Organising sleepovers is a “pain in the backside” for parents and “unnecessary pressure” for children, according to Shane Coleman. 

The Newstalk Breakfast host said children’s sleepovers are “an absolute pain in the backside from a parent's point of view”. 

“It’s hard to organise, the place is an absolute tip afterwards. 

“But to be honest, that’s fine, I don't have a problem with that, I’ve done sleepovers before, and you get around that.” 

'They're too young for sleepovers'

Shane said the real issue with children’s sleepovers is simply that children often aren’t ready for them. 

“It’s one of those many things we're doing with kids nowadays, where we're kind of getting them to grow up too fast,” he said. 

“If a kid is 9, 10, 11, in primary school, I think they’re too young for a sleepover. 

“I just think they put on unnecessary pressure on young kids who are then up half the night because let’s face it, they don’t sleep well on sleepovers. 

“What’s the rush? Why are they rushing into it?  

“Let them do it when they’re 14, 15, 16, when they can enjoy it and they can feel secure.” 

'They can be more independent'

Presenter Ciara Kelly had “no arguments” on the house becoming a tip during a sleepover and agreed oftentimes children don’t make it through a sleepover before they’re calling their parents to collect them. 

Ciara also argued, however, there is a case for “having adventures as a kid”. 

“We're terrified to allow our kids to do all sorts of reasonably safe reasonably wholesome things nowadays,” she said. 

“They’re on screens too much, they don't have enough one-to-one proper interaction. 

“My point is giving kids a space where they can be a little more independent and away from their parents while still safe has a value. 

“I think sometimes we're afraid of our lives with our kids now because I know how precious they are.”