The grandkids are scheduled to come over your house for a weekend. You’re really excited to have them over. Though you’re a veteran at handling a group of children in the home, it’s been a while since your own were this small. Times have changed and so have the kids, and keeping them safe, comfortable, and entertained is going to require a little more work than you may be used to. Below, are some tips to help make your slumber party with the grandkids a successful one.
Get Some Rest
Think a house filled with young children isn’t going to tucker you out? From toddlers to teens kids are very active and will run you ragged if you’re not prepared for it. So, before the grandkids arrive, it’s probably best to take a nap or at least relax.
Plan Activities
Children get restless easy. When they’re bored, you can rest assured that you’ll be in for a night of sibling fights, unnecessary whining, temper tantrums, and mischief. If you want to reduce the likelihood of this happening at your house, you need to have an arsenal of activities for your grandchildren to participate in. You don’t have to spend a lot of money, however, there are a lot of age-appropriate activities you can engage in with the kids. Some ideas might include:
- Cooking meals or baking together
- Gardening
- Watching movies or family-friendly TV
- Playing video games
- Doing arts and crafts
- Outside play (a park or the backyard)
- Day trips to local museums, festivals, or fairs
Have Extra Clothes
Though your grandchildren may have come with a large duffle or book bag, you’ll soon learn that what they’ve packed is never enough. A bedwetting experience soiled clothes from arts and crafts or even tattered and torn clothing from rough-housing around could happen while they spend time with you. Having extra clothes on hand, especially for toddlers and younger kids, is recommended. It doesn’t have to break the bank either. You can shop online for brands like SmartKnitKIDS for comfortable clothing for children ages 1-8. Instead of sending them back with their parents, simply wash the clothes and keep them stored at your house for those just in case moments.
Keep Some Structure
Your grandkids love coming to your house. Grandparents tend to be a bit more laid back than mom and dad are, and there is always some fun to be had. When they come over to stay the night, however, you still want to maintain some sense of structure. Find out from your children what schedule is used in their home. Even if you don’t follow it exactly, you can determine when is a good time for meals, snacks, nap, and bedtime.
Pointer: Keeping your grandkids on a schedule maintains the structure which eliminates a lot of idle time and the frustrations that can come from it. It also makes it easier on your children when you bring the grandkids back home as it is easier for them to stay on task throughout the week.
Don’t Forget Health and Safety
As excited as you are for your grandkids to show up at your house for a sleepover, their health and safety need to be a top priority. Make sure that you speak with your children about any health issues your grandkids might have. Find out if there are any special instructions like taking medications or avoiding certain foods to ensure that they are well taken care of while sleeping at your place.
Having a sleepover with the grandkids can be a lot of fun. If you want the occasion to go off without a hitch, you need to do some pre-planning. Make sure that you’re well rested and that you’ve created a schedule that keeps them structured and entertained. Lastly, make sure that you’ve covered the unexpected (like spare clothes), and talked with their parents about their health. Other than that, pull out the cameras or smartphones and prepare for the experience of a lifetime.
You are obviously a seasoned sleepover grandma! I love the planned activities, and the adherence to structure is a must! Chaos is not a welcome guest at any sleepover! Thanks so much!