Slumber Party Games

Why Have Games at All?

Most people who have ever had a slumber party may recall endless hours of gossip, conversation, and other disorganized activities, so why are games even necessary? Many sleepover guests are excited to stay up without a bedtime and spend time with their friends in an unconventional way. Games can help channel that excitement into a constructive activity rather than hurtful pranks or rambunctious activities that may cause damage or injury. Games are also a great way to encourage guests to interact with one another, especially if they aren’t all close friends. By playing a group game everyone can be included.

Ideas for Slumber Party Games

There are many great games suitable for pajama parties. Not all games are appropriate for all ages, however, and the level of coordination and supervision necessary can be adjusted to suit the number of party guests and their ages.

• Scavenger Hunts: There are many variations on traditional scavenger hunts that are great for slumber parties. Options include:
  • Goody Bag Hunts: Guests can follow clues to different locations around the house where they find items to fill a goody bag with creative party favors. There should be enough of each item at each location for every guest to choose, or items could be labeled with guests’ names.
  • Friendly Neighbor Hunts: Guests are given a list of items they must ask neighbors for, such as today’s newspaper, a cup of sugar, or a spare candle. No more than one item can be requested from the same neighbor, and neighbors should be alerted about the scavenger hunt beforehand so they can decline to participate if desired. For a more complex twist, choose items that can later be used for other party activities such as baking cookies or playing a different game.
  • Shopping Hunt: This scavenger hunt is perfect to get party guests out of the house. Each team of guests has a list of items they must buy, either at one large store or at a mall. The items should be generic enough so there is plenty of creativity, such as “candy flavored lipgloss” or “purple jewelry,” and each team should have a set budget for their scavenger shopping spree. Keeping the budget low will make it even more challenging.
• Truth or Dare: This classic slumber party favorite encourages wild behaviors and sharing secrets, so it should be carefully monitored. Guests choose between sharing a truth – either divulging a secret or answering a question truthfully – or taking a dare. While this can be a fun game, it does need guidelines to prevent embarrassment or hurt feelings. This can be accomplished by creating two bags of paper slips, one with “truth questions” and one with “dares” for guests to pick from as they play.

Can toilet paper make a good dress?

• TP Designer: This crazy game uses rolls of toilet paper for outrageous fun. One option is for teams of party guests to design the most creative dress out of toilet paper with one of their teammates serving as the mannequin, while another option is to simply race to wrap one teammate up as a mummy.
• Flashlight Tag: Children love the special privilege to play outdoors at night, and this no contact form of tag is perfect for a slumber party. After guests are in their pajamas (with sneakers for safe outdoor fun), everyone is given a flashlight. The person who is it must “tag” other players by identifying who they are based on their pajamas when they see them. This can be especially challenging in a very dark yard.
• Musical Sleeping Bags: This twist on musical chairs uses guests’ sleeping bags as the desired “seats” in the game. While the music is played guests walk around the line of sleeping bags – place bags alternating head-to-foot to make the line even for both sides – and when the music stops, they must scramble inside a sleeping bag. The game can be played with one less bag than the number of players, or it can be judged based on which player is last to get into a sleeping bag.
• I Have Never: This game is a more innocuous version of the “truth” part of Truth or Dare. Every guest is given the same number of small candies. Guests then take turns making truthful statements that begin with “I have never…” Each guest that has done the stated activity must eat one of their treats, and the guest who runs out of candy last is the winner.

In addition to these group games, it is wise to provide several board games for slumber parties so guests who stay awake longer have fun things to do that won’t disturb sleepier guests.

Alternative Slumber Party Activities

In addition to slumber party games, there are a number of other fun slumber party ideas, such as:

• Craft projects, especially decorating slippers, pillowcases, or other sleepover items
• Movie marathons
• Personalized food bars, such as make your own pizza or make your own sundaes
• Dress up play for younger guests
• Karaoke contests
• Telling ghost stories with each guest adding to the same tale
• Beauty makeovers

Game Tips

Slumber parties are meant to be fun, relaxing events, and games should be designed to avoid embarrassment. All guests should enjoy playing, but no guest should be pressured to play if he or she is not comfortable doing so. Instead they could keep score, award prizes, or participate in other ways to stay involved. If games may become active, all breakable items, trip hazards, and other obstacles should be removed from the area to be sure it is safe.

Slumber party games and activities are a fun way to pass the wee hours without wasting a minute of the party. From crazy scavenger hunts to secret-sharing games to other enjoyable activities, there is always something fun to do at a slumber party.