[AvadaKedavra]

My kids are younger than yours, but I went to my first sleepover party at five, which was a pretty random family my parents would not have known. I see no reason why I'd wait any longer with my boys as long as my kids are sensible and confident at that age.

8-10 years old seems too long to wait to me. Certainly if it was just him my opinion would be different and I'd be more wary...

[mumto3princesses]

Parties are sort of different to sleepovers with just one child I think. If he wants to I would let him.

My twins were invited to a small sleepover party when they were 8yrs (other girl was 7yrs 5mths). In that case though my girls weren't comfortable with it. I found out later it was because they thought the girl might put on one of the scary movies she watches all the time. I do know the mum a little bit though and I doubt she would have done that.

But even with a sleepover party I would need to speak properly with the mum/dad about DD2's allergy and intolerance anyway.

At that age for a sleepover with just one child I would have to know at least one of the parents well enough to feel comfortable with it. But I think DD2 & DD3 would feel them same anyway. I would guess they probably only have 1 or 2 friends each where they would feel comfortable enough to sleep over at the moment.

By the time they are in high school there are random sleepover requests to sleep at so and so's house who you have never met (let alone her parents) and let so and so sleep over at your house. I met one of DD1's friends and mum for the first time when she was coming for a sleepover.

[howdoyoudoit]

Can you ask the teacher at school anything? We had that with my son who is 9 and he was invited to a sleep over party at a kids house who we didnt know well. He was always in trouble at school etc and I didnt have a good feeling about it. I know some teachers/principals well so asked them if they would let their child go..they all said no. Unfortunately this child had gone thru a lot in his life but his home life was not good and he wasnt supervised very well and got up to a lot for his age. I am glad I asked as I could never live with myself if I had let him go and something had happened... you have to know the parents at least in some regards...you are trusting them with your precious child.