The pajama nights are unforgettable and synonymous with laughter, pillow fights, secrets exchanged before the eyes are closed, of fear admitted in the dark with a blanket, of a sharing … Without being essential in the evolution of the As a child, this moment of friendship with friends allows you to be reassured and to discover new facets.

” Mom ? Can the girlfriends come and sleep at the house? “. This phrase, well known and often feared for organizational reasons, is a classic of children’s requests. The principle is to invite one or more friends who are dear to them, to come and spend an evening, dinner, and a night at their place to sleep in their room.

These friendly events allow the child to build himself up, but nothing should be rushed. You can start from the age of five by inviting a friend, then increase the number of guests thereafter. Guest children should be independent enough to feel safe away from home. Moreover, this moment must not become a constraint for the parents.

“There are no rules, the number of participants depends on the configuration of the living space and the number of children that parents feel they are managing,” emphasizes Florence Millot, a child psychologist.

This somewhat special evening gives children and their parents the opportunity to discover other lifestyles, other traditions or cultures.

It is also a moment of freedom. Children then have the right to go to bed a little later, to play a little, to play a little “crazy”.

So that everyone can feel good during this pajama party, the children will have to bring in a bag:

• their pajamas (a covering outfit, not a nightie or just underpants);
• teenagers should be told that they are not in their intimate circle and that their friend’s parents or siblings are not part of it. Therefore, they will reserve their lighter pajamas for home. Even if they are hot at night, a T-shirt and shorts are the minimum to bring).
• their toiletry bag (toothbrush, hairbrush, dental appliance tools, etc.);
• their drug treatment if they have one;
• glove and towel for the little morning toilet;
• their blanket (very important, so that they feel safe, even away from home);
• a duvet. Some children feel in their cocoon and that reassures them;
• a complete, clean outfit for the next day (priority socks, panties, T-shirt);
• it is possible to bring a night light;
• a little game if they feel like it, or a book they would like to share.

Choose the right evening

In order for everyone to have a good evening, including parents, you need to plan an evening that is suitable for the whole family. Saturday evening is the ideal time since the next day the children will be able to rest. Friday evening is not recommended for the little ones. They have had their week of school and need Friday night to sleep at the same times as usual.

What to choose for dinner?

For dinner, it is good to learn about the allergies of the guests, it happens that some children are allergic to milk, eggs, nuts and have angioedema, which would put them in vital danger (call for emergencies , rapid intake of antihistamines and / or injection of adrenaline and corticosteroids). It is therefore essential to take this into account.

Depending on this, it is then easy to compose a nice and relaxed meal: homemade pizza that the children will prepare together, ice cream, popcorn, etc., (except for rare exceptions, green beans are not invited to this kind of event. evening).

Plan the return time

It is also necessary to think of the breakfast the next day and to indicate the time of return to the guests.

It is useless to plan as many things as for a birthday.

As mentioned above, children will have the pleasure of preparing their meals themselves.

This first activity consists of preparing dinner together. It can be a quiche, a cake for dessert, chocolate sand roses, etc., easy ideas to make with a few ingredients purchased in advance.

They will also help set the table, and decorate it to change from everyday life, with little wreaths cut out of beautiful paper, with beautiful napkins, with little words written for each one, jokes, questions to get to know each other better, challenges, etc., anything that can change from everyday life will be greatly appreciated.

You have to give them time to play freely. This evening is an opportunity to discover a new place and new games for the guests. For those who entertain, this sometimes allows them to use their toys in another form, for example with the doll that the child had abandoned and which becomes the moment of this evening the queen of cuddly toys, all in line in the room.

Finally, do not forget that bedtime remains important for the little ones. The parent should set the time limit and let the children know. A story to calm the excitement born of the joy of being together and children are asked to turn off.

There will always be a little ritual moment: going to the bathroom, teeth, lighting the nightlight, etc., then the sandman comes by and the eyes close.