PREMIUM Your child wants to go for a sleepover. Is the home safe? Today, some parents are more cautious about allowing their children to spend a night away from home. DN2 6 min ago Listen

“Parents should also pay attention if a child suddenly refuses to return to a particular home or becomes unusually withdrawn or anxious after a sleepover,” cautions Dr Ngugi.

A child who wants to go home should always be allowed to leave.“If a child wants to go home, they should be allowed to leave immediately because forcing them to stay teaches them to ignore emotional warning signals in order to satisfy other people's expectations,” he says.