The first have a flat-out no sleepover policy. The second allow sleepovers if they’ve met the parents or know them well. The third allow them without question, citing a society of over protective and angst ridden parents contributing to children who either live in fear or experiment in secret.
So what category do you find yourself in? Or perhaps you find yourself in none of those categories. In our family, we fall into the first category. We have a flat-out no sleeping over friends’ houses policy, at least for now. We’ve made this choice for a laundry list of reasons, but the most important include that we don’t see any real good that can come from sleepovers, we have certain rules and expectations that we believe should be consistently enforced and we never truly knows what goes on in the home of another family.
While our own family policy on sleepovers and our reasons for adopting this policy may not settle right with you, we are okay with that. We’ve also considered our children may be the only ones who don’t do sleepovers and we’re considered how hypocritical it seems that we’ll gladly allow her friends to sleepover here. We’re okay with that too. Everyone needs to make the right choice for their children and their family.
So if you’re faced with deciding whether or not to allow your child to attend a sleepover, what things should you consider?
1. What is the Maturity Level of your Child
There’s no magic number that dictates when it is the right time to allow your child to sleepover a friends’ house. You’ll need to take your child’s maturity level into consideration prior to making your decision. Does your child ask for help when they need it? Will they do the right thing, even when they are tempted not to? Do they confide in you when they’re uncomfortable? Do they wet the bed? Need help toileting? Answering these questions may help you decide whether or not they are ready for a Sleepover.
2. What are the Needs of your Child?
If your child is a super picky eater, only does well with structure and routine, has an elaborate bedtime routine or needs constant adult attention, supervision or interaction, they may not be a good candidate for sleepovers. Consider their needs and if you think they can be met, prior to consenting to a sleepover.
3. What is Your Own Comfort Level with Sleepovers?
When you consider her sleeping at a friends’ house, how does it make you feel? How comfortable are you with the idea of her being away from home or being at that friends’ home with that friends’ family? When it comes to sleepovers, let your gut be your guide. The decision to allow your child to have sleepovers or not is a personal one. It’s one you’ll have to carefully consider and one you’ll have to make in the best interest of your child and family.
Do you allow your child to do sleepovers? How do you decide? I am interested to know. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
