Co-ed Sleep Overs and Lock-ins
Posted by Angela on 02/5/07 in Ramblings
Check out the article over on Weary Parent about Co-ed Sleep Overs and Lock Ins. I do have a few things to say about the subject but because I know I’m going to rant for a long time I thought I had better do it here on Oh Baby Baby.
First of all, I don’t see anything wrong with having a “Lock In” at the middle school. Sure they picked a poor choice of words by calling the event a “Co-ed Sleep Over” but that really isn’t what it’s all about. Lock-Ins are usually approved by the school board and strictly monitored with tons of chaperones. I don’t know of one single kid who is actually going to sleep, do you?
What’s going to happen is they will probably open up the Gym and their will be pop corn, movies, basketball, and all sorts of things to keep the kids busy all night long. Whoever thought the kids were actually going to sleep is putting too much thought into those words: Co-ed Sleep Over.
My daughter is a sophomore in high school and also part of our Church’s youth group. They have Lock-Ins all the time. None of the kids ever sleep. There is so much positive parent involvement in this type of fun event that there isn’t time for anybody to mess up. I know at Church if the kids do get tired the girls all go in one room and the boys go clear across to the other side of the building. And even in that situation they’ve got sleeping bags, their own quarters, and lots of chaperones watching every move they make.
Back to the all night situation - nobody sleeps at these things. When I was a high school senior we had a “lock-in” at the bowling alley on base. There were movies, music, food, bowling, and everything full of fun that you could possibly think of to keep us off the streets and celebrating our graduation. Many schools do the same type of thing for the after prom parties. Lock-Ins are actually a pretty fun way to raise money too.
It’s good to be proactive and monitor what your kids are into. If it’s such a concern I would have been the first person to volunteer to stay all night to watch over them and make sure they were all being good boys and girls. Besides.. Co-ed Sleep Overs don’t start happening until the college years anyway - do we really need to go THERE!?
If I had to pick between my child being on the streets OR at a lock-in I think I’d pick the lock-in. If I had to pick between my child going to a graduation party OR going to a lock-in I’d pick the lock in. If I had to pick between my child going to a lock-in for the prom after party at Susie’s house who’s parents are out of town - I’d pick the lock in.
I think you guys probably get where I’m at with all this now.
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Char | Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
Angela - this is great! You should have posted the whole comment. At least go back and add a comment with a link to your response.
Gayla | Feb 6, 2007 | Reply
My biggest question is - what message does this send to the kids? I don’t think many of the kids in this particular age group can differentiate between the “where” the sleep over takes place or that they are even escorted to “two rooms” later on. I think what they see is it’s a co-ed sleep over.
I guess my experiencing my two boys going through some pretty uncomfortable changes and discussions lately has me completely on edge about this sort of thing.
We all know that where there’s a will there’s a way - I’d just prefer the temptation and opportunities not face my kids quite so young. That’s something for the 16 year old plus crowd
ptg | Feb 7, 2007 | Reply
No worries, Angela. Once the Mohammedan fanatics get their way and Sharia becomes the law of the land, this unwholesome mixing of the sexes will come to a screeching halt.
Angela | Feb 12, 2007 | Reply
I don’t really think it’s a “sleep over” at all. Who’s going to sleep? They’re going to be too busy playing basketball and hanging out all night to have time to sleep. That’s the whole thing about “lock-ins” of this type - nobody sleeps. When kids get to stay up all night with their best friends they do just that.
Gayle | Feb 13, 2007 | Reply
Angela,
I don’t know how the schools are in your area, but here we have problems with teens fighting, etc., at school. I, too, would be one of the first to volunteer for chaperoning such an event, but the problem is there would never be enough chaperones to volunteer to be able to watch a large number of children.
My daughter has attended lock-ins with a theater group, and with the band at her school. These were smaller groups than you would see at an event where the entire student body is invited. I’m not saying that all of them would show up, but around here many of the troublemakers would show up without a parent or guardian. This could make for a very undisciplined atmosphere.
I’m not against my daughter attending co-ed sleepovers or lock-ins. It’s all a matter of how many teens and chaperones there are at these events.
Angela | Feb 13, 2007 | Reply
Most of the larger lock ins that I was a part of in high school always had a couple of off duty police officers that volunteered to help watch everybody.
Obviously if there isn’t enough parent participation and you feel the environment is unsafe for your children then you have to do what you think is best.
But just because one lock in is unsatisfactory doesn’t mean that all of them are.