Parents & Families

The Virtual Sleep Out allows participants of all ages to join the Sleep Out movement, and we are excited to introduce a new generation to our mission. The Sleep Out is meant to be a challenging experience that sparks new conversations, and we know that those will look different for participants of different ages. Use the guide below to plan a meaningful night for your family.

Preparing for the Sleep Out
  1. Review the livestream schedule. Our speakers know that there will be younger participants in the audience, but there are serious parts of the work we do at Covenant House that may not be suitable for everyone. Review the schedule to see if there are parts you want to be sure to see, and others that you may want to skip. 
  2. Talk about the Sleep Out before Friday night. Helping kids understand the Sleep Out is important. It might mean a conversation about homelessness in general, and how young people find themselves homeless, or explaining what Covenant House is and how you are helping through the Sleep Out. Watch a video from the video library or pick a youth story from our reading room with your kids as a way to prepare.
  3. Involve your kids in fundraising. Fundraising is an important part of the Sleep Out experience (more on why here). It's also a unique opportunity for kids to advocate for young people near their own age in a meaningful way. Kids are tech-savvy, so set them up with their own fundraising page and let them customize it with a photo and personal message. Involve them in your outreach, asking them why they want to Sleep Out and what they think they Friday night will be like.
During the Sleep Out
  1. Ask and answer questions! Don't be afraid to pause the livestream for conversations with your kids. If you don't want to miss a thing, invite them to keep a journal and jot down things that they found interesting or confusing. And if you get a question that you can't answer, we're here to help. Find us on social media (@covenanthouseny) or email [email protected].
  2. Join an activity. We will lead at least one activity on the livestream but you can find more ideas here. Pick one to do with your family during the night.
  3. Be social! Invite your kids to be part of sharing your Sleep Out with friends and family by having them share their experience, what they learned, and taking photos. Scroll through #chsleepout together to see other Sleep Outs and how your night is part of a larger movement. 
After the Sleep Out
  1. Make time to reflect. We will lead morning reflection sessions at 8am and 11am EST that you can join together, or you can reflect as a family on your own time. Either way, make sure you have time to debrief with your kids about their night, how it compared with their expectations, and if they feel any differently.
  2. Otherwise, have a normal day. One of the hardest parts of Sleep Out can be getting through the next day without having a good night's sleep. But those moments of feeling tired can also be moments of reflection and conversation. Young people experiencing homelessness have to go to school or work after far less restful nights, and being aware of the challenges that they have to overcome on a daily basis is important.
  3. Write your thank you notes together. The Sleep Out is a time to express gratitude in many forms: for the people who have taken care of you or been your safety net throughout your life to those who supported your Sleep Out. Practicing thanks is the best way to close out your Sleep Out experience, letting your loved ones know how much their support means to all you.

The video library, reading room, and activity ideas will remain live through the summer, as will your fundraising page, so you can keep the conversation going. If you have any questions, our team is here to help.

virtual sleep out toolkit