family who are willing to play along with the fun. If your kids are going toilet papering, one idea is to let them get started and then have them get caught in the act after a couple of minutes. 

Stay Away and Have Fun 

If this isn’t a family slumber party and instead is a sleepover for a group of friends, be sure that siblings are aware if they are invited or included in certain activities. As an adult, keep your appropriate distance. Obviously, this varies depending on the ages, abilities, and needs of the guests. The best memories are made when there’s a feeling of a little bit of freedom. 

Selfies and Photographs 

Be sure to snap some photos and leave the digital camera behind for the guest of honor and their friends to document their fun. After the party is over, put together a photo book full of these memories.