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The kids have only been out of school for two days now and they are already begging for play dates – and sleepovers.

Most of the time I’m the mom who has the kids over, unless it’s a family who we know pretty well, then every once in a while the kids get invited over to someone else’s house.  After the kids begged me though, I started thinking, and I realized that I haven’t let the kids have their friends over for a slumber party in months!  Having a small (ish) house, it’s definitely something we need to plan out in advance most of the year – especially if we’re having more than one kid over for the night.

Summers are the perfect time to host a sleepover because the kids aren’t confined indoors. They can play outside, and if you’re lucky enough even sleep outdoors! One of my favorite childhood memories is when my sister and would sleep in tents in our best friend’s back yard. I believe it’s healthier for kids to play outdoors when possible – it not only gives them fresh air and exercise, but promotes creativity.

If you think you may have kids coming and going this summer it may be beneficial to keep a “sleepover kit” on hand. Get a basket, tote, or even a reusable bag, and fill it with designated sleepover items – almost like an emergency preparedness kit for slumber parties! Think of things that kids often forget to bring over, or things that you would need if anything happened. I always want the kids to go home happy and healthy!

What sort of things do kids forget to bring? Stuff like toothbrushes, mouthwash, sunscreen and flashlights. Hand sanitizer and wipes are always great to have extra of, and you could also add in special activity books, bubbles, colors, and whatever else to use for their special sleepover.

A good place to stock up on everything is Walgreens. They have pretty much all you’d need to fill up your sleepover kit – including Johnson & Johnson Healthy Essential Products like:

5 Things to Keep on hand for summer sleepovers:

1. Band-Aids – Just in case – a covered wound heals faster than an uncovered wound.
2. Neosporin – again, just in case – because you should always have an antibiotic ointment on hand.

1. Listerine – It’s a sleepover – those kids and tweens will be eating lots of sugar and snacks. They’ll need to kill as many germs as possible!

1. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist – Don’t forget to protect the kids outdoors! No one wants to come home with a sunburn! Neutrogena’s Ultra Sheer Body Mist is great because it’s non-greasy and water resistant up to 80 minutes.
2. Zyrtec  24 Hour Tablets – I always check with parents first, but Zyrtec is what we keep at the house for allergy relief as well as for other issues that arise when you’d need an antihistamine – like hives.  Zyrtec is safe to use for kids 6 and older.

I like shopping for this kind of stuff at Walgreens because I can use the Walgreens Balance Rewards for healthy choices app. The App helps encourage users to make more healthy choices and set goals. You can earn Balance Rewards Points for doing activities like walking and cycling.

Let’s face it. These kids keep me moving, so why not get some extra rewards out of it?

Have your kids been begging for sleepovers? If you need additional ideas/tips here’s a link to one of my favorite posts: How to Plan a Girl’s Sleepover Slumber Party in 10 Easy Steps.

~Melissa