Hobbies And Interests
Mystery Theme and Scavenger Hunt
A mystery sleepover is ideal for autumn. Use dim lighting and candles to create an eerie mood, play a CD of foreboding classical music or prerecorded spooky sounds and scatter props like cobwebs, spiders, old books and lanterns around your home to create the feel of a haunted house. To go along with the mystery theme, make a scavenger hunt game with an array of prizes for your guests to search for throughout your home and yard. Write riddles about each of the prizes, which guests will have to solve in order to figure out each prize's location. For extra sleepover activities, watch films like "Sherlock Holmes," "The Sixth Sense" or "Scooby-Doo" and play the board game Clue.
Oscars Theme and Red Carpet Challenge
For sleepover attendees who love Hollywood, an Academy Awards sleepover is a must. Plan a sleepover around watching the Oscars and invite guests to walk down your own red carpet as they enter your party. Pretend to be the paparazzi and take a photo of each guest as she works the carpet. Pop loads of popcorn to munch on during the Oscars show and make ballots for each guest to fill out with her winners predictions. Give a mini Oscar statue to the guest with the most correct winners. For another game you can make, have guests bring five extra clothing or accessories items in their overnight bags. After the awards show, give your guests five minutes to take those items and assemble their best red-carpet look.
Camping Theme and Mosquito Game
When it comes to sleepovers, what better way is there to sleep than under the stars? For a camping theme set up tents in your back yard, or if the weather is not permitting, set up a tent indoors or line up sleeping bags in the den. Eat s'mores (even if you have to make them in the microwave), tell ghost stories and be sure not to mistake your favorite teddy bear for a grizzly. The Easy Party Ideas and Games website lists several fun camp-out games including flashlight hunt or tag, sleeping bag races and the mosquito game. For the mosquito game, give each guest a sheet of red dot stickers and ask her to put the stickers (mosquito bites) on her body. Throughout the evening, guests will try to slip one of their bites onto another guest without getting caught. The guest who loses her bites first wins!
Talent Show Theme
The theme for this sleepover idea is also the game. For guests who love shows like "American Idol," "America's Got Talent" and "So You Think You Can Dance," a talent-show theme is best. Frame a stage area with curtains and up-lights, and break out your old karaoke machine. You can tell guests ahead of time what the theme will be or surprise guests once they arrive and allow them a half hour to prepare their talent routines on site. Award prizes to all of the contestants for "Most Unusual," "Best Costume," etc.