| Author: | Ngozi E. Bolin, Esq. |
| Publisher: | Pantraxxa LLC |
| Published: | October 10, 2026 |
| Length: | 652 pages |
| Formats: | Paperback, Kindle |
| ISBN: | 979-8950322136 |
When Kids Come Over: A Homeowner’s Legal Guide to Playdates, Parties, and Sleepovers
About this book
When Kids Come Over is a plain-English guide by attorney Ngozi E. Bolin to civil liability, safety rules and insurance for anyone who invites other people’s children into a private home for playdates, parties and sleepovers. It explains what reasonable care means for a host, with New York and California law as the anchor and a worksheet for checking the rules in other states.
A Homeowner’s Legal Guide to Playdates, Parties, and Sleepovers
Another parent wants to know who will be home on Saturday, whether there is a pool, and how the firearms are stored. Most hosts have never been asked those questions out loud, and fewer know why the answers matter.
A homeowner is not an insurer of a visiting child’s safety. The law generally asks for reasonable care under the circumstances, and When Kids Come Over turns that phrase into steps a host can follow before, during and after a visit: inspect and fix hazards, warn about the ones you cannot fix, secure firearms, alcohol, medications, chemicals and car keys, collect medical and emergency information, and match supervision to the child and the activity.
What the book covers
- Who is legally responsible when a child is hurt at your house
- How a drop-off playdate or sleepover can become temporary custody
- How age, maturity and activity change reasonable supervision
- Pools, spas, trampolines, dogs, firearms, alcohol, cannabis, medications, vehicles and online access
- What a signed permission form does and does not do
- What homeowners’ and renters’ insurance may cover or exclude
- The first hour after an injury, and how claims and defenses work
- New York and California quick-reference tables, plus a fifty-state research worksheet
Who it is for
- Parents and guardians who host playdates, parties and sleepovers
- Homeowners and renters who have visiting children in their home
- Anyone who wants checklists and forms to use before the doorbell rings
Related books
- Navigating HOAs in New York and California: Rights, Rules & Remedies for Homeowners
- From Injury to Compensation and Beyond: The Complete Guide to Personal Injury Claims in New York & California
- All 15 Law Made Simple books
Frequently Asked Questions
What does When Kids Come Over cover?
It covers a host’s legal responsibilities when children visit a private home: supervision, hazards such as pools, dogs and firearms, permission forms, homeowners’ and renters’ insurance, and what to do after an injury.
Who is the book written for?
It is written for parents, guardians, homeowners and renters who invite other people’s children into their home for ordinary, unpaid visits.
Does the book include checklists?
Yes. It includes a pre-invitation screen, a 12-question playdate and sleepover exchange, house rules, water-safety and allergy sheets, a secure-storage checklist, a pickup plan and an incident record.
Does it only cover New York and California?
New York and California law anchor the analysis, and a fifty-state chapter and research worksheet show readers what to check where they live.
Where can I buy When Kids Come Over?
It is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
Is the book a substitute for legal advice?
No. The book is for informational and educational purposes. For advice about your own situation, you can book a flat-fee consultation with Ms. Bolin.
About the author
Ngozi E. Bolin, Esq. has been admitted to practice in New York since 1991 and California since 2013, with three decades of experience in litigation and jury and bench trials. She is the author of the Law Made Simple series of plain-English legal guides.
Need advice on your own situation? Book a flat-fee consultation with Ms. Bolin.
The book and this page are general information, not legal advice for your specific situation.