A mixed-age group drifts apart fast, so the youngest guest sets the bar, and activities like Pillow Forts, Would You Rather?, Card Games and a Popcorn Bar are the ones I would build the night around because everyone can join in.
The range runs from a Would You Rather? game that needs almost no setup to a Backyard Tents Camping night with rugs, cushions and a small fan.
Pick 2 or 3 that suit the youngest kid, and treat the rest as optional extras.
1. Outdoor Projector Movie Night
A teepee per two or three kids gives each group its own spot for a movie, and a projector screen at the end of the yard makes dusk the start time.
Lay a blanket under the screen for snacks, and keep the food simple enough to pass around in the dark.
A Disney classic like the one on this screen suits a mixed-age group, since nobody has to be talked into it.
Test the projector before guests arrive.
2. Backyard Tents Camping
A bell tent turns a plain lawn into a campsite, and the glamping version is the one I’d pick for a sleepover: white cushions, rugs underfoot and a small fan keep it comfortable instead of rough.
Start with the rugs on the bottom, add pillows over them, then finish with a sign or wreath at the entrance so the tent feels like a place worth settling into.
Kids will spend the evening in there anyway, so decorate the inside more than the outside.
If the tent is more than you want to buy or borrow, a few smaller tents with the same cushions and rugs do the job.
3. Spa Party Manicures and Facials Stations
Spa parties work best when each station has one job. Set bowls of face-mask supplies at one end of the table, brushes in the middle and nail polish at the other, so no one waits behind a single bottle.
A long table like this one seats a whole group at once, and matching chairs make it feel finished with almost no extra cost. Pink bows are cheap, and ribbon does the trick.
I’d put out glasses of water with the masks, since kids sit still longer when they have something to sip.
4. Pillow Forts
Mattresses are what make a pillow fort a real build instead of a pile of cushions.
Stand a few against the wall as sides, lay others flat as the floor, then drape a fabric canopy over the top for the roof.
A garage works well for this, since the space is big and nobody minds a mess. Pick bedding in one color, like the teal here, so the whole thing looks planned.
Kids will argue over who sleeps where, so build in more sleeping spots than guests.
5. Would You Rather?
Would You Rather needs almost no setup, which is why it earns a spot on a long night.
Print the questions on sheets, hand one to each kid and let them read their choices aloud, passing the sheet around the circle.
Write the funniest ones yourself, tuned to the group’s ages, because gross-out questions land with younger kids and awkward ones suit teens.
It also works as a calm game once everyone is tired.
6. Blindfolded Makeup
Pair the kids up, blindfold one in each pair with a sleep mask, and let their partner’s face be the canvas while the blindfolded one applies the makeup.
Once the timer goes off, switch roles so the person who did the makeup puts on the blindfold and becomes the canvas.
Lipstick in a bold red gives the funniest results, and it shows up well on skin. Keep makeup wipes and a towel nearby for cleanup, and use kid-safe or washable products on faces.
Take photos at the reveal, when the masks come off. The laughing starts when the blindfold comes off and everyone sees the results.
7. Popcorn Bar
Jalapeño cheddar, butter and a sweet drizzle give kids a real choice, and the labels save you from answering "what’s this one?" all night.
Set out white paper cones so every guest builds a serving without a bowl to wash.
For extras, add melted chocolate or caramel as the drizzle, or cheese powder for shaking over buttered popcorn.
8. S’mores Bar
A s’mores bar works because every kid builds a different s’more. Put the graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows in separate bins, then add a toppings bin so each guest can stack their own.
A small tabletop fire pit keeps the roasting at the table instead of around a big backyard fire.
A sign with a catchy line, like the "S’more fun to go" one here, makes the setup look planned for almost no cost.
I’d keep a pot or tray nearby for roasting sticks and used skewers, so the table stays tidy.
9. DIY Beaded Jewelry Making
Plastic beads on a string are the easiest craft here, and a wooden tray keeps every color in one place so beads don’t roll off the table. Give each kid a tray and a length of string.
Sort the beads by color ahead of time; a mixed pile slows everyone down. Tying a knot at one end first stops the beads sliding off while they work.
Necklaces and bracelets both work, and the finished piece doubles as a party favor to take home.
10. Printable Party Trivia Games
Printed cards turn a lull into a game. Prompts like "How well do you know the Birthday Girl?" and "What’s in your purse?" get everyone guessing about the host, and they need nothing but a printer and paper.
I like matching the card color to the party theme and naming the set after the slumber party, as this pink one does. It reads like a favor, and guests can keep their cards.
Print a few extra sets so groups can play at once, and keep a pen handy for scoring.
11. Card Games
Skip-Bo is a smart pick for a sleepover because the numbered cards are easy for younger kids to read, and the colors make the hand easy to sort. One deck handles a small group.
Play it on a table or on the floor between sleeping bags. Rounds run long enough to fill a quiet stretch, which makes it a good wind-down game once the loud ones are done.
I’d keep a second deck or a simpler card game ready for a group that splits up.
12. Flashlight Shadow Games
Shadow games need only a dark room, a wall and one small light. Guests sit on the bed and hold the light behind their hands, so the shadows grow large on the wall.
Have kids make animals, then let the others guess. A light on a bed works well because everyone can sit close to the wall without anyone tripping in the dark.
Turn the other lights off completely; any extra glow washes out the shadows. Sunglasses are optional, but they get laughs.
13. Pajama Paint and Sip
Paint and sip works in pajamas because nobody worries about splatter on what they’re wearing.
Give each guest a canvas and a set of colorful paints, and let everyone pick their own subject, so the finished pieces look different from one another.
Pour the "sip" in cups of juice or sparkling cider for kids. Paintings need time to dry, so set them aside to dry before sending them home as keepsakes.
Hold the group photo until everyone has a finished painting in hand.
14. DIY Tote Bag Decorating
White canvas totes take craft stickers and gems well, and the plain surface lets every kid’s color choices show.
Sit everyone on the floor in a circle with the supplies in the middle, so no one has to reach across a bed.
A rainbow and flowers is an easy design for younger kids. Slip a piece of cardboard inside each bag so fabric paint or marker ink doesn’t soak through to the back.
I’d label each bag with a name on the inside, since identical totes get mixed up fast. The finished bag also carries the next morning’s party favors home.
Planning Tips for Sleepovers
Ask parents about allergies and dietary needs when you invite the kids, not the night of the party.
A short text with a yes/no question for each guest is enough, and it lets you plan one snack table that every child can eat from.
Match the schedule to the youngest guest. A mixed group of ages drifts apart fast, so pick two or three activities that work for everyone and keep the rest as optional extras.
Plan more than you think you need, then let the kids’ energy decide. Some groups burn through a game in no time, and others won’t leave one alone.
Give each parent a pickup time and a phone number to reach you, in case a child wants to go home mid-night.
Setting the Mood
Dim lighting does more for the mood than any prop. Battery-operated string lights or candles make a room feel cozy, and for kids the string lights are the safer choice, since they have no flame to knock over.
Lay blankets and pillows on the floor ahead of time, so there’s somewhere comfortable to land the moment anyone walks in.
An indoor picnic is an easy way to serve dinner on that floor.
Spread a blanket or tablecloth, and serve sandwiches, fruit skewers, veggie sticks, cheese and crackers, and cookies. Plastic cups with straws are my pick for sleepover drinks, since small hands can hold them without much sloshing.
A fort leaned against the side of a couch holds up better than one that stands alone in the middle of the room.
Safety Considerations
Set the rules before the first game starts, and say them out loud to the whole group. Three or four short ones cover most of it: no hurting anyone, no leaving anyone out, and everyone stays inside the party area.
Tell kids that anyone can say "stop" and the game stops. That one rule handles most hurt feelings before they grow.
Keep the adults close. Check in every so often, especially once the lights go down and the group gets loud.
Agree on a lights-out time with the kids early, and hold to it. Tired groups get snippy, and a clear end to the night keeps the mood kind.
Keep a first aid kit and a list of allergies within reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are fun things to do at a sleepover?
Pillow forts, a backyard tent campout, and a s’mores or popcorn bar fit best, because kids build the fun themselves.
For quieter stretches, Would You Rather and Skip-Bo fill the time with almost no setup. Craft stations like beaded jewelry or tote bag decorating also send everyone home with something.
What age is appropriate for a slumber party?
Sleepovers typically suit kids aged 7 and up. Plan around the youngest girl or boy on the list, because a group with a wide age gap splits into two parties by 9 p.m.
Choose 2 or 3 activities that suit every guest, then set out a few extras on the side for kids who want more.
What do you bring to a slumber party?
Guests usually bring a sleeping bag, a pillow, pajamas, and a snack to share. Having everyone arrive in pajamas also means fewer stray clothes left behind the next morning.
The host can cover the main food and drinks, and a guest can bring something to add to the activities, like nail polish or a movie.
