When Is My Child Ready For Sleepovers?


Sleepovers are a rite of passage for most children. Although this is an exciting time, it can also be anxiety-inducing for both children and their parents. Before you let your child go away on their first sleepover, it is important that they are ready for the new experience. Here are three things to consider when evaluating whether your child is ready for a sleepover.

Delightful at Daycare

One of the best indicators to look toward when deciding if your child is ready to be away from you at night is their behavior at daycare. How your child behaves when you are not around during the day is a good indicator of how will they act when at a sleepover situation. If your child is able to self-regulate emotions and behave appropriately in new situations, they are well on their way to being ready for a sleepover. Conversely, if they often get in trouble while at daycare, you will probably want to hold off on sleepovers until they can control their behavior better.

Potty Trained

One of the best physical signs that your child is ready for a sleepover is if they are potty trained. If your child is still potty training, then a sleepover should be out of the question. But there is a wealth of potty training books and online resources to help speed up the process for both children and parents while decreasing the commonly felt feelings of frustration and confusion. Making sure that your child is in control of their body will alleviate a lot of concerns that come with sleeping at somebody else's house. You do not want to ruin a sleepover and cause feelings of shame because of a nighttime accident.

Separates Easily

Considering how your child acts when you are apart for long periods of time is also a good indicator of if they are ready for this big step. Just because your child does fine with being away from you for short periods of time, such as at school or on play dates, it does not mean that they are emotionally ready for being separated at night. It is important to trust your gut as a parent when making this determination.

The bottom line is that there is no definitive answer about when a child is ready for a sleepover. While one 5-year-old child may be emotionally prepared for the experience, another 10-year-old child may not. The key is to know your child's individual needs and temperament, and then make your decision based on that.

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