Sleepovers are an important aspect of childhood, and sleepover games are great for kids to have fun, socialise, and build friendships.
While parents have debated whether or not to allow children to sleep over.
According to USA Today, child development specialists believe that sleepovers can help children manage independence, practise flexibility, and gain exposure to other family cultures.
Plus, sleepovers are a rite of passage for many children and an enjoyable way to spend an evening with friends.
So, if you’re a parent looking to plan a memorable sleepover for your child or a kid looking for some ideas of what to do, there are plenty of fun sleepover games to choose from.
Here are some of the new and classic sleepover games for kids of all ages.
Charades
A game that involves miming and guessing words and phrases. Kids will love acting out words, phrases, and movies to get their friends to guess correctly.
Before the game begins, make sure to have a list of words, phrases, or movies that the players can act out.
To get the game started, have each player take turns drawing a word, phrase, or movie from the list.
When it’s their turn, they will have to act out the word, phrase, or movie without speaking. The other kids must guess what they are acting out.
For an added challenge, set a timer so that they only have a certain amount of time to act out their word, phrase, or movie.
Truth or Dare
A classic sleepover game that is sure to provide hours of entertainment for kids.
The game is simple: each player takes turns asking other players ‘truth or dare?’
If the player chooses ‘truth’, they must answer a question truthfully.
If they choose ‘dare’, they must do whatever the person who asked them says.
Truth or Dare can be played in many different ways.
For younger kids, the questions should be more light-hearted and fun. Examples of questions could include ‘What’s your favourite colour?’ or ‘What’s your favourite ice cream flavour?’
The dares should also be age-appropriate, such as ‘Do a silly dance’ or ‘Tell a joke’.
As kids get older, the questions and dares can become more daring. Examples of questions could include ‘Have you ever cheated on a test?’ or ‘Who do you have a crush on?’
The dares could include more daring activities, such as ‘Make up a dance’ or ‘Tell a secret you’ve never told anyone before’.
Scavenger Hunt
A perfect game to play indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather and the size of the group.
For an indoor scavenger hunt, the person in charge can hide items around the house. This can include things like a stuffed animal, a book, a spoon, a flashlight, a pencil, or whatever else can be found in the house.
For an outdoor scavenger hunt, the person in charge can hide items around the backyard, park, or neighbourhood. This can include things like leaves, rocks, sticks, a flower, a feather, or whatever else can be found in nature.
The kids will then have to search for the items and whoever finds the most items in the given time wins the game.
This activity is also ideal for outdoor or indoor camping fun.
Freeze Dance
The rules are simple: pick a song, have everyone dance until the music stops, and then everyone must freeze in their pose. Whoever moves first is out. The last person standing is the winner.
To make the game more interesting, turn it into a competition.
Have teams of two or three and when the music stops, the team with the most members still frozen in position is the winner.
You can also challenge the players to come up with creative poses or incorporate props like scarves or balloons into the game.
Freeze Dance is a great game to play at sleepovers because it is easy to set up and doesn’t require any special equipment
Hide and Seeks
This classic game is simple and can be easily adapted to fit any size group.
To begin, one person is chosen as the seeker. This person counts to a predetermined number while everyone else hides. The seeker then takes off to find the other players.
When they find someone, they tag them and they become the next seeker. The game continues until everyone has been tagged and the last person to be found is the winner.
If you want to make the game more interesting, you can also add a few house rules, such as no hiding in certain rooms or only hiding for a certain amount of time.
Cup Stacking
A fun and exciting game that involves both speed and skill.
All you need to play is a set of cups and a timer. To set up the game, each player should be given a set of five to ten cups, depending on their age and skill level.
Then, each player takes turns stacking their cups as quickly as possible. The player with the tallest pyramid at the end of the timer wins.
Guess Drawing Games
The game starts with one player secretly drawing an image on a piece of paper.
Then, other players take turns guessing what the drawing is. The person who guesses correctly wins that round and gets to draw the next image.
Guess Drawing is great as it encourages creative thinking and good communication skills as players must work together to guess the drawing.
The game can be made more challenging by increasing the difficulty of the drawings or by adding a time limit.
Players can also be given bonus points for guessing the drawing in the least amount of time.
Memory Games
Memory games not only help keep kids entertained, but they also help to sharpen their memory skills.
One way to play memory games is to create a grid of objects on a table or the floor. To make the game more challenging, use objects that are slightly different from each other, like pieces of fruit, different coloured blocks, or pictures of animals.
Each player takes turns flipping over two objects, trying to find a match. If they find a match, they get to keep the objects. The player with the most objects at the end of the game is the winner.
Another way to play memory games is to create a game board with an equal number of squares.
Players take turns flipping over two squares to make a match. When they make a match, they get to keep the square. The player with the most squares at the end of the game is the winner.
Emoji Bingo
This is as simple as printing out bingo cards with emoji symbols instead of numbers.
Each card should have a different combination of emoji symbols so that no two cards are the same.
To start the game, have each player pick a card and give them markers like candy or coins. Before calling out the emoji symbols, explain the rules and how the game is played.
As the caller calls out the emoji symbols, each player should mark off the symbols when they appear on their card.
The goal is to be the first one to get five symbols in a row and yell out “Bingo!” The winner of the game can be rewarded with a prize like a small toy or a piece of candy.
To make the game more difficult, you can have the players use two or more cards at the same time. This way, they will have to pay attention to more than one card and look for more symbols.
Plus, it‘s a great way to teach kids about different emoji symbols and how to recognize them. A perfect game for any sleepover or party!
Musical Sleeping Bags
Kids love playing musical sleeping bags at sleepovers! It’s a fun and energetic game that keeps everyone awake and laughing.
To start the game, have everyone sit in a circle with their sleeping bags spread out around them.
Then, start playing the music and have everyone get inside the sleeping bags. As the music plays, everyone should switch sleeping bags with the person next to them.
When the music stops, each person should get out of their sleeping bag and find a new one to get in. This continues until all the sleeping bags are switched up.
Whoever ends up in the last bag when the music ends is the winner!
Pass the Parcel
Begin by wrapping a small prize or toy in multiple layers of wrapping paper.
Then, pass the wrapped item around in a circle, with music playing in the background. When the music stops, the player holding the parcel must unwrap one layer and pass it to the next player.
When the last layer is unwrapped, the player who unwrapped it will get to keep the prize.
This game can be modified in a variety of ways to make it more exciting.
For example, write questions or tasks on the pieces of paper that the players need to complete before they are allowed to pass the parcel. This could include singing a song, dancing, or telling a joke.
You can also add extra prizes at different layers of the parcel to keep the players guessing and engaged.
Blind Man’s Bluff
Players take turns being blindfolded and trying to guess who is around them.
To play, one person is chosen to be the blind man, and the other players are the taggers. The taggers then each take a turn to hide while the blind man counts to twenty with their eyes closed and covered.
The taggers must stay very quiet while they hide. Once the blind man reaches twenty, they search for the other players who remain as still as possible.
The blind man must try to tag the other players with their hands and if they succeed, they switch roles with the person they tagged.
This game is a great way to get kids up and moving during a sleepover. It also encourages children to use their other senses to find the other players, making it a great way to practice problem-solving skills.
Limbo
Limbo is a fun and classic sleepover game that kids of all ages can enjoy.
This is how it works: two players hold a limbo stick at different heights while the other players move underneath the stick while swaying their hips. The goal is to move underneath the stick without touching it.
As the game progresses, the limbo stick is lowered until one player is left standing. The winner of the game is the last person to successfully limbo under the stick.
Limbo is a great way to break the ice at a sleepover and get everyone in the party spirit. It’s also a great way to burn off energy and get the kids ready for bed.
If you’re looking for a fun and active sleepover game, Limbo is a great choice!
Hot Potato
To play Hot Potato, all you need is a soft, squishy ball and a group of friends. Start by having the group form a circle and pass the ball, pretending it is a steaming hot potato, around the circle.
As the ball is passed, everyone will need to chant the phrase ‘hot potato!’ A timer should be set for one minute, and the person holding the ball when the timer goes off is out of the game.
The game continues until there is only one person left. Once the game is over, the winner can be rewarded with a small prize, like a piece of candy or a gift card.
Not only is it a great way to get everyone involved, but it’s also an entertaining way to pass the time. So, grab a ball and get ready to play Hot Potato!
Twister
The objective of the game is to see who can stay on their feet and make it to the end without falling over.
All you need is a Twister mat, a spinner, and sleepover kids. To start, each player stands on the coloured circles of the Twister mat.
The spinner is then spun to determine which limb should be placed on the corresponding colour. As the game progresses, players must contort their bodies to reach the designated colours.
If a player falls off the mat, they are out of the game. The last person standing is the winner. Twister is a fast-paced game that is sure to get everyone’s heart racing.
Glow In the Dark
Glow-in-the-dark games can take your kids’ sleepover to the next level.
With a little preparation and some creative ideas, kids can have a great time playing amazing glow in the dark games.
One of the most popular games for a glow-in-the-dark sleepover is a game of tag. Kids can hide in the dark with glow sticks and chase each other around the room.
The objective of the game is to be the last one to be tagged.
To make the game even more exciting, you can add glow-in-the-dark obstacles that the kids must navigate around.
Fortune Telling
Sleepover games with a fortune-telling theme can be a fun and exciting way for kids to enjoy a night with friends.
One of the easiest and most popular fortune-telling games is the classic game of tarot cards. This can be done by using a regular tarot deck, or by using a special kid-friendly tarot deck.
Kids can take turns drawing a card and interpreting the card in terms of their own lives and future.
This game can also be used to tell fortunes for friends and can be a great way to have a few laughs and discuss potential outcomes for the future.
Another type of fortune-telling game is to use a crystal ball. Kids can take turns asking questions and then looking into the crystal ball to ‘see’ what the answer might be.
This game may not be for everyone, but it is sure to be a fun and memorable way to spend a sleepover.
Don’t forget to set some ground rules before playing and make sure everyone is comfortable with the level of intensity!
Simon Says
The game is simple and can be played with just about any number of kids.
To start, one person is chosen to be ‘Simon’ and they give out instructions to the other players such as, ‘Simon says touch your nose’ or ‘Simon says jump up and down’.
The other players must obey the instructions, but only if they are preceded by the phrase ‘Simon Says’.
If a player forgets to say ‘Simon Says’ before giving a command, and another player follows it, then that player is out of the game.
The game continues until only one player is left.
Movie Night
To set up a movie night for a sleepover, first, decide on a movie to watch.
Allow the kids to choose the movie, or you can pick it yourself. Make sure to choose a movie that everyone will enjoy.
You can also add some decorations to make the movie night even more fun.
Before starting the movie, play some fun movie-related games. This can include a movie trivia game, a movie-themed charades game, or any other movie-related activities.
Once the games are over, it’s time for the movie!
Make sure to prepare some snacks for the kids to munch on while watching the movie. Afterward, the kids can spend the rest of the night talking about the movie, playing more games, or just hanging out.
Sleepover Olympics
Sleepover Olympics is a fun and creative way to bring an extra dose of excitement to a sleepover.
Kids can compete in various activities such as pillow fights, eating contests, or video games. To get started, the kids should form two teams.
Then, they can take turns choosing the events for the Sleepover Olympics. For example, a pillow fight tournament can be held for the first event, followed by an eating contest for the second. The teams could also try their hand at playing video games against each other.
At each event, the teams should compete against each other to see who can finish first. The team that finishes first can be awarded a prize of their choice.
In between events, the teams can take time to relax and enjoy some snacks while they wait for the next event. This gives teams time to bond and strategise for upcoming events.
At the end of the night, the team with the most points can be crowned the Sleepover Olympics champion.
Manicure/Pedicure
To start the manicure/pedicure session, you can provide your kids with a variety of nail polishes, glitter, nail art stickers, and other nail accessories.
Let your kids get creative with the colours and shapes they use to decorate their nails. If you want to make the game even more fun, you can even add some music to the mix.
Next, you can provide your kids with nail files, nail buffers, and other materials they need to properly take care of their nails.
You can also teach them how to properly trim and shape their nails. This will help them learn the basics of proper nail care and hopefully encourage them to keep up with their nail care routine.
Finally, you can teach your kids some simple beauty tips and tricks. For example, you can show them how to properly apply nail polish, how to choose the right colours for their skin tone, and how to properly care for their cuticles.
Karaoke
Karaoke is a fun and exciting activity that encourages kids to let loose and show off their singing skills.
You can create a karaoke playlist with a variety of age-appropriate songs, or encourage the kids to come up with their own playlist.
To get the karaoke party started, you can set up a karaoke machine and provide some fun props like microphones, hats, and sunglasses.
You can also provide some snacks and drinks for the kids to enjoy.
Once everyone is ready, turn on the music and let the kids start singing and dancing. Encourage them to form duets or groups and have them perform together.
With a little bit of preparation and some fun props, your kids will have a blast singing their hearts out at their karaoke sleepover.
Board Games
Board games are classic sleepover games that never fail to bring some fun and excitement to the night.
Whether it’s a game of Monopoly, Clue, or Snakes and Ladders, kids love the thrill of rolling the dice and taking a chance at the outcome.
Board games provide an opportunity for kids to engage in a friendly competition that helps foster good sportsmanship and teamwork.
Kids can take turns shaking the dice and hoping for the best as they move their pieces around the board. With each roll of the dice, the tension builds and adds to the excitement of the game.
Everyone is eager to see if the dice will bring them closer to victory or if it will land them in a tough spot.
And when everyone is finished playing, they can look back on the game and talk about the different strategies they used to win.
Cucumber Face Race
Also called Cucumber Round Face, this game involves a race between two players where they have to use cucumbers to win.
It is a great way to get the competitive juices flowing and create some laughs.
To start each player gets a slice of cucumber or a flat chocolate to place on their forehead. Then, they have to move it into the mouth without using their hands.
If any of the players fail to do so, they can try three more times before the game is passed to the next teammate.
The first team whose chocolate or cucumber enters the mouth wins the game.
Arts and Crafts
With just a few supplies and some imagination, kids can have hours of fun.
They can make a variety of creations, from colourful jewellery to custom greeting cards.
First, grab some construction paper, markers, glue, glitter, and other art supplies. Get creative and find items from around the house to use, like buttons, fabric scraps, and ribbons.
Next, set up the space. Put down some newspaper or butcher paper to make cleaning up easier.
Put out the supplies and let the kids get creative!
Encourage the kids to come up with ideas and help them make their creations. Have them create custom greeting cards for each other, or make friendship bracelets.
Let them get creative and have fun! Once everyone is done creating, let them show off their masterpieces.
Making Your Kids’ Sleepover A Night to Remember
Sleepover games can be a great way for kids to have fun and bond with their friends.
You can ensure that they are safe by setting rules and guidelines, providing appropriate snacks and drinks, and making sure to supervise the activities.
With proper preparation and careful supervision, sleepover games can be a fun and exciting experience for kids.
They can provide hours of entertainment and are a great way to make lasting memories. From classic board games to exciting new activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
So don’t forget to plan ahead and pick the perfect games so that your kids can have the best sleepover ever!
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