Sleepovers are one of the best parts of childhood. If your adult brain can’t quite recall the details, allow us to remind you: You and your BFFs would spend all night playing pretend, sharing secrets, eating snacks, laughing so hard that it hurt, and cuddling up in your cutest PJs to watch movies until you fell asleep.
But slumber parties are more than just a fun way to spend time with friends. They’re a right of passage for young girls—a formative experience they can remember their entire lives fondly.
If the young girls in your life have reached sleepover age, you might be looking for fun slumber party ideas to enhance the event. Well, look no further. You can make sleepover party magic with our 8 fantastic slumber party ideas for girls.
Let’s face it—kids love pizza. It’s the great equalizer of classrooms, little league teams, and scout troops everywhere. If you’re hosting a slumber party for the first time, you can’t go wrong with a pizza theme.
Here are a few points to consider if you decide to host a build-your-own pizza slumber party:
Prepping, baking, and eating the pizza will take up a sizable chunk of the night. Depending on how many girls you’re hosting, you may want to provide side activities (like a paper chef’s hat decorating station) to keep them engaged and entertained throughout the evening.
Movie marathons (complete with popcorn, candy, and maybe even a blanket fort) make for a guaranteed good time. Costumed movie marathons are even better.
Start by letting your kid (or kids) pick the movie and establish the theme. Maybe they love all things Pixar. Perhaps they’re totally dinosaur-obsessed Jurassic Park fans. Whatever the movie choice, encourage your guests to come dressed as their favorite character.
It’s also a smart sleepover idea to have extra dress-up materials on hand, just in case. You don’t want anyone to feel left out.
A movie marathon is a great choice for when parents and guardians feel a little stretched thin. It’s simple to set up, engaging, and fun. When you add costumes to the mix, the kids can naturally transition into birthday party games for kids when the credits roll.
For pint-sized princesses and fairytale enthusiasts, there’s no better slumber party theme than a fantasy tea party. Adults will find that this theme can easily fit any space and budget, too.
Check out these sleepover party ideas for this imaginative slumber party theme:
Dress-up options are always a good idea for a fantasy kids party, but if your kids want to stay comfy, RuffleButts makes pajamas that are worthy of a real princess, like our floral-printed Summer Blooms Ruffled 2-piece set.
A fashion show is a girls’ slumber party classic. Your daughter and her friends will feel fierce and fashionable walking down a homemade runway. Try constructing your runway out of a roll of butcher paper, so that the girls can decorate it with markers, crayons, and stickers.
In terms of the fashion, provide age-appropriate, adorable clothing from RuffleButts, and ask your guests to bring along some extra options. Make sure to remind parents on what to pack for a sleepover, this guarantees every girl can construct a fabulous outfit that fits. Scarves, belts, and accessories from Mom’s closet will also encourage the girls’ creativity.
Then, earn extra cool points by enhancing the atmosphere with a parent paparazzi seating section, runway music, and fun lighting (a heavy-duty flashlight makes a superb spotlight).
When you’re hosting a slumber party, tiring out your little guests with a fun physical activity will work in your (and your sleep quality’s) favor.
For an Olympics-themed slumber party, set up an obstacle course in the backyard. With a bit of creative thinking, you can build it out of objects you already own:
If your daughter and her friends are budding thespians, a night at the (home) theatre is sure to inspire.
Plus, dramatic play benefits children in innumerable ways. From fostering creativity to developing communication and empathy skills, playing pretend is more than just fun—it’s also foundational.
Build a “stage” by clearing an area of furniture, setting up seating (pillows on the floor work just fine), and hanging a couple cheap shower curtains in doorways on extendable rods. Behind the curtains, create a dressing room with costumes, mirrors, and a box of props.
Your props box should contain inspiring items, like:
The girls will enjoy creating their show almost as much as they enjoy performing it for you.
Experience all the excitement of a camping trip, with half the headache. Pitch a tent, roast marshmallows over the firepit, sing campfire songs, and tell ghost stories from the comfort of your own backyard.
You can also incorporate outdoorsy activities into this fun slumber party idea—the options are almost endless. Here are just a few:
The biggest benefit of camping in the backyard? You and your guests are only steps away from comforts like running water, a clean bathroom, and a phone with service for late night “Can you pick me up?” calls to Mom and Dad.
At some point, every little girl will believe she has latent magical abilities. Foster that sense of empowerment and creativity by hosting a “Good Witch Gathering” at your next sleepover.
The central activity of this slumber party idea involves magic-inspired arts and crafts, such as:
From princess party ideas to outdoor excursions, there’s no limit to the creative spin you can apply to a sleepover. As long as you keep your child’s unique interests at heart, you really can’t go wrong.
Once you’ve picked out an engaging theme, entertaining activities, and delicious food, there’s only one thing left to consider—cute and comfortable sleepover clothing.
At RuffleButts, we offer a wide variety of cozy, stylish pajamas and play sets that are as adorable as they are wearable.
If you want to go all out, encourage your guests to wear matching PJs, or stock up on our signature headbands for party favors. Matching with her BFFs at a fun, themed slumber party is a memory your little girl will cherish for a lifetime.
Looking for some festive PJs for your party? Shop our kids holiday clothes for fun patterns for the season!
Sources:
Penn Foster. The Impact of Dramatic Play in ECE. https://www.pennfoster.edu/blog/2016/december/benefits-of-dramatic-play-in-ece#:~:text=Dramatic%20play%20engages%20virtually%20every,different%20from%20their%20everyday%20self.
Leave No Trace. The 7 Principles. https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/
