Tag Archives: Kids Parties

11 Best Summer Sleepover Ideas

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!

Big Feet Kids Pajamas for Sleepovers

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.

Get Advice from our “Sleepover Central” Girls to Make Your Sleepovers Fun and Fabulous

3 Replies

Our Everything Sleepover section is stuffed full of ideas and goodies to make your sleepovers wonderful.  We have introduced our  “Sleepover Central Girls” who are all set to answer your prickly questions and help make your sleepovers fun and fabulous.  Add your questions here and be sure to share any of your favorite sleepover games, snacks and tips.

Dear Sleepover Central Girls,

Whenever I have a sleepover with these two girls they always end up fighting. But if I don’t invite them to my sleepover or invite one and not the other, they get mad at me. What should I do?

We can see you are in a tough situation. Why don’t you try talking to your friends and let them know how you feel about them fighting. If thy are truly your friends, they will listen to you. You should try once more inviting them both to your sleepover, but this time try to keep them away from each other. Like make sure they are not sleeping next to each other and that they are in different groups in games and activities. If that does not work be honest with them and tell them that you cannot continue to invite them to sleepovers if they keep fighting. If they ignore this and continue to fight then they are not being very good friends and do not deserve to be invited back!

I made a new friend at school and I invited her to a sleepover. But she never invited me over to her house after that. Did I do something wrong at the sleepover or does she just not want to be my friend?

Don’t worry if she has not invited you over yet. She may just be shy or her parents might not like her to have people over as much as yours do. There might be things that you don’t know going on at her house that she does not want you to see. Don’t worry that you did something wrong, why don’t you try inviting her over again, and maybe she will be more willing to invite you over once you get to know her some more.

Whenever I have a sleepover, my younger brother always bothers us. My parents don’t understand that I don’t want him bothering me and my friends. How can I get him to leave us alone?

Here is a good idea, you can sit your parents down and talk to them about this. Tell them what has been going on at sleepovers with your younger brother and tell them how you feel about it. They should understand. Although they may not tie him up in his room during all your sleepovers like you would want, they will probably talk to him and keep him busy with other activities while you are having your sleepover. Good luck.

Whenever I have a sleepover my mom always makes us go to bed by 10:00. When I go to sleepovers at my friends houses we always get to stay up till at least midnight. How can I get my mom to let us stay up later?

Tell your mom how you feel and why you think you should get to stay up later. Try and make a compromise with her. For example say you will get into your sleeping bags at 10 but maybe you can stay up watching a movie. If you act mature and suggest compromises when talking to your mom, she will probably agree.

Whenever I have my friend’s sleepover we always like to play with my stuff but then when they go home they leave my room and house a huge mess. Then I always get in trouble and my parents make me clean it up. What should I do?

The next time you are playing with your stuff during a sleepover, beg your friends to help you clean it up before they all go home. If you end up having to clean up the place after everyone goes, well, just think, wasn’t it worth it!