Help with Teen Birthday

We are in the same boat! My daughter's 15th birthday is in February (cold, snow, etc.,) and I always have to come up with some type of "unique" party idea. She is a real "girly-girl" which can make it a little hard sometimes, but she always seems to know what she wants. So, I agree with GrammaRocks as to including her in the planning. As parents we can be so "lame" according to them (teen-agers) sometimes. LOL If you don't want to spring for a movie at a theater, try to locate the latest movie release on DVD or maybe provide a few movies for them to choose from that she likes. Have a few things available for them to do, but don't try to organize the activities, we are past that stage now. Goody bags, I don't think so unless she asks. This could be a social no-no for her. Good Luck!

Kareoke. Sorry don't know how to spell it. Have your camera ready.

I don't think you need to "plan" it like you would for a 5 year old's party. At 15 your daughter and her friends will know how they want to spend their time. Coordinate everything with your daughter, ask her what foods and beverages she wants served, movies or music or both, if she wants to play any games, what type of a cake she wants, what activities she wants, etc., and plan to let the kids enjoy themselves.

They just want to hang out together.. When you invite people over, I am sure you do not plan activities instead you all visit, and have a meal.

The friends will love being together for a length of time.. In school tey are only spending maybe 45 minutes at lunch visiting.

Movies, games like Charades, Pictionary on a wipe board, you have the ping pong, the table Hockey, Dance Revolution.. Your house sounds like a blast to me.. 4 to 5 hours goes fast at a teen party..

Chips and dips.. Queso with tortilla chips, onion dip with potato chips, a veggie platter..

Plan a meal, lunch or dinner (Chili and corn bread, Tacos, Giant subs and soup, Lasagna) , then make the dessert interactive along with the cake.. a chocolate fountain, smores, fondue dessert..

Serve Hot cider.

When we have a parties like this , We usually have a few moms and dads come and also hang out and help.. Makes it fun for us and not so much work.

I do not even understand -10 degrees.. How do you even leave your homes to get to another home? Boggles my mind.

First - 4 -5 hours is too long! We are not a "sleepover" family either. My teenager is totally into Bonfire's lately. I know it will be super cold out but they love "hanging out" sitting around a fire, poking it with sticks and cooking hot dogs and smores. Then have them come in for Hot chocolate and and to hang out some more to hang out and play the games you have!!

Do not over think it ... they really typically enjoy each others company! But beleive me attepting to entertain a group of teenager for over 2-3 hours is enough!!

GOOD LUCK!!

Snowball fights and/or sledding! (If the weather cooperates!)
Followed by hot chocolate and/or spiced cider.

teenagers do not want or need adult input into their hangout time. (nor do tinies. i know it's the trend right now to 'supervise' everything. but really. no.)
make things available and then back off.
let your daughter pick a few movies to have on tap. DDR might be a big hit, or they might roll their eyes. pictionary or charades or monopoly or cards. a bonfire is usually a hit. while they're outside make some gourmet hot chocolate (like this....Alice’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate Recipe
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons Caramel syrup, heated to luke warm (recipe here)
Hot Chocolate (4 tablespoons of ganache plus 6 oz. of milk, heated)
Canned Whipped Cream
Pinch of Medium Coarse Sea Salt
Directions:
Pour 2 Tablespoons of caramel syrup into a mug so the inside of the mug is coated well. Add hot chocolate and stir everything. Top off with with cream, drizzle with remaining caramel, and sprinkle with sea salt. Enjoy!)
provide plenty of munchies and pillows for them to flop around on the floor. they may do nothing but eat and yak for 4 hours.
don't 'entertain' them. they don't need it.
:) khairete
S.

Hi G.-

My twins just turned 15 in october! For one of the girls, we had a party on a friday just after school at a local pizza place...they were very accommodating...we did pizza...and karaoke....

Also, since most of her friends are the...well...'honors' type kids (with a wide variety of interests...sports, drama, dance, band...etc) I could not resist 'goofy' goody bags complete with 'nerdz' and 'smarties' candies...goofy stickers...bubbles...beads...and other silly party things from childhood...

Then...they all went to the home football game. It was fun for all...and they had a good laugh as well (as per the nerdz and smarties!! lol)

For the other twin (many developmental delays) had a party in her class with her classmates...funnily enough...she had similar 'goody bags'...and they appreciated them as well!! (different reasons of course!! lol)

What ever you do...have fun!

Best luck!!
michele/cat

***Oh...did I mention the 'birthday crown' and party hats and blowers??***

lol

Here are some of the things my teen boys like to do when they get together with friends:
video games
movies
eat
play music - we have a piano and the musicians take turns
group games - they do this the most. Apples to apples, catch phrase, scattegories, pictionary. And they have a bunch that they they do without a board or bought game: guessing games, memory games, tag and chair switching games. I'm not sure who starts these, one person will come with a game they learned elsewhere, they play it and then come up with their own ideas.
Outside games, even when it's freezing but not -10 degrees.
If you'd like more group game info, send me a message, I'll ask my boys for suggestions and rules for the games they play in their group.