There are no hard and fast rules about the right age: some 6-year-olds might be ready to sleep away from home, some 11-year-olds might not be. So it's important for parents to assess each opportunity individually.
Start at an appropriate age
Fitzgerald recommends not starting sleepovers before age 8, but in some cases, it's even later than that—it depends on the child.
There's no right or wrong answer to the question of whether or not kids should be allowed to have sleepovers. It's a matter of whether or not a parent deems the sleepover destination safe, and also depends on the preparation and comfort level of both the child and parents.
Teenager sleepovers are the norm once your teen hits a certain age and most teens will have a sleepover regularly during their adolescent years.
And the main fears that parents have — gun safety, sexual assault, drugs and alcohol use, bullying — can occur outside sleepovers, too. Dr. Sara Douglas, a Manhattan pediatric neuropsychologist, said it is best for parents to focus on harm-reduction and prevention rather than nixing sleepovers entirely.
DEAR CONCERNED: It is not appropriate for parents to co-sleep with adolescent children, partly because adolescents need and deserve some privacy, as they engage in the developmentally important process of figuring out who they are and what they're about.
Dear Concerned: It is not appropriate for parents to co-sleep with adolescent children, partly because adolescents need and deserve some privacy, as they engage in the developmentally important process of figuring out who they are and what they're about.
In New South Wales, a person can legally consent to sexual activity once they are 16 years of age. A person who is under 16 years of age cannot lawfully consent to sexual activity, whether it be kissing, touching or sexual intercourse.
Dr. Basora-Rovira says there is no specific age that is “too old” for co-sleeping. She encourages parents to not begin practicing co-sleeping in the first place. And, if you are already co-sleeping with your child, to transition him or her out of your bed and into his or her own room as soon as possible.
Start to Finish
Usually, a sleepover can begin around 5 or 6 p.m. and leave plenty of time for pizza, games and a video. Pickup time in the morning can be as early as 9 a.m. The guests will be up at the crack of dawn (if they sleep at all) and will be ready for waffles and cinnamon rolls.
"When you're heading into adolescence, it's probably a good idea that the child is able to sleep independently because they -- once you're getting 11, 12, 13 -- there are a lot of contexts socially, where the child might want to be sleeping somewhere else.
Eventually, teens are ready to make the move and start going on what an adult would recognize as a date. Some pediatricians suggest that kids wait until they're 16 to start this kind of one-on-one dating. That's a good place to start the discussion, but every kid is different.
A sleepover at someone else's house can also be an insightful opportunity for kids to see how another family operates. This may help them value what makes families different and what they love about their own family. Also, kids can have a really fun and memorable time at a sleepover with their friends.
Overall, the average age in the United States for no longer believing in Santa Claus is 8.4 years old.
About legal age in Australia
In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old. But for certain things, the legal age can be younger. The information in this article is general in nature, and laws differ from state to state.
In Victoria, the age of consent is 16. If you are 16 years old and above, you can legally have sex (or do another sexual activity) with another person who is 16 years or older as long as you both agree to it.
In many countries, including Australia, Serbia, India, Brazil, Croatia, Colombia, and the UK a minor is defined as a person under the age of 18.
It is natural for babies and children to want to sleep with their parents, or very close to them. It is a primal response. Look at young dependent mammals – they all sleep next to their parents/mother. You address your children's needs during the daytime, don't you, so why should that change at night?
As a general guideline, Dr. Eagar advises not allowing single dating before age sixteen. “There's an enormous difference between a fourteen- or fifteen-year- old and a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old in terms of life experience,” he says.
Teens (14-17 years):
0-2 years old: should go to sleep between 8:00 and 9:00 pm. 3-5 years old: should go to sleep between 7:00 and 8:00 pm. 6-12 years old: should go to sleep between 7:30 and 8:30 pm. 13-18 years old: should go to sleep around 10:00 pm.
THE GUEST LIST: Talk to your parents about the maximum number of people they will let you invite to your sleepover. Typically, sleepovers have around 2-8 guests, but it depends on what you're going for. Invite people who you want to hang out with, who make things more fun, and who will get along with each other.
For some kids, sleepovers are the highlight of their social lives. They get to stay up late, eat junk food, tell stories, and hang out with their closest friends. But for others, the thought of spending a night away from home can feel scary and overwhelming. Consequently, they may struggle with sleepover anxiety.
If they get scared or nervous, it can be hard for them to calm down on their own. At the same time, sleepovers can be good for anxious kids because they help them practice handling tough emotions and gain confidence.