The following article is by Lisa, a guest blogger who likes writing about party planning and how to throw the perfect Super Mario birthday party.

Slumber Parties Can Put Your Party Planning Worries to Rest

If you’re struggling to think of a great idea for your little princess’ next birthday party, look no further than a slumber party. Slumber parties are one of the sacred rites of passage for any girl and they can make for an absolutely unforgettable birthday party. Here are a few tips to throwing the perfect slumber party.

The Guest List

When you’re trying to think of how many guests to invite, remember that these girls will be in your home together for an entire night and some of the next day. Keep the number of guests manageable and make it something that won’t drive you and your spouse insane. I threw a slumber party for my 8-year-old last year and we had five girls over. This number worked for us and allowed my daughter to invite her closest friends.

Don’t give the invitations out at school either. This can cause hurt feelings and cause jealousy among your daughter’s other friends, so mail or e-vite is the best way to go.

Once you know who is being invited, find contact information for each guest’s parent. Talk to the parents and ask if they have any special concerns or rules for their child.

Activities

I’ve heard some people say you should schedule a few activities for the guests such as eating, watching movies and playing board games. In my experience these schedules usually end up getting thrown out the window. Provide them with food (pizza, supplies for ice cream sundaes, cookies, etc) and entertainment options (movies, a dress-up station with outfits and make-up) but don’t become too attached to the schedule. One thing that can kill a slumber party faster than a sedative is an overbearing parent complaining that the girls are late for the facial station.

Keeping the Boys At Bay

Although they would probably deny it, your boys will be interested in the sleepover. They’ll either want to terrorize or disgust the guests, so to keep them from getting involved allow them to have a friend over or encourage them to spend the night at a friend’s house. This will keep the sibling’s from fighting and will make for a much more peaceful evening.

Help Out

It’s important for your little girl to feel like the host so it is equally important that you provide her with any help. If she has an idea for something she wants to do at the slumber party, do your best to help her find a way to make it happen.

Lisa is a guest blogger who likes writing about party planning and how to throw the perfect Super Mario birthday party.