Preschool Pajama Movie Party
Date: May 13, 2010 11:46 AM
Let’s face it, during the day, life is hectic. Scheduling playdates for our kids can be overwhelming. We have to factor in: naptimes, siblings’ naptimes, work schedules, preschool, daycare, and a thousand other obligations. Sometimes, it just makes sense to throw some type of an “evening playdate.” It may just be more enjoyable for everyone. It gives the kids a chance to do something social in the evening, and there’s no reason the parents can’t enjoy the playdate and socialize as well. An added bonus is that if they want, dads could join in. After work, they can head over to see their kids play, while meeting some of the other dads. Ok, so heading home to watch the football game or going to poker night might at first thought be a more appealing option. But, if beer, pizza, and the football game on a TV are all available at the playdate, the dads just might enjoy hanging out together and getting to have some time watching their kids in the process. Sounds brilliant if you ask me.
But, the best part about an evening playdate: pajamas. Kids love to be in pajamas. Admit it, if you could have a pajama playdate with your friends now, as adults, you’d do it in a heartbeat! Only difference: the kids can get away with it, and it’s adorable! A pajama playdate is better than a slumber party! Why? Simply put, at the end of the night, the kids go home. Love it.
So, what do you need to plan this “slumber party without the slumber?” First off, you’ll need to pick a movie. Other than the fact that watching a movie gives the kids a reason to lay in their sleeping bags and look unbelievably cute next to their friends, it will, at any given moment, also occupy at least a few of the kids' attention so that not everyone is running around at the same time. Undoubtedly, the kids will play. They’ll watch the movie for the first ten minutes (ok, maybe five), then get up and do something else. Then, a sound from the television will draw them back to watch another five minutes. Consider a few things when choosing the movie: is it gender neutral? Most boys aren’t going to want to watch a princess movie, and most girls won’t be excited about superheroes. Is there a new movie just out in DVD that everyone has been wanting to see but were still too young to head to the theater? Is there a movie that has no or very minimal “scary” parts? Maybe there’s a kids movie that’s from your youth that no one has seen but you know all the kids will love, and the moms will love as well for sentimental value. Parent Trap? Mary Poppins?
Next, you’ll want to re-create a movie theater setting. When each child comes in, you might want to give them a movie night gift box. This way each child will have the same snacks and they can have fun going through them together. Plus, it’s a good way to give the kids a certain amount of candy, so they get to have a little bit of “goodies” without going overboard like they would would a buffet style snack table. Plus, it will help make them feel like they actually are at a movie theater. They can enjoy some of it at the party, and have some treats to take home.
You could have some stations set up for the kids that are movie related. This will keep their energy focused in a direction that doesn’t involve taking out every toy in the playroom (even though that’s bound to happen anyway). Of course, the stations will all depend on how much you want to time and money you want to dish out. If this is a birthday party, for example, you may be willing to splurge on activities more than if this just a regular playdate. Some stations might include:
* A table with some printouts from the movie that they can color. If it’s a Disney movie, for example, most toy stores or even food stores have coloring books that based on their movies. Just buy one of those, rip out the pages, and lay out some crayons and markers.
* Decorate your own pillow case. Go out to a craft store and buy some (non-toxic) fabric markers. Purchase some white pillowcases (or tell each parent to bring one for her child). The kids will most likely need some assistance with this, so rather than making this an “open” station, you may want to have them all gather at the same time and take an allotted amount of time for this activity. This can also double as a souvenir for them to take home from the party.
* An “invent your own candy” station. Have each child come up with a new type of candy. He can tell what ingredients would go into it and give it a name. Write it all down and label which child invented which candy. You could also have him draw a picture of what it would look like. Towards the end of the night you can read the recipes to the kids. They’ll get a kick out of hearing all the different candies their friends invented and the names they gave them.
In the end, no matter what stations you have set up, you’ll most definitely have some extremely tired children who will already be in pajamas (even if they are chocolate stained), and who will fall asleep for you in the car on the way home. Hopefully, you’ll have some dads who have met each other and hung out for a bit, and hopefully, something that the kids will be talking about at preschool on Monday. Plus, you’ll have a reason to have a guilt-free Saturday night to leave the kids with a babysitter while you and your husband go out for dinner. Now that’s Oscar worthy!
