I am a Girl Scout Leader for a group of 5-8 (depending on the day) Brownies. That's 1st-3rd grades, or about 7 years old (which is what most of my girls are).
They want to have a sleepover next month, and one of the moms has volunteered to host. (Yay, I don't have to have it here!) I have to come up with activities, a list of supplies to divide among the girls (so one person doesn't have to bring everything), snacks, breakfast, movies?, games, etc.
What I need are ideas. I think we should make cookies...but beyond that I'm pretty open. Should we ask that everyone eat dinner before coming or not take the chance that someone might be too busy and order pizza? I want to avoid TOO much sugar, so what kind of snacks should we get? No one has any known food allergies, thank goodness. I want to do something special but not too hard for breakfast, that we can make into a tradition for our future sleepovers. I plan to be with these girls for a long time.
See, I've never been to, had, or been involved in a sleepover before. What should I expect?
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Shortsheeting, putting someone's underwear in the freezer, whipped cream on the face, putting a hand in hot water while they're asleep...
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
If you feel up to it, you could always *make* pizzas for dinner:
Buy some pre-made bases (or make your own dough if you're feeling really energetic!) and then put out tomato sauce (for the base), vegetables, ham, grated cheese, pineapple etc etc on a big table. The girls can assemble their own bits of pizza with whatever toppings they like best - making shapes if they wish (funny faces etc). Then you cook them for 20 minutes or so in a hot oven and voila! Homemade pizza that everyone will love because they made it themselves!
We used to do this for my parties and my friends always loved it - even the picky eaters.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Shortsheeting may be a problem, since we'll be using sleeping bags. I hope the girls leave their underwears on, thankyouverymuch. Whipped cream is a possiblility...but the hot water? I think that goes back to wanting the underwears to stay on. Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Hmm...make pizzas. There's an idea.
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
You freeze the underwear they're NOT wearing. Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
I'm praying they'll not need any spares!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
They'll need spares if you put their hands in warm water. Make sure to warn the parents.
How about a Disney movie? I mean, it's always fun when you play games and all, but a movie is nice for later at night when people need to wind down. And if you have a movie, you have to have popcorn! Luckily, popcorn is cheap, non-sugary, and relatively healthy. If you want it to be a learning experience, they can make it on the stove the "old fashioned way". Or at least, you know, help measure and then watch.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Yes, but which movie? Fortunately, I have or can get almost any movie I want...Princess Diaries? Something else girly? Or more along the lines of Brother Bear or Lion King?
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Movies - are they too young for Grease ? Probably a bit.
How about some of the Disney classics? Aladdin, The Lion King - that type of thing. (Or, what KQ said. )
My experience with 7 year old girls (my little sister 2 years ago ) is they love making things. I'm trying to think of cheap (and not too messy) craft ideas that would work for a group. Hmmm.
Game-wise you could get a jig-saw puzzle that was a bit too old (say for 8-10 year olds) and do it all together.
Posted by martha (Member # 141) on :
Princess Bride is a classic sleepover movie for that age group (well, really any age group -- I just ordered a copy for my husband for his 29th birthday).
Pizza is good and easy for dinner (even if you decide to make a cooking project out of it, it's fairly easy to prepare and to clean up). Ice cream is a good dessert, especially if you get cones -- not too much sugar but still a special treat. Stock baby carrots and/or grapes in case somebody's still hungry for a bedtime snack.
You could tell spooky stories and give the girls paper and markers to illustrate them.
Or you could make a puppet theater out of a cardboard box, then have the art supplies for the girls to make their own puppets, and then they can make up a puppet play to entertain you.
Breakfast: If you want to go with something pre-made, frozen waffles can be heated in the oven so they'll all be ready at the same time. You can have the girls make their own syrups (frozen berries cooked with a little sugar make a great waffle topping).
For an activity before they go home in the morning, you could buy several sets of face-painting crayons and have them decorate their own or each other's faces. Borrow a book of ideas from the library. And don't forget a mirror or two.
Good luck.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I'd bring a few movies (at that age, hopefully all rated G, because some parents might object otherwise; you could clear it with them first, though, if you wanted to show a PG), and let them vote on which one to watch.
It's always fun to get to choose. Plus you'll not have a problem if, say, Aladdin gives one girl nightmares and she can't stand the thought of watching it. (I was that way with Snow White until I was about 15.)
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
And I never got sent home early.
Ever.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I think Ella Enchanted is a great movie for girls that age.
My experience with sleepovers is that games are huge, especially ones that encourage interaction. At Natalie's last sleepover, they played mafia. But 20 questions, charades, that kind of stuff is fun. Can you get access to a flip chart? Pictionary is a blast with a group that size.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Face painting is a great idea! You can get some books which do step-by-step instructions and make it very easy to follow.
Oh, how about a treasure hunt? Put little treasures (doesn't really matter want) in hiding places and make up clues the girls have to figure out to find them. Or, if the house has a yard you can make a list of things for each girl to find (3 brown leaves, a stone, something green, something starting with an 'n' etc etc) - when they have collected all their items they get a prize (maybe an ice-cream or something). Good *and* educational. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Along those lines, a scavenger hunt would also be fun. (d'oh! just re-read)
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
My *favorite* pizza idea -- one I learned in 7th grade home-ec and make to this day when I am feeling uncreative for lunch -- is to make little pizzas with Pillsbury biscuits. You know, the ones that come rolled up in a can that you pop and then bake on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes in the oven? Well if you buy the slightly bigger ones (Grands, I think they're called) and then put them in a cookie sheet, take the ring on the bottom of a regular cup and push it into each one. Then use your fingers to spread the dough out into a round pizza shape. This crust is easy, cheap and really fun, especially for little hands. And it's really tasty, too, unlike a lot of pre-made doughs. Then just add tomato sauce (I like the really cheap Hunt's stuff, but I'm both weird and a poor college student), top with your favorite cheese and add toppings at will. Then bake in the oven according to the instructions on the biscuit box. Voila! Customized, mini pizzas (allowing each person to eat however much or little they want) in 20 minutes or less!
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
quote:Originally posted by Boon: I'm praying they'll not need any spares!
o_O
They're not gonna put on clean drawers in the morning?!?
Ew!
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
The house has a HUGE yard, way out in the country (like mine). These are all *verry* good ideas, and I'm taking notes like mad!
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
...maybe they'll put on clean drawers (after a shower, even) before they come over?
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
[tangent]
Speaking of face painting, I'm trying to put together a portfolio of my aunt Cherie (she used to be on the forum as Fael) of her face painting. I think she's amazing.
here's another one that matched the child's costume - it was a Halloween festival.
And here's an American Girl who just has to be the cutest thing on the planet. (with the exception of my own girls, of course)
[/tangent]
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
That American girl is seriously cute.
A quick google reveals there are heaps of how-to face painting guides online:
Or, if this book is at your library, it's fantastic.
Posted by LadyDove (Member # 3000) on :
Origami was a great hit at the last kid get-together I hosted. It's pretty easy and cheap and the kids have something to bring home.
For snacks, I had cut-up apples and carmel sauce, grapes with yogurt, cheetos and carrots sticks.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
And of course, there's hair styling. Get some cheap glittery clips and ponytail holders (our local dollar store carries large packs of them for, you guessed it, a dollar each), have them all bring a brush, get some hair spray, check out books with different hairdos, and help them style each other's hair. Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
ooohhh...kq that's a great idea! That would definitely be fun.
Posted by Peek (Member # 7688) on :
DEW. lots of dew.
dude peekaboo
Yeah.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
Play Sardines. It is like Hide and Seek but everyone stays at the base and counts while one person hides. Everyone goes to find the one person and when they do, they squeeze into the hiding place too. The last person to find the hiders is the next "it." Loads of giggly fun. It's even more fun in the dark with flashlights.
Another thing you can do is an arts and crafts project. The group could make a photo album of the party with each girl contributing a page. Have scrapbooking paper, funny foam, pipe cleaners, scissors, glue, glitter, markers, stickers, and other cool craft supplies at their disposal. They could even take pictures of each other with a digital camera and have the parents print out pictures on the computer for them to use. You can bind the whole thing together with heavy ribbon with extra pages added for journaling and in the future, after every girl scout meeting, a new girl could take it home to write in.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Another spin on the easy, do-it-yourself pizza is to use english muffins for the base, then all you have to do is broil them until the cheese melts.
Some other board type games that are fun are: Apples to Apples, Disney's Scene it, uno, or better yet, you could have them each bring a favorite game.
Another game our family loves is you get one of those HUGE hershey's bars, a pair of dice, gloves, hat, scarf, a cutting board and a butter knife. Everyone sits around a table and take turns rolling the dice. The first person to get doubles puts on the hat, gloves, scarf and can start to unwrap the candy bar. Once it's unwrapped, the rule is they can only cut and eat one square at a time but they can eat as much chocolate as they can until another set of double is rolled (everyone else keeps rolling) when doubles are rolled again, then that person puts on the hat, gloves and scarf and it goes until the candy bar is gone. This might be one to do right after dinner, it's very fun but it gets them wound up. Did I say that it is fun?
How about making friendship bracelets? There are some great instruction pages on-line if you search (I don't know how to do linkies yet) that are pretty easy and the girls love to do them, plus the embroidery thread used to make them is very inexpensive.
As for breakfast, how about one of those big, mixed variety packages of muffins from BJ's, Costco or Sam's Club with some orange juice.
Sounds like fun, have a great time.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
This is the one that I used in Girl Scouts for your age group. Clip board definately make it easier but you can also tape the starting end to the table.
You can also safety-pin the knot to a piece of clothing.
As for movies, how about the original Parent Trap?
We also used to do massage circles (you give a back massage to the girl on your right and then everyone turns the other way and she gives you one).
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
...we played poker. Is that bad?
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
The chocolate game! Oh we loved that one.
I think we used to play it with one dice, and the magic number was a six. But it is great fun.
Posted by Vid (Member # 7172) on :
(It's taking all my willpower not to make a joke about Quagmire)
Being a guy, I never took part in girl sleepovers, but I imagine the basics are the same: pizza, cookies, some sort of movie... you know, everything everyone has already said Posted by Son of Shvester (Member # 8489) on :
try having them do an arts and crafts project
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
(still taking notes...)
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
May God be with you.
Seriously, there are some great ideas on the thread! I would second the idea for an arts and craft project - the girls will have fun, stay occupied, and have something to take home.
space opera
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
Hey Boon, I was checking out some recipes at recipezaar and thought of you when I saw this one. It seemed to fit your ticket for breakfast that is something fun/unusual/memory making/tradition starting.
Basically you make an omelet by cracking 2 eggs into a sandwich size ziploc bag, have the girls squish it to scramble it, add ham, onion, cheese...whatever. Squish all the air out of the bag and drop it in boiling water for 13 minutes then dump it out on a plate. Sounds interesting, but there were a lot of reviews that it was fantastic.
*nods* There's a fancy French term that means "boiling in a bag", apparently-- the chefs on Iron Chef America do it a lot.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
*kq, I registered today (at recipezaar) Woo hoo! Would that be a bagnet? (spelling? and questionable memory of Iron Chef-isms)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
No clue, Alton Brown is fond of telling us what the technique is called-- and I'm so bad at remembering.
I'd better watch more Iron Chef America so I can learn what it's called next time they do it!
And yay for registering at recipezaar! Now you can save things in your cookbook and post on the forums. (My sn is the same there as here. )
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
Decorating cookies could be fun. It's also an activity that's relatively easy to scale to the number of people showing up.
I'd second Ella Enchanted (or The Princess Bride) as movie choices.
A game of Monopoly can easily kill a couple of hours.
They might be old enough to appreciate the Dance Dance Revolution or Karaoke Revolution games, which are often as fun to watch as to play, and are noisy, fun spectacles. If a Playstation (and the required controllers) could be rented or borrowed.
Get a book of ghost stories and take turns reading?
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Okay, the sleepover has been scheduled for the night of the 17th. The girls have decided (after about 20 minutes of debate) that they should each bring their own favorite snack-type food (like nachos) to share with everyone for dinner.
They want to start right after school, so all the girls will ride the school bus over to the hosts' home. We'll play games (they want to have a hula-hoop contest, among other things) and goof off until dinner, which the parents will drop off between 3 and 6:30pm. Then we'll eat, and then the projects will start.
The dining room will be dedicated to craft projects, including decorating these. The kitchen will be for making chocolate chip cookies, and the living room will have movies playing.
Each girl will bring (or have dropped off with their overnight bag) their favorite movie, their own hairbrushes and ponytail holders, and whatever makeup they can play with.
The girls voted on cinnamon rolls, fruit, and milk for breakfast. If the weather is nice Saturday, we'll pack lunches and go to the zoo. If not, we'll hang out and do more crafty type stuff (and movies) until lunch. Either way, we'll be sending everyone home around 2-3pm.
Their decisions, all.
24 hours.
Keep the responses coming though, I need as many ideas as possible. I don't want them getting bored!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Bubble gum blowing contests are fun, you chew about 3 or 4 pieces (at that age) and blow the biggest bubble you can; and adult with a ruler measures (from the face out.)
Sounds like they're good little organizers! Posted by Blayne Bradley (Member # 8565) on :
connect a bunch of xboxes and play Halo.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
sounds wonderful. I think it will go great. Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
They'll have a great time because they have ownership of so much of it. It will be fun!
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
A great girl scout activity would be a night walk. You can stargaze, and point out the easier-to-find constellations. This time of year, the stars are lovely.
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
And now I'm getting frustrated. Apparently, I have to get council approval for a simple sleepover, and must complete 8! forms and checklists. Grrr.
And then the girls and I have to fill out "evaluation" forms afterward.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:And then the girls and I have to fill out "evaluation" forms afterward.
That's new, we never did that when I was in brownies... (And I only remember my mom filling out 2 or 3 forms, and rubber-stamping them was pretty routine for the council, I don't think they even looked at them.)
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
Girl scouts requires an insane amount of paperwork. I know that when my troop got older my mom used to do things like have us all just "happen" to show up to the same place at the same time, but that was when we were all in high school and she still had contact info and whatnot for all of the parents. Something that's fun at night if they're getting antsy is to have everyone sit down in a circle and turn off all of the lights except for a candle or a lantern in the middle. Have them cover one eye and stare into that one light (hopefully not too bright ) while you tell them a story. When the story is over have them look around the room with one eye at a time. Because one eye has been covered and has adjusted to darkness, while the other is adjusted to light, it's really cool. Another thing you can do while the lights are low is give them winterfresh breathsavers and have them chew them. As long as you keep them somewhat dry (as in, don't suck on them) you will be able to see little sparks in their mouths. Or you could save these ideas for a future sleepover (they're generally best the first time) or camping trip and do them outside when it's a little warmer.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
All of my Y kids loved Perler Beads. They would work on them for hours without getting bored. You can get them at Wal-Mart for a reasonable price and their web site has tons of free patterns. Apparently you can buy them in bulk if you are a troop leader.
I happened to look at a Better Homes and Gardens magazine at the chiropractor's office today, and they had an article with ideas for a girl's sleepover. I just glanced through it so I don't really remember it that well, and since you already have food covered I'm not sure if there's anything in there you could use, but thought I'd mention it. (not sure if it's the Jan or Feb issue, but it has a red cover, so maybe it's Feb for Valentine's day.)
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
The sleepover is tomorrow, any last minute ideas?
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
Have fun. Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Thank you. I hope they have more fun than I do, and I hope I have a blast!
P.S. Too freaking cold for the zoo!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Too cold for the zoo? How cold is it?
The animals are usually more active when it's cooler. Plus, like half of your zoo is indoors!
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
Right now it's 27. Expected lows and highs for Friday and Saturday: 19/37, 18/27. Too dang cold.
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peekaboo![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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Their decisions, all.![[Angst]](graemlins/angst.gif)
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Too cold for the zoo? How cold is it?