Homemade Slumber Party Ideas

A slumber party is seldom for sleeping. An invitation to a slumber party is an invitation to an all-night party, only in pajamas. The party may be a chance for friends to just "hang out" or may be held to celebrate a special event such as a birthday or graduation. Slumber parties don't need to be elaborate or expensive to leave lasting memories.

Basics

Send invitations. Let parents of guests know what is planned and what children should bring such as a change of clothes. Use paper plates and cups for easy cleanup. Buy plates with ghosts on them for a scary movie night or a magnifying glass for a mystery-themed slumber party.

Hanging Out

Invite your friends to a "Just Us" party. Plan a "no-cell" night with no calling or texting to each other or others. Spend the night talking to and laughing with one another. Provide a notebook and pen for each guest. Keep a journal of the evening. Write down life goals and where you imagine each other being and doing in 10 and 15 years. Feast on pizza, pop, popcorn and other snacks.

Get Healthy

Go healthy with a "Let's Get Healthy" slumber party. Serve fruit wedges and offer a vegetable platter. Early in the evening, invite a professional or an older individual to do facials, make up or hair styling. Learn ways to keep your hair, skin and body healthy.

Midnight Madness

Plan a "Midnight Madness" slumber party. After dark, play basket ball in the driveway. Swim in the pool. Play tag, Simon Says, Red Light-Green Light and other classic games in the backyard in your pajamas. Plan for a "ghost" to show up and tell ghost stories. Provide the supplies for sundaes from ice cream to bananas, nuts and assorted toppings.

Games

Plan a night of playing all sorts of board games. Include a body-twisting game as well as classics such as chess, checkers or back gammon. Plan a night of card playing or become a tycoon with a board game that buys and sells real estate or sends you to jail. Set up tables with the winner at the tables switching tables or winners playing one another. Divide into teams and play trivia games, games where you draw pictures or charades. Play video games with one another. Provide small prizes for winners such stuffed animals, magic tricks, scented soaps or car models.

Movies & Music

Ask your friends to bring a CD of their favorite music or a DVD of their favorite movie. Play the music and pretend to be a band. Each guest plays one of the instruments or sings along. Talk about the meaning of lyrics and how the music impacts you. Have a slumber party movie marathon. Play the movies the guests bring or have a theme for the slumber party and play only romance, adventure, mystery, animal or scary movies.