The Ultimate Sleepover Party Guide for Pre-Teen Girls
Activities • Snacks & Meals • Themes • Movies • Games • Cozy Sleep Setups
A pre-teen sleepover is basically a mini festival: snacks, movies, music, giggles, and a room full of blankets that somehow turns into a fluffy obstacle course. The trick is keeping it fun, organized, and comfy—without it turning into chaos at 1:00 a.m. This guide has innocent, G-rated ideas for themes, food, games, movie picks, and sleep setups (including sleeping bags, air mattresses, and even pop-up tents), plus a few “wow, why didn’t I think of that?” ideas.
Sleepover Setup: Make the Room Feel Like a Cozy “Sleep Zone”
Before anyone arrives, set up a simple layout so the night feels special and stays manageable.
Cozy sleeping options (mix and match)
Pro tip: Put everyone’s spot in a big circle or “U” shape facing the TV so movies and games are easy.
Make it feel special with simple decor
Pick one theme and let it guide your music, snacks, and activities.
Dress code: favorite pajamas + fuzzy socks
Decor: gold/silver accents, sparkly banner
Activity: “DIY friendship bracelets” + photo booth
Decor: “ticket booth” sign + popcorn bar
Activity: make movie tickets they can trade for snacks
Bonus: voting for the first movie
3) Camp-In Sleepover (indoors)
Pop-up tent + “campsites”
Activity: “campfire stories” (funny/wholesome), indoor scavenger hunt
Stations: bracelet making, painting tiny canvases, decorating journals
“Gallery walk” at the end where everyone shows their favorite creation
Simple backdrop + “stage” area
Activity: karaoke playlist + dance freeze game
Food: Snacks, Meals, and Serving Ideas That Don’t Get Messy
Keep it easy: 1 simple dinner + snack bar + breakfast.
Dinner ideas (kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing)
Breakfast-for-dinner (waffles + fruit + scrambled eggs)
Snack ideas (the “sleepover classics” + fun upgrades)
Popcorn (plain + flavored options)
Pretzels, chips, cheese cubes
Fruit skewers or a fruit tray
Veggie cups with ranch (less mess than a big platter)
Yogurt parfait cups (granola on the side)
Sweet treats (easy + adorable)
Cookie decorating station (store-bought cookies + icing + sprinkles)
Cupcake “topping bar” (frosting + toppings)
S’mores dip (chocolate + marshmallows baked, served with graham crackers)
Drinks (cute but simple)
“Mocktail” station: sparkling water + juice + fruit slices
Hot cocoa bar (if it’s cold): mini marshmallows + whipped cream
Serving methods that actually help
Use paper plates and cups to keep cleanup fast.
Pre-label cups with names (or let them decorate with stickers).
Do snack “stations” so everyone isn’t crowded around one table.
Put a small trash bag near the snack area (prevents snack wrappers everywhere).
Activities: Fun, Innocent, and Pre-Teen Approved
A good sleepover has structured fun + free time. Plan 3–5 activities, not 20.
The “can’t miss” activities
1) DIY station (pick one)
Friendship bracelets
Paint mini canvases
Decorate tote bags with fabric markers
“Design your own” sleep mask (simple kits or felt + stickers)
2) Photo booth challenge
Set up a backdrop (sheet + string lights), then do:
Set up a backdrop (sheet + string lights), then do:
“Silliest pose”
“Album cover photo”
“Model pose”
“Group selfie with props”
3) Scavenger hunt (indoors)
Make it silly and safe:
Make it silly and safe:
Find something purple
Find something that starts with “S”
Take a photo of everyone making the same face
Build the tallest pillow tower
4) Game rotation
UNO, Guess Who, Jenga
Charades (Disney edition / animals edition)
Pictionary on a whiteboard or big paper pad
“Would You Rather?” (kid-friendly cards or DIY)
“Interesting ideas
you may not have thought of”
Make glow bracelets/necklaces and play quick games (stack cups, ping pong bounce, etc.)
Mystery Snack Taste Test
Blindfold (optional) + tiny samples of fun snacks (jellybeans flavors, different chips, different juices)
Vote on the “best” and “most surprising” (keep it light and positive)
DIY Bingo
Create a sleepover bingo card:
Create a sleepover bingo card:
Someone laughs really loud
Someone says “I’m not tired!”
Popcorn spill (tiny one!)
Dance move happens
First to bingo wins a small prize.
First to bingo wins a small prize.
Compliment Circle
(quick and sweet)
At some point (maybe before bed), have everyone say one kind thing about the person to their right. Keep it short—this is a surprisingly memorable moment.
Movies: Keep It Fun, G-Rated, and Feel-Good
Let them vote on 2–3 options. Good categories:
Animated adventures
Friendly comedies
Inspiring sports or music movies
Cozy “feel-good” movies
Movie night tip: Give everyone a blanket and turn the lights down. Instant theater vibes.
Music + Karaoke (Without It Getting Too Loud)
Easy music ideas
Make a “Sleepover Playlist” together (each girl adds 1–2 clean songs)
Dance Freeze (pause music; everyone freezes)
Karaoke (YouTube karaoke tracks are easy)
Karaoke mini-awards (fun, not competitive)
“Most Dramatic Performance”
“Best Group Song”
“Funniest Song Choice”
“Best Dance Moves”
A Simple Timeline So the Night Runs Smooth
Here’s a clean flow that works almost every time:
6:00–6:30 Arrival + choose sleeping spots + name cups
6:30–7:15 Dinner
7:15–8:00 Craft or photo booth
8:00–9:00 Games + snack bar opens
9:00–10:30 Movie + popcorn
10:30–11:15 Karaoke / dance freeze / wind-down activity
11:15 Cozy setup + bedtime routine + “quiet chat time”
Morning: breakfast + pack up + quick cleanup game (“5-minute room reset”)
Bonus: Sleepover Rules That Feel Fair (Not Overly Strict)
Keep these friendly and simple:
Respect everyone’s space and belongings
Ask before taking photos
Quiet time after a certain hour
If someone feels homesick, they can tell the host privately