Friendship bracelets come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. They are usually braided but can be made of any material you like. The purpose of the bracelet is to show something unique about your relationship with a friend. You make and design the bracelets together so they are one of a kind. They express something about the friendship that no other person knows. Making friendship bracelets is thus a great activity for elementary school and high school children. Any group of kids who feel a close connection to each other and who want to express that connection should make friendship bracelets.
What better place to make friendship bracelets than at a sleep over with friends. A sleep over provides ample time for friends to make bracelets and to think about their friendships. If you are looking for a way to help your kids get closer to their friends, throw a fun frienship bracelet sleepover. Provide them with ample materials. Most friendship bracelets are woven or braded in some fashion. However, you should be creative and find plenty of beads, shells, or other small objects. Kids can make bracelets from little knick knacks that they share with each other. This could be something like a tiny figurine or bottle top.
In any friendship bracelet sleepover it is important for parents to get out of their children’s way. They need to allow their children’s creative sides to come out. Childhood friendships are also a deeply personal thing. Parent’s should not be involved anymore than they have to be. Provide the kids with materials and let the creative aspects of their personalities take over.
Because the kids will be up all night you should provide snacks and refreshments. As with any good party you should also have some background music. Keep the mood low key so that the creative juices can flow. In the morning you should have a show where everyone displays their work. Don’t award prizes because the key with friendship bracelets is creativity. No one wins but the friendships that make the bracelets. Have all the children wear their bracelets in the morning. Require that they leave the house wearing the bracelets because that is what friendship bracelets are all about. They are about maintaining a friendship even if both partners are near each other.
A friendship bracelet is something that you can keep with you to remind you that you have a friend. It can be a real source of strength when it feels like the world isn’t being very friendly. By throwing a sleepover for friendship bracelets you will also be throwing a sleepover for the friendships themselves. You will be providing quality time for the friendships and giving them something to work on. A project that represents the friendship and that is made in the friendship strengthens the friendship.