The digital age has changed parenting in many ways. While the foundations are the same, there are simply new challenges and risks that come along with Internet access.
Slumber parties are an example of an activity that has gotten riskier as the years have gone by and the Internet has grown more accessible. Today, parents must be very cautious about allowing their children to spend the night at the home of another family.
Why it Can be Risky to Send Your Kids to Slumber Parties
Not long ago, standing before a group of many professionals in the mental health field, a well known expert on children and families voiced his concerns about a common childhood event. He expressed his belief that slumber parties are no longer a safe option for kids. In many cases, I would have to agree with him adamantly.
We are living in the 21st century, not the 1950s. Giving our children permission to go to a slumber party at the home of folks that we may not know very well is a huge risk in our current digitally-addicted and morally apathetic society. This fact is unchanged even if the host family professes membership at a wonderful church.
There are only two places that I would recommend allowing your children to attend slumber parties. First, in your own home. Second, in the home of a family that meet the following three criteria:
- You and the parents are well-acquainted.
- You know a detailed history of the family.
- The family is supportive of regular check-ins from you.
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