If you grew up in the 1990s or even the early 2000s, sleepovers were likely an integral part of your childhood. There was nothing quite like seeing who could stay up the latest and then pulling pranks on whoever fell asleep first. These days, however, as adults, we can see the real dangers in allowing sleepovers without knowing the parents of the child your own kid intends to have a slumber party with. And even then, many parents are still iffy on allowing sleepovers.
According to one dad on TikTok, there is nothing wrong with kids simply “playing all day” and then going back to their respective homes. Although he has shared as much before, he adds in his video that other parents have told him he is depriving his kids of experiences they need to have to grow and develop. But according to him, sleepovers are not a necessity. Other parents were quick to respond.
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Other parents responded to the dad’s claims about sleepovers.
In the dad’s TikTok he says, “There’s no need for sleepovers. You’re not robbing them of any memories that they’re not gonna already have with their friends.”
He then says a lot of adults were affected by sleepovers as kids but in a negative way. He then adds, “To think that your child is gonna be safe, that’s negligence in my eyes.”
This is in reference to the fear that something bad could happen to your child at a sleepover without you there to keep them safe. As some parents commented on his video, that is a very real possibility and concern among many parents. It’s why they have outlawed hosting sleepovers and attending them.
“I rather my child in therapy crying over missing sleepovers vs crying about their stolen innocence,” one parent commented.
Another parent, who says she experienced assault as a child, wrote, “I protect my child because no one protected me from SA as a kid. It’s my job to protect my child. No sleepovers! There is no way to get to know anyone 100%!”
Other parents in the comment section who claimed to be either police officers, school administrators, or CPS workers responded to the video the same way. Most agree there is too much trauma that can possibly come from attending sleepovers for kids of any age, even if you didn’t experience that yourself as a child.
Some parents recommend at least saving sleepovers for until your child is old enough to defend or speak up for themselves if they are in a tough situation. But others, who aren’t necessarily worried about issues with other kids, are more concerned about other adults around their child when they aren’t.
One mom wrote under the TikTok, “Honestly, I think you’re weird to even push a sleepover after I say we don’t do sleepovers. Trying to convince me it’s a good idea does nothing but give me the ick.”
