How young is too young for a sleepover?

[DumboFan]

DD wants to have a sleepover party for her 7th birthday next month. DH & I told her we would have to think about it & since I do some of my "thinking" via Disboards I thought I would get some opinions! Most of the girls are still 6 years old. She wants to invite 4-6 of her friends from last year's class. We had planned on taking her & 10 friends to the movies, but she came up with this plan last night! Thanks!

 

[TimeforMe]

IMO, I think it's still a little young. Some 6 year olds are still afraid to be without mom and dad at nighttime. You may have some crying kids in the middle of the night Mine happened to be one of those crying kids that I let go to one even though my gut told me not to let her. There's plenty of time for sleepovers. I'd put them off for as long as I could.

 

[missypie]

If it's not too too much trouble, I'd call the moms of 2-3 of the "essential" attendees and see if they think their daughters are up to it. It would be real sad for your DD if you had the sleepover, then her best friends couldn't sleep over because they or their parents weren't comfortable with it.

 

[snoopy]

Depends on the kid. My oldest did not want to go on a sleepover until he was 7, the little one was ready at 4. I'd consider how comfortable the child is around strangers beforehand. I also like the idea of "sleepover optional". I do think most kids at 6 or 7 would do fine with a sleepover.

 

[Pin Wizard]

DS had a couple friends have sleepovers in 4th grade. Must have been pretty lucky...they were all still there the next morning.

DS started sleeping over occasionally when he was 4...just good friends at the time.

 

[CEDmom]

I think it's a little young. I can't imagine my DD making it through the night at a friend's house when she's that age. Maybe if it was someone she played with a lot and she really knew the parents but even then I'd have my doubts. How about a modified sleepover. Have the girls arrive in the early evening in their pj's let them play some games watch a video and eat some junk then have the parents pick them up at bedtime. You could even give them each a good bag with a new tooth brush and some fun soap so they can clean up and be ready to hit the hay once they get home.

 

[laurie31]

I went to my first one when I was nine. However, dd went to her first one when she was six. I thought first grade was a bit young, but the mom was someone I knew and trusted. She called all the parents beforehand and asked how they felt about it and got numbers where we could be reached. She also wondered if it was too young, but they were about to move away and her dd really wanted to do this with her friends before they left. DD was VERY excited about it, and she is a shy child who had never been anywhere but her grandparents' overnight. We didn't think she'd do well. We were wrong. She had a great time and we were glad we let her go. The only problem was she wanted her own sleepover for her 7th birthday. We did let her have one, but wow, they are a lot of work, and are even more so when the kids are younger. DD won't be having another one anytime soon... But I'd have no problem with her *attending* another one

So, yes dd had a sleepover for her 7th birthday. I think we had 5 girls. We also invited boys to the "party" part where there's cake and ice cream, but obvioulsy only the girls stayed. There were a couple of girls who couldn't stay either, and it wasn't awkward for them to leave when the boys did. The ones that stayed played with dd's gifts, played dress-up, did each other's nails and make-up, watched videos, and finally...FINALLY went to sleep We made sure all the parents were coming to pick them up soon after breakfast. DD had fun but did get a little tired of all the people in her house. She was glad when they were all gone and she got to play with her own things. She is good about sharing, but it's hard to share somehting brand new that you just opened.

So...did I come out in favor or against it? LOL

Laurie