School holidays are the perfect time for a sleepover. Here’s our super guide to throwing the ultimate all-night party, for tweens, teens or twentysomethings.

Invitations

How many kids? It’s a tough question. Too many and you’ll have wild 8 year olds storming the pantry at 2am. Too few and you’ll break hearts and ruin friendships for life. Handmade invites are a sweet idea, but go undercover if you don’t want kids coming up to you in the supermarket asking why they didn’t get invited.

Food

Forget about offering dinner. Invite kids over when they already have a full belly – snacks and treats are the aim of the game here, not meat and three veg. Snacks that keep the party humming include cupcakes, popcorn, mini pizzas and party pies. Check out our guide to perfect nachos here. Make a big batch of fruity punch to keep the kids hydrated (and out of the kitchen fridge).

Music

We know it’s hard, but you really have to stay out of this one. Seriously. Let them organise their own playlist. And, a word of advice – buy yourself some earplugs.

Decorations

We love the idea of transforming a kids bedroom into a fairy-lit fort. Fill with cushions and mattresses, with enough pillows on hand when war breaks out after the midnight feast. For all your tween-themed party supplies, check out these suppliers.

Entertainment

Late night movies are a great way to get kids to drop off to sleep, so hold off the movies until late. Instead, old fashioned party games are the way to go. Think Musical Chairs, the Limbo, Truth or Dare or the Chocolate Game. In fact any game involving chocolate is a winner. Check out this list from Kidspot for more party fun ideas, or outsource the entertainment to an expert. From clowns and fairies to a sports coach or even a mobile petting zoo, find a children’s entertainer to dial up the fun.

Musical chairs not your style? Well, there’s always a disco. Clear the furniture, bring out the smoke machine, pump up the playlist, and let the kids dance ‘til they drop. Don’t have a smoke machine? Embrace your inner DJ and hire the right gear here.

When it’s time to crash in front of a movie, know in advance what movie to put on. Nothing kills the buzz of a party like indecision.

Memories are made of this

Don’t forget to take lots of photos of your guests. Set up a “photo booth” with dress-ups and let the kids go crazy with a camera. It’ll make some great memories for you and your small person. As a bonus, it’s always nice to send kids home with a memento.

Diffuse tension

Just because they’re kids doesn’t mean they’re made of sugar. Sometimes kids are mean. Keep an ear out for any b-i-t-c-h-i-n-e-s-s and intervene, pronto. Nothing is sadder than a sad kid at a sleepover, so keep tensions from simmering, and change the activity if it’s causing dramas.

Breakfast

Kids like eating different things, so have lots of options on hand, from toast and cereal to fruit and yogurt. Pancakes and hot chocolate never go amiss, so stock up on maple syrup and strawberries for a post-sleepover feast.

Sleepyheads

Some kids wake up after just a few hours – others need their beauty sleep. When they start drifting into the kitchen, bleary eyed, hand them a hot chocolate and plop them in front of the TV. Ask them to keep the noise down to a minimum until everyone is awake, and then let the party start all over again – at least until it’s time to bundle them out the door and into the waiting arms of their parents.

Congratulations. You survived. Now you can go back to bed.