Hanging out with friends, talking on the phone and going to sleepovers are fond memories of growing up for most girls.

Though much fun is had, sleepovers or other activities may prove dangerous or upsetting.

 According to New York Daily News, for one 11-year-old girl, a seemingly innocent sleepover turned violent.

Jamoneisha Merritt received second-degree burns on her face and shoulders after one of her 12-year-old friends poured boiling water on her while she slept.

The 12-year-old had apparently warned Merritt not to go to sleep after the two had an argument. Merritt’s cousin Yolanda Richardson said, “She told her if she goes to sleep they were going to do something to her.”

Merritt’s family is traumatised by the ordeal and are yet to show the girl how severe her burns are.

Perhaps this case against sleepovers is rather extreme, but maybe not by much and as a parent, it’s important to be aware of what kids get up to during these “fun” sleepovers nowadays:

Bullying

Like Jamoneisha’s story, bullying is common and can and does happen at sleepovers.

A child might think that a group or person finally wants to be friends with them, but in reality, it’s just a way to get a child trapped in a situation where more intense bullying can occur.

Speak to your child and make sure that you know where and with who your child is socialising with.

Kissing

Kissing may happen between same-sex, opposite sex and yes…. even cousins. Perhaps making out isn’t as serious at first glance, however, it can lead to risky experimentation or behaviours in the future. Learning about kissing and sexuality is best learnt at home, not a sleepover, so again – keep the lines of communication open with your child.

Abuse

No matter how often you tell your kids not to let anyone touch their private areas, Sexual abuse can happen. It may occur while they are asleep or awake and friends, friend’s siblings, parents or others can be perpetrators.

Although you’ve coached your children on what to do if sexual abuse happens, most children won’t say anything because of fear.

Statistics also show that it’s very unlikely that a child will actually call for help, even after being told to do so by his/her parents. Even if the child did call, the abuse would already have occurred happened sadly.

After an act of sexual abuse occurs, even though the actual abuse is over, the healing takes a lifetime and has long-lasting effects.

Is a sleepover worth of the risk?

Pornography

Pornography may be particularly damaging for children and teens as their minds are still developing. Will Odom from The Humbled Homemaker recalled that his first experience with pornography was at a sleepover after his friend’s parents went to bed. Although he knew it was wrong, he was afraid of seeming like a “baby,” so he just went on and dealt with it.