| As a host parent of a sleepover the worst part is | | | | everyone, or slightly different experiments that |
| getting the kids to go to sleep, and as the parent of | | | | everyone can work on. One experiment with each |
| the overtired child coming home it was no fun dealing | | | | person having a different job has potential for disaster, |
| with all the whining and fussing the next day. These | | | | unless all of the jobs are needed throughout the entire |
| issues are a given with sleepovers, part of the | | | | experiment. Otherwise you have loose kids, with |
| definition. The true issue for a successful sleepover is | | | | nothing to do, while others are working. That never |
| keeping the kids active and busy in a positive way, to | | | | ends up well. |
| avoid little groups separating themselves and to be | | | | The logical follow-up to this is to be sure all the |
| sure everyone feels included with no one feeling left | | | | materials needed are set up and arranged ahead of |
| out. One way to do this is to plan for a structured | | | | time. Be sure the directions are printed out, a computer |
| activity as part of the evening. Parents should consider | | | | nearby so the kids can enter any data in, and paper in |
| 24 hour science projects as one idea to consider using | | | | the computer to print out any graphs or charts that |
| the next time you host a sleepover. | | | | can be made from the results. It will be good to use a |
| The first thing to do is choose a project that does not | | | | spot with plenty of room, so no one invades each |
| look like a science project. For example, for middle | | | | others space. Depending on the age of the kids, |
| school girls it should explore an everyday thing, like | | | | several adults on hand might be wise. |
| beauty projects and possibly evolve into something fun | | | | The life saver element of using 24 hour science |
| like a make-up demonstration. Young boys could get | | | | projects as part of a sleepover is in part the novelty |
| involved in a fingerprinting experiment which can | | | | of the activity. With novelty comes positive, focused |
| evolve into a spy game kind of party. Sleepovers are | | | | attention with everyone in the same place at the same |
| a particularly good use for 24 hour science projects | | | | time. Since all are involved you do not have to worry |
| since you can start an experiment and then there is | | | | about little cliques separating themselves which can be |
| plenty of time for follow up, even overnight, and then | | | | the ruin of a sleepover. The other part that makes it a |
| get the results all recorded. | | | | lifesaver is you created something that takes up a |
| The second thing, and this is really important, is to be | | | | bunch of time. Unfortunately it will do nothing to get |
| sure there is something for everyone to do. Either set | | | | them all to go to sleep at a decent hour! |
| up identical experiments with enough materials for | | | | |