Blog

Category Archives: Sleepovers

Sleepover Tips, games, Pajamas for sleepovers

Unleash the Fun with the Ultimate Sleepover Handbook

Are you ready for a night of unforgettable adventures and giggles galore? It’s time to dive into the ultimate sleepover experience! Whether you’re a seasoned host or a newbie to the slumber party scene, we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide. Get ready to create memories that will last a lifetime!

Plan the Perfect Guest List: Choose your sleepover squad wisely. Invite friends who get along well and have a similar energy level. A mix of personalities can make the night even more exciting!

Create a Theme: Turn your sleepover into a magical event by choosing a fun theme. Whether it’s a pajama party, a movie night, or a tropical paradise, let your imagination run wild. Decorate the party space accordingly for an immersive experience.

Set up a Cozy Camp: Create a comfortable sleepover space by setting up sleeping bags, blankets, and pillows. Add twinkling fairy lights or colorful lanterns to set the mood. Don’t forget to provide extra blankets for those who might get chilly during the night.

Snacks and Treats: Keep the hunger at bay with a variety of delicious snacks and treats. Set up a snack station with popcorn, chips, and a mix of sweet and savory treats. Consider dietary restrictions and have options for everyone to enjoy.

DIY Pizza Party: Take the culinary fun up a notch by having a DIY pizza party. Prepare dough and an assortment of toppings, and let each guest create their own culinary masterpiece. Bake the pizzas together and savor the delicious creations.

Get Creative: Spark the creativity of your guests with arts and crafts activities. Set up a crafting station with supplies for making friendship bracelets, painting mini canvases, or creating personalized dream catchers. Encourage everyone to unleash their inner artist!

Epic Games Night: Plan an epic games extravaganza to keep the energy high. From classic board games to lively dance-offs or karaoke competitions, let the games begin! Provide a selection of games suitable for different interests and group sizes.

Movie Marathon Madness: Create a cozy cinema experience with a movie marathon. Take a vote on which movies to watch or have a themed movie night. Set up a comfy viewing area with bean bags, blankets, and dim lighting. Don’t forget the popcorn and refreshing drinks!

Midnight Snack Adventures: Elevate the midnight snacking experience with a DIY sundae bar or a make-your-own waffle station. Let the guests unleash their culinary creativity and indulge in delicious treats. It’s the perfect way to satisfy those late-night cravings.

Capture the Memories: Don’t forget to document the fun! Set up a photo booth area with props and costumes, or encourage guests to take candid shots throughout the night. Create a digital album or print out the photos as a keepsake for each guest to cherish.

Remember, the most important ingredient for a successful sleepover is a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Encourage kindness, respect, and friendship among all guests. Embrace the laughter, silliness, and late-night chats. With this ultimate sleepover handbook, you’re bound to create a night that will be talked about for years to come. So get ready to unleash the fun and make your sleepover an experience to remember!

Planning the Perfect Kids Sleepover

Leave a reply

Kids’ sleepovers are fun events that not only bring old and new friends together but also teach children to practice good manners and hospitality. From feeding and cleaning up after others, to comforting a homesick sick child, children can learn valuable life skills by making a meal or playing games with their guests.

The key to planning the perfect kids’ sleepover party is making sure you are well prepared and involve your kids in the entire process so that the night will run smoothly. Read on for more!

Limit the number of guests. One of the most important things to consider when planning a sleepover is the number of guests you will have. If for instance your child already struggles with play dates, it’s best to limit the number of guests to two or three. From there, you can work up to three or four and so on. Be sure to invite an even number of guests as the odd kid out effect can be very frustrating.

Encourage matching pajamas. The kids should have matching pajamas so letting them know in advance will assure they are not without. If they don’t have them, you can always order them before the party begins so that they can change into them as they arrive. It’s a sure way to make the sleepover a success!

Create a Sweet Bar. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make kids’ sleepovers fun, consider creating a sweet bar! The kids will love decorating their desserts with fun toppings and creating their own signature flavors. Be sure to start the party early in the evening so that the sugar has time to leave their system before bedtime. Some fun activities for them to do after the sweet bar helps burn that sugar right off.

Provide toiletries. Always make sure to have extra toiletries on hand for the guests. It’s almost inevitable that someone will forget a toothbrush, toothpaste, or other hygiene products, and kids don’t always think of these things. Make sure that they are visible and displayed in a way that your guests will not be embarrassed to ask and know they can use them.

Build a photo booth. Creating a photo booth for the sleepover is a simple but fun activity. You can set up a photo wall with fun items, like hats and beaded necklaces, or even purchase some gear online to make your own DIY photo booth props. Your guests can pose with these props to get some fun pictures. You can also send photos home as party favors.

Break the ice. Consider an icebreaker game as the first activity. It’s a fun way to get everyone acquainted with one another and help shy kids feel comfortable. As an example, have everyone write down two fibs and one truth about themselves. Once everyone has written down their items, they share them with the group who then decides which one is true. It’s a great way to lighten the mood of the evening.

Practice safety. Know in advance if any of the kids need to take medications, have allergies, or have fears of certain things. Also, make sure that when they go to bed they know where your bedroom is so they can easily find you if they need something. Make sure to leave hall lights on and place nightlights in the bathrooms.

Organizing a sleepover can be a tricky task but it’s a great opportunity for creative kids to run wild and shy ones to come out of their shell. Your kids will have fun, you will have fun, and tons of memories will be made!

Girls Night – Host a Christmas in July Slumber Party

Leave a reply

Looking for a different kind of get-together to mix it up between the summer barbecues, weddings, graduations, and birthday parties? Make plans to get your hubby and kids out of the house for the night, and get the ladies together for a good old-fashioned slumber party – adult style. Add to it a theme like ‘Christmas in July,’ and you’ve got the makings for a super fun evening that may become a tradition within your inner circle.

It’s hot outside and this is no time to think about sweaters, snow, or Santa. Instead, adapt what you would traditionally do for the December holiday to something that’s all about summer. We’ll get you started with some awesome ideas for your party, but don’t be afraid to let your creativity take over and make the sleepover all yours!

Matching Pajamas for All: In December it’s a fun family tradition to all dress up in matching PJ’s to celebrate the season. Why not do the same thing for girl’s night? Cool cottons, Japanese satins, sassy short sets, or tropical prints are all perfect for your summer sleepover.

Frozen Hot Chocolate: The idea of a warm comforting beverage is probably the farthest thing from your mind when it’s 90 degrees outside, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a rich creamy drink in the middle of July. Make a batch of hot cocoa and pour it into ice trays. Then use the cubes with your favorite Irish cream, coffee liquor, or rum. If it’s a free day on the calorie counter, top the drinks off with some whipped cream!

Gift Exchange: We aren’t talking hats and gloves, perfume, or picture frames here… think summer. Exchange gifts that are perfect for the season you’re in. A beach gift basket (sunscreen, flip flops, a good book, and a bright towel for instance), floral candles, a park or zoo pass, a pedicure kit, or seashell jewelry (we LOVE ankle bracelets) are all great ideas for your best gal pals.

Tiki Buffet: Get yourself some thatched grass, Christmas twinkle lights, and fiesta-ware to set the mood, and then put out a spread made with light, delicious summer ingredients and refreshing drinks (think Sangria). Have a handy husband? Have him build you a tiki bar for the occasion!

Watch a movie – NOT kid-friendly: It’s your night to get away and enjoy the company of your besties. We do holiday movie night with the family, so instead, for your Christmas in July girls night watch a movie you’ve wanted to see but can’t because it isn’t appropriate for kids. There are lots of great ones out there so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

Sing Karaoke: Once the alcohol kicks in, the inhibitions tend to disappear so let loose and sing! If you’ve never sung karaoke, you’re missing out and if you have, you know how fun it is. It’s just you ladies so have fun with it and you can even sing Christmas songs!

Play Adult Games: If you’re tired of Monopoly or Candy Land and want to laugh, laugh, laugh play games that are just for adults. We like Cards Against Humanity, Social Sabotage, or For The Girls. All of these options can be played with additional rules that you make up (like you must use the word “elf), so you can customize them for your Christmas in July theme.

These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to planning your mid-summer pajama party. Let your imagination run wild because Christmas in July only comes once a year. You and the other ladies deserve to let loose!

Planning a Summer Backyard Camping Adventure

Leave a reply

This weekend marks the official start of summer. The kids are out of school and it’s time to start finding creative ways to keep them entertained. June is National Camping Month so many families pack up their cars and campers, head out to campgrounds, and enjoy the great outdoors. If camping is something that you’ve had on your radar but haven’t yet taken the plunge because of time commitments or a limited budget, why not consider escaping to your own backyard campsite to get your feet wet?

Camping is a great way to escape computers, phones, and TV’s, get some fresh air, and teach kids a different way of doing things. Plus, you avoid what is sure to be an extremely crowded season in the campgrounds. Backyard camping is also economical and with proper planning, you’ll even forget you’re at home as you sleep under the stars. To make sure your at-home getaway feels authentic, here are eight things you’ll want to include in your plans to ensure success.

Have rules. These should be followed by adults and children alike and should include things like no electronics – put them in a non-accessible place in the house, limited access to the amenities in the house (ie: you can only go in to use the bathroom), and full participation from everyone which includes set-up and tear-down. Camping can be a great adventure and quite educational if everyone is 100% in.

Put safety measures in place. Although camping in your backyard is a much more controlled environment than trekking out into the wilderness, safety should still be your #1 priority. Have a way to extinguish the campfire, make sure the area is free of things someone could trip over in the dark, employ proper lighting –including nightlights and flashlights, have bug spray readily available, and check the area for poisonous plants.

Create a campsite. If you don’t have tents, there’s no need to spend a lot of money to buy them. Create makeshift shelters with sheets, blankets, or tarps. Make sure to keep the kids involved in the building process so they will have the satisfying feeling of accomplishment and pride in what they have created.

Set up sleep accommodations. The shelter is ready and it’s time to set up sleeping arrangements and even though there are no comfy beds, you can still be comfortable sleeping outdoors by using air mattresses, yoga mats, or cots. Keep in mind that you don’t have the luxury of a climate-controlled home, so also plan for cool nights and dewy mornings with extra blankets, cozy socks, and warm pajamas. Here are some of our favorite camp themed pj’s.

Build your campfire spot. Have the whole family gather sticks for kindling to get your fire going and make sure you have bigger hardwood logs on hand to keep it roaring. If an in-ground fire pit is not an option you can buy a portable fire pit that will serve the purpose. Also note: It’s important to know the burning regulations in your area beforehand to make sure you aren’t breaking any rules.

Plan your menu. For each day you camp, you’ll want breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and snacks. You can look online for all kinds of yummy campfire recipes, but if you want to stay the traditional route think foil pack meals, roasted hot dogs, campfire pies, and of course S’mores. Eggs and bacon are easy to do with a cast iron pan and one-pot meals can easily be heated over your open flame. Don’t forget a cooler to keep everything from spoiling. Remember, you’re not really at home, so the fridge isn’t an option.

7. Keep everyone entertained. Make a list of fun activities to partake in once you put your pajamas on and gather around the campfire. You can tell stories (ghost stories if age appropriate), sing songs, or play campfire games. This is when your family will really bond and have quality time together. It’s also when so many memories are made so make sure to take pictures!

Observe the nature around you. Camping is all about taking in the beauty that Mother Nature has given us. During the day, participate in bird watching (a bird book can be a fantastic reference guide), have a nature scavenger hunt, or learn about the foliage that grows right in your own backyard. At night you can identify star constellations or listen to wildlife sounds and try to figure out what they are.

Whether you camp for one night or a whole weekend, having happy campers is the ultimate goal. We hope these pointers will make for fond family memories you’ll treasure for years to come!

11 Summer Sleepover Themes

Leave a reply

School is out and the kids are home! By now you have probably compiled a list of summer boredom busters or are desperately searching for easy ideas to entertain your kiddos. Whether they are at home or bouncing in between daycare or summer camp, you’re going to have to burn that energy every weekend!

The best way to get kids to wear themselves out is with each other. Why not team up with other parents and take turns hosting sleepovers throughout the summer? The kids will have a blast and the parents will get a break. Here are a handful of simple summer sleepover ideas for guaranteed pajama fun!

Kids Dinosaur Union Suit from Big Feet Pajamas

Best Summer Sleepover Themes

1. Under The Sea

Do you have a “Little Mermaid” at home? If so, you can’t go wrong with a classic princess theme with an under sea twist. Strategically hung blue, green, and gold streamers will create a magical kelp forest. Play Caribbean music and games, like limbo. Give the kids crowns and tritons so they can pretend to have underwater adventures! Of course, when it’s time for a movie, only one will do.

2. The All-American

What’s more American than hot dogs and apple pie? Baseball. Set up T-ball for little ones in the backyard and serve up dogs, fries, and apple pie (store bought is great — we won’t tell!). After the kids put on their pajamas, pop in The Sandlot for evening entertainment. Good all-American fun.

3. Christmas in July

Kids love this surprising, topsy turvy theme! Great for a heat wave, pull out some Christmas decorations and embrace winter in July. Lower the A/C and pull out lots of snuggly blankets, twinkle lights, and hot chocolate. Have the kids watch Elf or Frosty the Snowman in their flapjacks — a guaranteed giggle fest!

4. Roughing It

Kids love to play pretend. Set up a tent in the backyard so they can “go camping.” Roast marshmallows over the grill to make s’mores. Play flashlight tag and tell scary stories. When movie time rolls around, have them bring their sleeping bags inside and watch Open Season.

5. Berry Bake-Off

Berries are finally in season! Take the kids strawberry or blueberry picking or just pick up a few cartons in the store. Look up an easy no-bake recipe for little ones to try, like whipped cream berry parfaits, or make hand pies with older kids. The goodies will be a fun treat to enjoy during an evening showing of Ratatouille.

Munki Munki Goldfish Pajamas for Sleepovers

Goldfish Long John Set by Munki Munki

6. Waterpark

Create a water park in your backyard using sprinklers and a slip n’ slide. The kids will wear themselves out quickly running around in the sunshine. They’ll be more than ready to curl up in their pajamas and watch Finding Nemo at the end of the day!

7. Garden Party

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s getting their hands dirty! Inexpensive pots, soil, plants, and seeds will provide lots of gardening fun! Pick up popsicle sticks and have the kids make and decorate tags identifying the name of their plant. Consider fall plants that the kids can start sprouting now and plant later at home. After they’ve washed their hands and put on their PJs, pop in Zootopia (the main character’s parents are farmers!) or James and the Giant Peach.

8. Moana Dance Party

Two themes in one! It’s hard not to boogie to the incredible Moana soundtrack. Create a Pandora station based on the music and the station will automatically play similar kid-friendly tunes. Throw in grass skirts, leis, glow bracelets (for bioluminescence in the “Realm of Monsters”) and you’ve got yourself a super fun dance party! Be sure to show the movie at the end of the day after the kids settle down.

9. Pirates of the Caribbean

Kids love a scavenger hunt! Set up a pirate themed treasure hunt in your backyard. Consider small toys and chocolate gold coins as the big prize! “Capture the Flag” is another great option. The kids will have a blast swashbuckling in pirate hats with foam swords. When it’s time for bed, show Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean or for little ones, the animated classic, Peter Pan.

10. Pool Day

For the tween set who is “too cool” for themes, consider a “pool day.” There are many inflatable pool options that are great for lounging in. Set up magazines, sunblock, music, water guns, or nail polish for a relaxing day of fun in the sun. Depending on age, movie options could include Hotel Transylvania, Dunstin Checks In, or Blue Crush.

11. Frozen Karaoke Party

For the kids who can’t get enough music, how about a karaoke party with a Frozen theme? Kids karaoke machines are relatively inexpensive or you could just play fun Disney soundtracks on Pandora or Spotify. Once the kids are in their jammies and tucked in for the night, play Frozen for one more round of sing-along fun.

For more ideas for summer family fun, visit The Pajama Company at our blog, thepajamacompany.com/blog.

How to Throw a ‘Cookie Swap’ Pajama Party

Leave a reply

We’re big fans of a good pajama party, especially during the winter months. There is something about being snuggled up with your closest friends in your favorite PJs, enjoying great snacks and good movie, that feels so right in the winter. The only thing in the world that could make a winter sleepover feel even more cozy is a pile of freshly baked cookies.

‘Cookie swaps’ are a super fun addition to Christmas parties, cookouts, and family reunions — so why not host one during a pajama party, when you’re already on the hunt for sweet treats? The concept is simple: each guest brings cookies for everyone to try and enough cookies for everyone to take some home. It’s a great way to share recipes you love with friends and, well, eat cookies!

Need recipe ideas? Check out these must-try cookies.

8 Tips for Hosting a ‘Cookie Swap’ Sleepover Continue reading →

How to Host a ‘Winter Wonderland’ Pajama Party

1 Reply

After we unplug the Christmas tree and pack away our holiday decorations, many people feel a touch of ‘post-holiday blues’ because there is nothing left to celebrate and a long winter ahead. Don’t feel sad! There is a lot to celebrate after the holidays!

For one, we aren’t faced with the daunting task of entertaining in-laws and houseguests for another weekend packed with holiday traditions and formalities. Those of us who travel aren’t faced with another weekend in an airport, dragging luggage and children from coast to coast to visit family. The magical, sparkly, snowy winter weather is still going strong, which means we have a lot to celebrate — right at home.

Without all the holiday obligations, we can gleefully spend the rest of the winter season in hibernation. Why not celebrate what’s left of the season with a laidback ‘Winter Wonderland’ pajama party? Since the kids will be on winter break until after the New Year, you can keep the party to just your family or invite another family to join in. It’s also a great excuse to use those matching family pajamas one more time…

Delaying taking down the Christmas decorations? Use your decorative string lights to create a wintery ambiance.

Continue reading →

How to Throw a ‘Pumpkin Spice’ Themed Slumber Party

Leave a reply

Three words: pumpkin spice everything. After an absolutely gorgeous summer, fall has finally arrived on the East Coast and temperatures are slowly starting to drop. With school back in session it’s the perfect time for a cozy slumber party, whether you’re in middle school or you’re in college. What better way to celebrate the season than in your favorite pajamas surrounded by all things pumpkin spice?

Not only is pumpkin spice the caffeinated beverage of choice for many this time of year, it creeps into our soaps, candles, and pastries too. The scent makes you feel like you’re hovering over a warm apple pie. To capture this feeling of warmth and comfort we’ve assembled a list of our coziest slumber party must-haves for the perfect fall pajama gathering.

Continue reading →

7 Awesome Sleepover Games

Leave a reply

A good slumber party is all about great friends, yummy food and treats, favorite PJs, and of course, fun things to do!

Here are some of our favorite games to try out at your next sleepover!

Blindfolded Makeovers One person gets blindfolded and then does the make-up of the other person. The result is pretty funny! Have lots of good make-up remover on hand for this one!

Getting to Know You Game Each person gets a sheet of questions to answer about themselves, and then shares their answers with the group. Add questions like “what’s something you are afraid of” or “what’s your most embarrassing moment?” or “do you believe in ghosts?” for extra fun and laughs!

Musical Manicures Sit in a circle and pass a bunch of different nail polish colors around. When the music stops, each girl paints a nail with the color she has. Continue until all 10 finger nails are polished for a rainbow effect.

Toss & Talk Ball Similar to the “Getting to Know You Game”, but with a ball. Write all of the questions on a plastic beach ball. Toss the ball and the person to catch it answers the first question they see.

Murder Mystery Game A fun game of tag played in the dark. Victims must guess and identify the murderer! (Best for teenagers.)

Laser Maze Tape paper streamers across your hallway to form a maze, and then each person takes turns navigating their way through. Fun for hours!

Secrets Each person writes a secret or a fact about themselves and puts it in a big bowl. Players take turns pulling secrets out of the bowl and guessing who it belongs to. The person who gets the most right wins!

How about you – what are you favorite games to play at sleepovers? Tell us in the comments below!

How to throw a Spring Fling Sleepover!

Leave a reply

spring fling sleepover Spring has sprung and the flowers are sprouting! Many kids are looking forward to their spring break and anticipating the fun things they’ll do during their time off. What could be better than a spring-themed slumber party to welcome in the new season?!

Here are some fun ideas to make your spring sleepover super fun!

Have an Indoor Picnic

The evening weather might not be quite ready for a traditional picnic, but a fun idea is to create one inside. Spread a blanket out on the floor and serve your favorite picnic delights. Here are some ideas: veggies and dip, fruit and chocolate, bread and cheese, potato or pasta salad. Pick a refreshing beverage like berry lemonade or peach iced tea. And don’t forget dessert! Make your own strawberry shortcake is always fun or make these adorable sleepover cupcakes ahead of time!

Do a Spring Craft

Choose a fun Spring-themed craft to do together. Pinterest has tons of great ideas from paper flowers to decorating a pillowcase to kid-sized butterfly wings. These embellished “Funky Flip Flops” are my favorite and are sure to be a hit!

Dance Party!

Clear away the furniture, put on some favorite beach tunes and let the kids dance the night away! Or, you can have a dance competition. Split the group into two teams and give them each a song to come up with a dance to. The best dance wins a prize!

Games

There are SO MANY fun sleepover games! If it is warm enough where you live, you could create a scavenger hunt in the backyard, complete with clue maps and headlamps or flashlights. There’s also the Blind Makeover Game and classics like Two Truths and a Lie. Check out our other posts for sleepover games here and here.

Pamper it Up

Since it’s almost flip flop time, DIY manicures and pedicures are great for this time of year. Have everyone bring their favorite nail polish colors to share. There’s even a fun game you can play called the Nail Polish Spin Game for a rainbow of nail colors! You can also have your guests create some good-smelling herbal home spa remedies to use like lotions and foot scrubs.

Don’t forget to remind your guests to ditch those winter flannels and wear their favorite spring pajamas!

Photo Credit: Bunches and Bits {Karina} via Compfight cc

Blog

Best Summer Sleepover Themes

1. Under The Sea

2. The All-American

3. Christmas in July

4. Roughing It

5. Berry Bake-Off

6. Waterpark

7. Garden Party

8. Moana Dance Party

9. Pirates of the Caribbean

10. Pool Day

11. Frozen Karaoke Party

8 Tips for Hosting a ‘Cookie Swap’ Sleepover Continue reading →

The Pajama Club -- Sign up for must-have pajama specials!