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Home › Articles › Your Children › Slumber Buddies

Slumber Buddies

Can a Friend Spend the Night Tonight?

By Sharon Waldrop

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"I let my daughter and her friend enjoy each other's company," says Tawnya Curran from Indianapolis, In. "They usually enjoy playing with the dress-up box, making bead jewelry, coloring, playing school, listening to pop music and fixing each other's hair."

Jones says she is always pleased when she is told by a visiting child that they had fun and want to come back. She has also been referred to as a "cool" mom who makes the best macaroni and cheese.

Parent-to-Parent
It's an ideal situation when a parent knows the parent(s) of a child who is invited over to spend the night. However, due to work schedules and other factors, this may not always be the case.

"Observing the other child at play can give you clues about his or her family life," says Leonetti.

Curran says she tries to at least be an acquaintance with the other parents before allowing her daughter to invite a guest over. "I always speak with them by phone to make arrangements and to get a feel for what their child likes as far as snacks, bedtime rituals, etcetera," she says.

Jones says she always makes an effort to get to know the other parents well before a sleepover. "I have been very lucky in that the children my daughters have chosen as friends have parents who feel the same way," she says.

Ingersoll says he would feel uncomfortable having a child stay overnight without knowing the parents. "We are friends with the parents of most of Stephen's friends," he says.

The Comfort Zone
What steps can a parent take to ensure that an overnight guest feels at home?

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