Mature Media and Activities
What's okay at someone else's house may not be okay at your home. Letting your kid spend the night away means giving up control of what she's doing, eating and watching. And while your child's probably exposed to bad words and questionable behaviors at school or on playdates, the risks go up at sleepovers. If your little one's invited to a slumber party, call up the mom that's hosting and invite her to meet at the park, volunteer together on a school committee or go out to lunch. Talk about your values regarding age-appropriate movies, drug and alcohol use, sex and discipline, and make sure you're on the same page. Most children wait for "lights out" at a sleepover to experiment with risky behavior, so make sure that the hostess plans on popping her head in on the group throughout the night.
