Is my 6 year old daughter too young to attend a sleep over in our neighborhood?

Answer 1

Not if you know the family pretty well. Find out the child to adult ratio and ask them if they need a bit of extra help - maybe until the kids fall asleep and then for breakfast the next morning.

Answer 2

Oh, I would let her. Just be sure you sleep with the phone next to your bed, and be prepared for her to call and ask to come home.

I have 2 daughters who are old enough for sleepovers, and I have had scores of them at my house as well. From my observation, the kids who had more fun, who could play well with the other kids, and who didn't have trouble waking up in the night needing to go home, were the kids who had been having sleepovers for a while.

One little neighbor girl wasn't allowed to sleep over for the longest time. She is my prime example of the overprotected daughter. When she was finally allowed to stay the night, once my kid fell asleep, she would either go home, or look out the window at her house, and try to see her mom through the window. Her mom was always putting in her head that she was too young to do stuff. I know this is an extreme example.
It is hard to find that fine line. We don't want to be overprotective, yet we want our kids to be safe.

I say, once they are old enough to WANT to go, let them, and see how it goes, so long as you know the family, and the kiddo can call you in they need to.

Answer 3

Do you trust your 6 year old to tell you everything, even if it gets someone else in trouble? If not, then no!!! If so, then read on.

If your daughter is comfortable spending long periods of time at the house and if she enjoys going over there, I think she will be fine.

Do you know the child who is having the party? My daughter just turned 6 on the 2nd of this month, and she has been to 2 separate houses for sleepovers. We've hosted 2 sleepovers at our house and everything has been fine. I know her friends and their parents. She makes her friends at school, I see their parents there, they live nearby, we've all had block parties, birthday parties, and barbeques. I know the parents of the children, but I know the children she is spending time with.even better. There are children running in and out of this house from the time school lets out until dinnertime. (It's even worse on the weekends!)

Kids can't hide anything. Especially at this age, they will offer up gossip about the neighbors that would never be spoken at the next Tupperware party. Luckily for us it's always been harmless little tidbits about how their friend's dad doesn't like the family dog and so-and-so's mom always yells at dad for not picking up his dirty socks, etc., etc. But if you don't know these little harmless things about your daughter's friends, odds are you won't know about the harmful issues that possibly (but hopefully not probably), are going on in this neighbor's house.

Make sure you know your daughter and her feelings about the family hosting the sleepover, the parents hosting the sleepover, and most importantly, the child having the sleepover, and everything will work out fine.

Answer 4

I started to let my daughter sleep over at her friends house when she was 5 1/2, since I was good friends with her mom. So if you know the parents well I think that it is OK. On the other hand my daughter hasn't been back sleeping there for 1 1/2 years now because the last time she was there she knocked out her too front teeth because she was unsupervised in the yard and her adult teeth (shes been toothless since August of 2005) still haven't come through and my husband will not allow her to sleep over anywhere anymore. He lets her Friend stay with us, but always tells her no to sleeping over and reminds her of what happened last time. So unless you have complete trust that your daughter will be safe and constantly cared for and supervised then you should wait until she is older.

Answer 5

I think 6 years is too young. Sorry to say that. But I think 6 is a stage when you still need your mother. I'd say 8 or 9 would be good. My little brother went somewhere when he was 7 though and ended up coming back home.

Answer 6

Lots of factors here. Number one on my list is how you feel about and know the hosting family. Number two is if she will know most or all of the other kids. Number three is your daughter's temperament. Most 6 year olds are "ready" for this, but do not be alarmed if you get a call at midnight to pick her up. Also, do not be alarmed if she wants to do it again next weekend and the next and the next......
Have Fun!

Answer 7

I think a 6 year is alittle to young for a sleep over, but if you know the parents very well i guess it would be ok.

Answer 8

I personally think so but I am in the minority. I think at 6 just to have friends over for a sleep is enough. But the question to answer if you want her to go is how well do you know the parents. If the answer is extreemly well and your comfortable with it then go ahead

Answer 9

It depends on how comfortable she is away from home and how well she ( and you) know the other family.

If you feel comfortable with the idea, and she wants to try it, you should have a "back-up plan" Don't make her stay there if she really wants to come home later on.

And, if it does not work out the first time, then wait a while before trying again.

Answer 10

I think so, unless it is VERY special circumstances. I don't think I would let my 7 year old daughter go to a sleepover yet; however our "family" best friends live 3 hours away and sometime she has gone there overnight to stay with them, and I"k ok with that.