Give your child a memory this summer by throwing a box car summer sleepover with their favorite movie, pizza and favorite snacks.
Things to do before the box car summer sleepover:
Make a list of whom you want to invite to the box car summer sleepover.
Buy or make the invitation with a “How to make your own box car instructions” and for the children to bring a sleeping bag, pajamas, and pillow. I’ve included a sample in this article that you can use to type your own invitation and what to say. You can print in on stationary of your choice and mail it out in an envelope. Staples, the office supply store is a great place to get stationary for your invitations.
Help your child make his or her box car. The photos in this article is the box car that I helped my daughter make for her box car parade at school when she was in first grade. You can see more photos of this box car at the box car link at the end of this article. After I cut out the box, I used sticks to reinforce the box to make it sturdier and then painted over it. I used acrylic paints and left one piece of the box on the top for the dashboard and painted a steering wheel. We decorated the entire box car of her favorite photos. You can put your child’s favorite photos of their friends and animals or whatever they enjoy. You can get very creative and help them make their box car however they want.
Plan a menu for the summer sleepover. A great summer sleepover party deserves some great pizza. Children love pizza, chips, and soda. This will make the entire food menu easy for you as well as the evening. You may want to purchase some popcorn for the movie and some ice cream for desert for the children.
Choose a movie that the children can watch inside their box car. Is there a movie that is popular that just came out on DVD or a movie you child loves? Whatever you choose the children are going to have a great time.
Sample of invitation:
YOU ARE INVITED TO A BOX CAR SUMMER SLEEPOVER
When: (date of sleepover)
Where: (place of sleepover)
Time: (time to arrive and time to pick up the following morning)
R.S.V.P.: (date to r.s.v.p. by, and name and phone number to call)
Please bring your pajamas, sleeping bag, pillow, and toothbrush to our summer fun sleepover. We will be enjoying a great movie, bring your own box car for your child for a parade around the neighborhood and to sit in while watching the movie.
Instruction on how to make your own box car:
Find a box that will be comfortable and big enough for your child to sit in to watch the movie. The bottom of the box should be completely open as well as most of the top of the box so the child is able to stand inside the car and walk around as if they are driving. You may want to make some handles with string to help them hold the box.
Decorate your box however you wish. You can help your child use paints, photos, stickers, or choose a theme. Be creative and have fun with your child. It is best to do the project at least a day before arriving to the party to give the paint time to dry if you are painting your box car. Hope you can make it.
Things to do at the summer box car sleepover:
When all the guests have arrived to the summer sleepover party, let them mingle a little and have some pizza, chips, and soda. After they are done eating, tell them it is time to drive to the drive-in. Have them get in their car and take them outside to parade around the neighborhood. Don’t forget to take pictures of each child with their car. Have them drive back home inside the living room and park their cars in front of the television. As the movie is playing, serve them some popcorn and some delicious ice cream for their desert.
After the movie is over, you can play some board games with them or let them play by themselves. Turn on your child’s favorite music for the children to enjoy while playing. One great game that my daughter Ashley loves playing is Junior Pictionary. You can learn all about Junior Pictionary at Board Game Geek to see if it is right for you.
After the children are done playing games, set up the sleeping bags and pillow on the living room floor. During this process have each child take turns to use the restroom, put on their pajamas, and brush their teeth. When all the children are settled in their sleeping bags, you can tell them a story or just let them be with some quiet time to talk.
In the morning, make the children a pancake breakfast with fresh fruit and orange juice. This will be a wonderful summer memory for all the children to remember.
Staples: http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/StaplesSearch?searchkey=decorative+stationary&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&fromUrl=home
Pictionary Jr. at Board Game Geek: http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/8996
Photos of a box car: http://www.associatedcontent.com/slideshow/20089/diy_box_car_for_your_child.html?cat=24#comments
Source: Bryant Ranch Elementary
