Plan a themed sleepover. If it's a movie - themed sleepover, you can experiment with making movie - themed snacks. You can also dress up as characters from your favorite movies. This way, the whole sleepover has a cohesive and fun feel to it. You can also have a movie marathon of a particular genre or series that you all love.
You can bring new and exciting games. For example, a mystery box game where you put random items in a box and everyone has to guess what they are by feeling them. It adds an element of surprise and fun.
Planning a themed sleepover can be exciting. For example, a Hawaiian - themed sleepover where everyone wears leis and you make tropical - themed snacks. Decorate the room to match the theme too.
Tell interactive stories where the sisters can choose different paths for the characters. For example, when the main character comes to a fork in the road, the sisters can decide whether she goes left or right, and the story unfolds accordingly. This makes them more engaged.
We once had a sleepover where we experimented with making our own natural beauty products. We made face masks out of things like avocado, honey, and oatmeal. While we were waiting for the masks to dry, we shared our dreams and fears. It was really interesting to see how different the masks turned out on each of us. Some were too runny and some were too thick, but it was a great bonding experience.
A midnight treasure hunt in the house or backyard (if it's safe) can be really exciting. You can hide small treats or trinkets around and give everyone a list of clues to find them. It adds an element of adventure to the sleepover.
Tell a story where the sisters and their friends become superheroes for a night. They have to save their neighborhood from a power outage caused by a mischievous villain. This kind of story encourages imagination and a sense of adventure.
You could plan some group games. For example, a scavenger hunt in the place you're vacationing. It gets everyone involved and excited to explore. You can divide into teams and see who can find all the items on the list first.
Plan some outdoor activities if possible. If it's during the day, you could have a scavenger hunt in the yard or park. At night, you can stargaze and try to find constellations. Inside, you can build a fort out of blankets and pillows and pretend it's your own little hideaway. You can also have a dance party with some upbeat music and silly dance moves.
They can start by simply sitting down together and brainstorming ideas. For example, each girl can say one word that comes to her mind, like 'castle', 'princess', 'dragon', and then build a story from those words.
One way to make sleepover bedtime stories more interesting is to involve the kids. Let them choose the characters or the setting of the story. Then, as you tell the story, ask them questions like 'What do you think the character should do next?' or 'How would you feel if you were in this situation?'. You can also pause at exciting parts and let them guess what will happen. Another idea is to use props. If it's a story about a pirate, you can have a little toy sword or an eye patch to show while you're telling the story.
A babysitter can make it more fun by playing lots of games. Board games like Monopoly or card games are great. It keeps the kids engaged and they also learn things like counting and strategy.