Who doesn’t just love having sleepovers with friends? Most children and parents look forward to a child’s first sleepover. Not only does it give most children avenues to make friends or become closer to those who are already their friends, but it also gives some parents a break from dealing with their children.
One thing that parents worry about regarding sleepovers is their child’s behavior. Most of the time, they fear that their children will misbehave and cause more stress on the host who will be taking care of them. Most parents would remind their child that manners are essential by reading books like Mariana’s Little Book of Manners for Children. So if they are already interested to learn how to behave well, here are a few rules you should teach your child before they would sleepover in a friend’s house:
1. Be Open
Different families have different cultures and practices. Because of this, you must teach your child to be open to food that they may be unfamiliar with. Reminding them that they should not be picky about the food on the table at the host’s house should also be done. Aside from that, they should learn how to politely decline food if they are afraid to eat it or are allergic to it.
Moreover, if the host encourages them to try watching a new cartoon or teaches them how to play a new game to be familiar with, they should learn to be more open to these activities as long as they are appropriate. Teaching your child how and when to say No if they become uncomfortable, but being open to new good experiences is a skill they should learn and practice at home before the sleepover.
2. Know the Rules
Being familiar with the host’s house rules is essential to respect the home of the person they are going to. Learning about some house rules they might need to know ahead and teaching them would be good. It is also essential to teach them to mirror the host’s behavior, such as taking their shoes off before entering a room would also be an excellent skill to help your child become more welcome in the host’s home.
3. Clean Up
The biggest issue with sleepovers is usually the mess children leave in the host’s home. Reminding your child to help do the dishes after dinner, clean up after making a mess or playing a game with their friends, and not to make a mess in the host’s bathroom are essential things that they should learn.
4. Bathroom Etiquette
Teaching your child proper bathroom etiquette such as locking the door while in the restroom, flushing the toilet after use, sitting properly in the toilet seat, making sure not to splash anywhere, leaving the toilet seat down after urinating, and the likes are important to help ease the burden of the host. When brushing their teeth or washing their hands, children should also be reminded to clean if they make a mess.
If the child takes a bath in the host’s home, it is essential to remind them to use their own toiletries and avoid dripping water everywhere. Teaching them basic etiquette like avoiding hogging the bathroom and using it for a long time should also be done to ensure that everyone could still have access to the bathroom, especially if many people would use the bathroom in the house.
5. Be polite.
Using polite words with their parents and friends in the host house should be something that they should learn. They could even practice this in their own home a few weeks before the sleepover. Telling your children to call elders with Mr. or Ms. followed by their family name will help remind your children to show respect to those around them.
6. Respect Space
Snooping should never be allowed in someone’s home. It is essential to teach your child to respect personal space and not open or enter rooms that the host did not lead them to. They should also be reminded to knock before opening the door to anyone’s room. Teaching them why respecting personal space is essential and not going through cabinets or drawers in a person’s room must be explained well to them so that curiosity will not get the best of them if left alone.
7. Ask Permission
If they need anything or forget to bring something, it is important to teach your child to ask permission before using something. For example, they should ask permission to call their parents before using the house phone or respectfully ask before connecting to the internet.
The Happy Hammock 