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Children’s first sleepover is often an exciting and uncertain or scary situation not only for them, but also for their parents. Many parents are unsure about this event and are just as excited as the children. When is the right time for children to spend their first night away? What should be considered? how to prepare)
When is the right time?
Parents often accompany children on their first overnight stay away from home uncertainty tied together. Depending on when this happens or hasn’t happened yet, parents may worry that it will too soon for this is or the child is not long time ago should have done such an overnight stay. So it could be both Uncertainty about too early, but also too late rule. But when is the right time?
The right time is usually when when the child is ready. When exactly this moment will occur can be determined individually be very different. In other words, there is no “right” time for children to spend their first night away from home. Rather, it depends on the individual child with all their individual requirements. Therefore, the right time for this sleepover is often when that he asks about the child. This can be already in kindergarten, but also at the age of primary school.
But even if a child asks to spend the night without their parents for the first time, there may be uncertainty as to whether the timing may be too early and such an overnight stay is not yet suitable. It is important to judge whether the overnight stay is likely to turn out well, because the first overnight stay without parents should be a positive and empowering experience for children. This can then have a positive effect on the self-confidence and development of the child’s independence. Parents may find it helpful to consider a few points.
On the one hand, there is a question with whom the overnight stay should take place. it is about close relatives, like grandparents, with whom there has long been a basis of trust? As regards the child’s friends actions should be checked how long this friendship already exists and how well the parents treat the friend and his parents know. Whether the planned overnight stay should take place separately or not can also play a role possibly even siblings spent the night there (e.g. if an overnight stay with relatives is planned). That could also be a factor where exactly does that person livewhere to spend the night. Do they live nearby or further away? So, if needed, could the child be picked up quickly or not?
In addition to these questions, which usually pertain to the person staying overnight, it may be helpful to ask yourself Thoughts about own child find out if an overnight stay is possible or too soon. So it is necessary to consider how to do it sleep behavior the child is He can tonight fall asleep alone Or does it generally require parental support? What about? sleep through? Does the child manage most of the time or does he always need parents at night? It is also important to consider whether the child is already reliable at night dry is or is not and whether evening and morning hygiene (brushing teeth, combing hair, washing, dressing and undressing) works independently.
There is more to the problem than that the child is a little afraid it can be helpful to manage the first night away from home in small steps and until practice. Maybe it can be useful first child’s friends at home let it stay overnight. Thus, the child can already establish initial contact with the topic and see that friends are having fun at his place overnight. This too can increase your child’s curiosity and courage to spend the night abroad for the first time. It can also help with the first night away from anxious children first with close relatives with whom the child already has a close and permanent relationship, as indicated in the questions above. This can also lower the barrier for children’s first sleepover and make it easier for them. But also the one mentioned above local proximity it can make it easier for both the child and the parents. It is also conceivable to have a child first spend the whole evening with someone else but pick it up before bed time. In this way, he can first approach the new situation.
The appropriate time for the first overnight stay away from home for children can therefore vary greatly. In no case should a child be pushed into anything they are not ready for.
First night away
If the children’s first overnight stay away from home is indeed due, this can lead to further uncertainty and worry. this should be Child too scared just before night it may be helpful to close them again move and rather practice and start small. The child does, however readyshould Parents also make them feel safe, encourage them and let them go. However, it can also happen that parents are increasingly nervous before the due date and do not know exactly how to behave. Therefore, they are the following some tips assembled, which can support a smooth overnight stay. They are neither universal nor complete. They are only intended as a guide for parents who are unsure. What is useful and what is not, only can individually be decided and judged.
First it comes to what the child take with you for the night should or what may be useful. If the child prefers to take everything from home, you can help him decide together and discuss what is really important. In addition to essential things, such as e.g Pajamas, underwear, toothbrush and hair brushcan also be a favorite stuffed animal or something similar may be useful and important. Something familiar and familiar Keeping them with you can help when you’re feeling homesick. In addition to a stuffed animal, it can also be a photo or a piece of cloth/similar with the perfume/scent of parents or your own bed linen, which conveys the feeling of home. It can also be nice to be together candy or something similar shopping to go.
It is important that parents strive for this Avoid acknowledging your own insecurities allow. If children notice that their parents are nervous and insecure and perhaps don’t trust them at all to spend the night, their insecurity and homesickness will increase and the sleepover is unlikely to happen or not happen. In order for the child to develop as freely as possible and to support him in this way, parents should try not to let their own insecurities come to the fore and, on the contrary, encourage the child.
Additional security can be provided to the parents as well as the child if bedtime rituals practiced in the family are communicated to the person, where the overnight stay will take place. If the other person integrates them, such as reading a story, this can provide reassurance to the child and prevent or alleviate homesickness.
In any case, also communicated and agreed in advance allergies, illnesses or dislikes of the child. The other person should be informed about this in any case.
Another point is attainability parents in case something goes wrong. In that case, they should be able to pick up the child if necessary. However, it would be counterproductive to take the child with you from the start and “convince” that you will pick him up immediately in any case and under all circumstances if something were to happen. Such a statement, especially if it is made more than once by a parent, can lead to insecurity and homesickness on the part of the child, because they think their parents don’t trust them or they think it’s going to be really bad. It’s better, at the child’s requestit should come confirm that you are available in case of an emergency and would pick it up, but still emphasize that everything will go well and that you will have a lot of fun. So the sense of encouraging the child is also important here.
In this context, it is also useful to talk about it with the other person agree exactly how in emergency situationswhether it’s a small fall with scratches or something like that, should be traded. An immediate pickup isn’t necessarily the best solution here, as a short one can often be enough comfort and distraction on the other side, the mood can be lifted again and the overnight stay still goes well. If that doesn’t help, you can phone call You may be able to help with the parents as a familiar voice can be comforting. If none of this works, the child should picked up will.
It should too refrain from calling “shortly” in the evening and ask if everything is okay and wish the child good night. It can too let homesickness arise in a child. It’s better here too by agreement with the other person in advance the parents should be very insecure, which the child may not or should not have noticed. For example, it could be that the other writes a short message when the children are in bed and everything is fine. This gives parents peace of mind without the child being worried or disturbed.
These tips and points can help baby and parents make sure their children’s first sleepover is a success. But parents should always judge individually what can be useful and whether additional things are necessary. Sleeping for the first time is exciting and a little scary when the child is ready and the parents reinforce himsuch a sleepover can contributes to self-confidence and independence child and an important step in his development.
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