Pajamas Are a Must There’s always a few who arrive at costume parties without a costume, whether they take themselves too seriously or are just too lazy to get creative. However, make it mandatory that all participants wear pajamas. Check sleepheads.com for matching family pajama sets if you really want to get serious about the dresscode. Make It Comfy Depending on how many family members you have or invite outside of your immediate household, you’ll need to ensure party goers are comfortable. If couch room is limited, buy bean bag chairs or low-sitting beach chairs. A pajama party is not an everyday event so you need to follow suit with chosen seating arrangement. Also, check leading outdoor equipment providers for deals on sleeping bags.
Reserve Movies Ahead of Time
Rather than debate or be finicky about movie selections, reserve titles ahead of time from your DVD selection or choose a number of titles from Netflix. Ensure chosen movies are appropriate for the age level of attendants and select an appropriate theme whether it’s horror, fairytale, etc. Ask moms and dads of younger attendants if the choices are okay; you don’t want to assume a particular movie or content therein is appropriate if parents feel otherwise. Board Games So You Don’t Get Bored Movies are essential for a pajama jam but you have to fill time doing more than sitting among a silent crowd. You’ll want to engage and converse, so choose a number of board games to play. Moreover, plan on suggesting classic games that don’t necessitate a game set, such as Pictionary, Charades, etc. Of course, video games came along after the dawn of pajama parties, yet if you have ‘gamers’ in the crowd, you’ll want to consider accommodating them too. Introduce Some Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement involves introducing a positive stimulus to pair with a desired action. Some people may not be totally motivated to play games unless there are prizes to be won. Get gift certificates and age-appropriate prizes for those on winning teams or those who do an exceptionally fantastic job. For an added spin on the psychology, punish those who are not willing to participate or who perform poorly, such as making them wear a silly costume, taking their picture, and uploading it to the Internet. Assign Roles and Job Tasks Teachers get kids involved in classroom activities and lessons by assigning groups and roles therein, so make one person a ‘reporter,’ one who takes pictures or writes a diary about the event; assign another the task of choosing movies; and, make another person get the snacks and treats together for the occasion. To keep all attendants on the same ‘page,’ create a pajama party Facebook page or start an email list. Allison Ernst has spent many years in child education services. She is a family woman who is passionate about sharing her ideas online. You can find her blogs on a number of educational and family-orientated websites. Follow me: BlogLovin' // Twitter // Facebook // Google+ // Pinterest // Instagram
