A slumber party can be the perfect celebration for your little social butterfly. Our fun and creative slumber party ideas -- including slumber party games, slumber party food and more --  will be a blast for the attendees and easy-as-pie for a parent like you.  

Best For..

While girls are usually the ones who insist on slumber parties, boys enjoy this kind of fun as well. Slumber parties should be kept gender-specific; girls aged seven to 12 will enjoy them while boys aged eight to 11 will also think they are fun.

Sleepover Party Planning

For peace of mind, begin planning your bash six to eight weeks in advance. This will allow you time to gather all the supplies that you need, including slumber party decorations, gifts, and menu items. Planning ahead also gives your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase your party’s attendance.

To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline.

Sleepover Party Invitations

A simple invitation you can make is a pillow-shaped one. Just fold cards from white construction paper, and cut curves along the edges to resemble a pillow. Here are some other creative sleepover party invitation ideas:

• Print your party details in large block letters on clean, white pillowcases. Fold them and send them in manila envelopes.
• Cut out photos of traditional slumber party food, such as popcorn, pizza, and candy, and paste them in a circle on a piece of cardstock. Write your party details inside the circle of pictures.
• Punch a hole in the corner of a card-style invitation and attach it to a new toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste. Your guests can bring these items with them to the party! Mail your invites in padded envelopes.
• Send your invitation as a message in a bottle! Write your party details on a sheet of construction paper. Clean out old pop bottles, roll the paper into a tube, and slip it inside. Hand deliver these to your guests. To save time, consider our Message in a Bottle invitations.
• Include creative wording for your party details, such as:
  Are you ready for some giggles and gossip?
  Maybe some pizza, and some chips and dip?
  Then come to [birthday child’s name]’s party and bring your pj’s,
  ’Cause it’s going to be fun in so many ways!

If you're short on time, you can purchase personalized or pre-printed Slumber Party invitations online. 

Whichever invitation option you choose, remember to include what the children need to bring (change of clothes, overnight bag, sleeping bag, pillow), and what time the children will need to be picked up in the morning.

We recommend mailing your invitations three to four weeks prior to the party—any sooner and your guests may forget, any later and your guests may already have plans.

Sleepover Party Supplies and Favors

If you plan to use paper tableware and themed party supplies for your kids sleepover, our Suggested Party Supply List may be quite helpful. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.

In addition to the basic slumber party supplies (plates, tablecloths, etc...), you might also want to consider renting a movie. Here are our picks for perfect movies to watch at a sleepover:

• High School Musical (Rated G)
• Enchanted (Rated PG)
• The Love Bug (Rated G)
• The Princess Diaries (Rated G)
• Parent Trap (Rated G)
• Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Rated PG)
• Over the Hedge (Rated PG)

Don't forget to send your guests home with goodie bags! You could give one large favor, such as a CD or DVD, or combine smaller sleepover party favors in a nice favor bag.