When is the Right Age for a Slumber Party?

Now that the school year is coming to an end, Big Sister E has shown more and more interest in the friends that she has made at preschool. She still absolutely loves and adores the friends that she has played with for years in our play group, but spending a few mornings each week with her classmates has been a great way to expand the kids that she considers important in her life.

This was especially proven to me recently when she turned to me and asked if she could have a sleepover with one of the girls from school. Considering I didn't know that she knew what a sleepover was, I was surprised. "Um, right. Sure. I'll have to talk to her mom about it..." I stammered and changed the subject.

Later on, when relaying the conversation to my husband, he scoffed at the idea and said that it was out of the question for 4-year-olds. As I had been focusing more on the fact that I didn't even know the other girl's parents (let alone which girl is which in the class), I hadn't even thought of their age being a factor.

I have tons of great slumber party memories from when I was young (although no, not at age 4), so I know it will be fun for her at some point... the question is when? And, because I like to over-prepare for things, do I just let them sleep on the floor in sleeping bags or is it time to start thinking about bunk beds and bunk bed mattresses?

There are so many great designs and styles available, not to mention the versatility of being able to customize them to fit your decor and house. Long gone are the days of being afraid that kids will roll off the top bunk at night, there are now plenty of safety precautions and things like bunkie boards for bunk beds that are sure to keep parents and children sleeping well at night.

Maybe because I can remember years of loving to climb up onto the top bunk in my own room, I have always thought it might be fun to put one in Big Sister E's room. Maybe one of the twin over full beds options so that she and Little Sister B could also use it to snuggle and nestle together sometimes?

For now we'll have to wait and see what the future holds, but I find myself actually looking forward to having a group of giggling girls over and hearing them laugh over popcorn and movies and whatever Justin Bieber-like star of the future is the big crush.

Will I look back on this and shake my head at my naivety some day? Do your kids have sleepovers with their friends? What age did they start?

(This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts are my own. My girls are growing up so fast!)