Sleepovers are much more than playdates in pyjamas. The prospect they offer, of later bedtimes, long chats, “midnight” feasts and early morning antics, thrills most confident children from about the age of six or seven – if not their parents.
However, better not to dwell on the disruption of routine, or the “lip” you are likely to get from your own child showing off, or the grumpiness the evening after the night before, but rather see it as a valuable bonding experience for children and another step towards independence.
“Sleepovers become the measure of true friendship in middle childhood not only because of the close physical contact, but also the necessarily limited numbers that can participate and therefore the exclusive, private nature of the fun experienced,” says child development expert Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer.
They give your child a valuable opportunity to spend the night away from home in a safe environment, she points out. This can help prepare them for trips away, which many primary schools offer in sixth class.