OT Kid Camp out Party?

[PA Princess]

We are in the planning stages for my daughter's 10th birthday. She has decided she would like a camping party...meaning a camp out in the backyard. I am wondering if this is something parents would allow their kids to attend?

The group would be girls ages 9, 10, and 11. We live in a small, suburban neighborhood. Our yard is not fenced, but has trees lining the property. We back to an open field/woods, and our neighbors on one side are several hundred feet away and a little closer on the other side.

DD has several friends she would like to invite who are new friends (we moved to this home 11 months ago and a new school district for the kids), but I am hesitant to give her the go ahead if most friends will not be allowed to attend.

I would sleep outside with the girls but not in the same tent or I might sleep in the family room with the slider doors open and the tents right off the patio.

Thoughts? Would you allow your daughter to attend?

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I have a 10 year old dd. If I knew you well enough to let my daughter sleep at your house at all, I would let her to go a party like this. It would make a big difference that you would either sleep outside or in the house within shouting distance.

 

[zoemurr]

I have a 10 year old dd. If I knew you well enough to let my daughter sleep at your house at all, I would let her to go a party like this. It would make a big difference that you would either sleep outside or in the house within shouting distance.

I don't think I would let DD sleep over anywhere that I didn't know the parents well.

We're starting to hit this with middle school and she's meeting a lot of new friends. Just Sat. someone called and wanted her to come over. (I hadn't even heard of this kid.) After talking with a few other moms (whose DDs were invited too) I let her go and spent a few minutes talking to the mom/dad before I left.

It was fine, but a huge stress for me. I gave her a phone and a list of reasons that I thought she might need to call.

Last year my DD wanted a sleepover and one mom said no 'cause she didn't know us well enough. That was all DD needed to change her mind to a different type of party. (We did a huge treasure hunt that was awesome.. I'd be happy to talk you through it. This year her friend's mom was ok with it so we did. Maybe help your DD understand that you need to have them over a few times first?

Sorry I'm no help.. but we've been there too..

 

[mom2travel]

My DD is 10 and would probably love a camp out birthday party. If I knew you well, I would likely be ok with it since you said you would sleep either with or near the girls.

One question - are there "critters" in your area? As kids we slept out in a tent in the yard sometimes and were fine. Where we live now though, I'm not sure I would let the kids do it, especially if the yard was unfenced - we have had fox, snake, hawk, deer, rabbit, etc spottings.

Also, we have hosted many indoor slumber parties - if you do the camp out, be prepared for them to move it inside. Sometimes even at the indoor sleepovers you have girls who are overtired or not used to sleeping away from home or whatever, and need attention or a call to mom and dad. I can see some extra neediness with kids getting creeped out by the noises of the outdoors.

Maybe you could do marshmallows over a fire and ghost stories and games outside, and set up an indoor area with a makeshift tent? DD went to a party a few months ago where they roasted marshmallows over a fire pit and played games in the dark, then slept inside - the girls all loved it!

Hope your DD has a great birthday and enjoys her party!