ized by someone they knew
well.”
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Mismatch of morals
Just because a family sits
next to you in church every week
The perpetrators could, there- does not mean the Dad or teenfore, be parents, family mem- age son don’t watch R-rated
bers, family friends or their older movies or play R-rated video
children, neighbors, unmarried games at home that your child
partners of a parent, babysitters, could be subjected to.
camp counselors or teachers.
If a family’s morals and values
Avoiding a situation where our are not the same as yours, your
children can be victimized in this child could be subjected to proway seems to be a no-brainer. In grams they would not normally
his book, “Bringing up Girls,” Dr. be allowed to watch or games
James Dobson argues that the they would not normally play.
time for sleepovers has passed Even seemingly small things like
and that there are too many risks parents fighting in front of chil-
Let’s look at some of the arguments for sleepovers:
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They know the family well
Some parents genuinely know
the family well enough and have
spent enough time in the home
to know that they have the same
value systems and how their
child would be treated. They are
comfortable that their children
will also be able to call to com e
home at any time;
Independence
For children who are just
learning to be independent of
their parents, sleepovers could
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involved in today’s world.
dren could be distressing for a be an excellent exercise in
child who is not used to that at making good choices when their
home.
parents are not around. This is
Bullying
also a great opportunity to deal
We’ve all been there. Out of You also don’t want to be dealing with separation anxiety. Though
ten children at the sleepover, with the effects on a child scared the sleepover itself could be a
three are popular and call the to death after being pressured reward, the child could receive
shots, five of them would do into a game of “calling up spirits”. further small rewards for their
anything to be popular and the
behavior at the sleepover.
unfortunate two who were invited
The aftermath
because the parents know each
Even if you decide to rather
Children will be ostracized
other, are left out, discussed, rid- have the sleepover at yours, you
There is a definite fear
iculed or bullied.
will be dealing with the mess and amongst parents that their chilsleep-deprived children the next dren will feel left out if they are
Sleepovers can create an unnat- day.
not allowed to go to sleepovers.
ural and vulnerable environment
This could inadvertently start the
where certain children are left PROS
bullying they wanted to avoid in
out, pressured into doing things There are, however, parents the first place.
they wouldn’t normally or sub- who argue that sleepovers are
jected to cruelty.
an integral part of growing up.
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