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As our child grows older, he begins to form friendships. They meet, and make, their first 'best friends.' They look forward to hanging out on the play ground, or whisper secrets to each other on the phone. They join the same clubs (or they start their own clubs), they help each other with homework, and they run to each other when they have a problem.

And then, quite inevitably, they start begging their moms for a chance to have a sleepover. We all know that there will actually be very little sleep involved'they will eat too many chips and cookies, watch videos, and then tell each other ghost stories until they're too scared to even go to the bathroom by themselves.

But this is all in the name of good, clean fun, and one of the happiest memories that they will make. Here are some secrets to throwing a good sleepover party for your kids:

- Invest in fun sleeping bags! They come in fun designs, from playful frogs to barnyard animals, from dinosaurs to space themes. The sleepover will make him the envy of his friends, and the bragging rights of having the coolest sleeping bag in the group! Comfortable enough for him to sleep happily on the hardwood floor, and made of soft material that won't irritate even the most sensitive skin, these sleeping bags will keep him as snug as a bug in a rug. After the sleepover, roll it up and store in a cabinet. It's as easy as that.

- Get them disposable cameras. Let them take crazy pictures of each other, which you can keep in a scrapbook (or bribe him with when he grows older!). Give each visitor a copy of one picture as a souvenir.

- Throw a make-your-own pizza party. Buy miniature pizza dough and set up the equivalent of a pizza bar, with toppings like grated cheese, ham, mushrooms, bacon, etc. Let each guest decorate his own pizza and then pop in the oven. It's a fun and easy dinner!

- Bring out the board games. It's a fun alternative to videos, especially when you give out prizes (like stickers or candy) to the winners.

- Always ask parents if their child is allergic to any food. As a courtesy, tell them what you plan to serve, and ask if it contradicts any dietary considerations or rules.

- Never leave kids unsupervised, especially young kids. There should always be an adult in the other room, and peek in occasionally to see what they're up to. Remember, you are trusted by the other parents to take good care of their child.

- Keep parents in the loop. Being a parent yourself, you understand how other parents may feel about not having their kid in the house. As a courtesy, require the kids to call their parents sometime in the night. Be there to personally greet the mom and dad when they arrive to pick up the child. Their experience of this sleepover will determine whether or not they'll allow their child to go again.