Planning a Party for Daughter Who Turns 13.. HELP!!

All the suggestions are good ones. Is your daughter a girly girl or more of a tomboy? That would also be a deciding factor. One of my girls would totally love the spa idea but the other one would hate it. She got Hannah Montana and HSM for Christmas and boy she was mad. Not ungrateful, just not happy. Another idea is if you happen to be near a YMCA. Some rent rooms and time in the pool even if you are not a member.

Hi L.,

When my daughters turned 13 I had a Mary Kay party for them. They invited 3-4 of their best friends and had a MK/slumber party. It was great fun. My girls always wanted to experiment with make-up and I felt this would be the perfect time for them to get tips on how to properly apply it. I also feel skin care is very important and wanted to get them into the habit early. Enjoy the party!!!

Blessing,
L.

Well, when I turned 13, my mom actually rented two adjoining hotel rooms, and she and her sister stayed in one, and my 3 girlfriends and I stayed in the other and watched movies and ate junk food and acted silly. I'm not sure if that would still be an acceptable thing to do, but at least the girls could go swimming at the hotel, and if you go somewhere like Pheasant Run, the pool has a water fall and a heated outdoor pool that you swim under the wall to get to. It can't be that expensive if my mom was willing to pay for it, lol. Then they can do their 'spa' party in the hotel room amid junk food too. Or you can have a mini-debutante sort of party, having the girls wear their nicest clothes and serving juice with selzer in champagne flutes, hors d'ovres (I'm sure I spelled that wrong.) Or maybe a camping trip at Indiana Beach, where you and Dad are there, but in your own tent 10 feet away. I'm curious to see what other ideas you get, since my stepdaughter will be turning 13 this year as well.

My daughter's birthday (just turned 15) is on valentines day when it is always cold. So for her 13th b-day i had it at an indoor waterpark. There are a couple of villages that have great packages for parties (schaumburg or hanover park). There are even some hotels (holiday inn in elmhurst or countryside) with great indoor waterparks. Have fun!!

Per my fifth grade students:
* 80's themed party
* 50's themed party
* pottery painting
* make your own jewelry place
* Pump it up

Love the spa day idea.

http://creativenanny.blogspot.com/2009/03/birthday-party-...

This blog had some really cute ideas and inexpensive way to create goodie bags with spa treats.

I took both my girls downtown Chicago, by train, and let them shop in designer sections of some posh stores. They tried on dresses and we took pictures...and had a great time "dressing up" at no cost. It was pure girl fun that made a memory with us and their friends. (3 each). I did not buy a thing, which was explained ahead of time.
we had lunch downtown at a small cafe. Anything downtown is fun and exciting if you make the whole day about the birthday girl. I like to wear a tiara on birthdays to celebrate.

Also, we did a private ceremony celebrating the teen time, handed over more responsibilities, etc. And gave them purity rings. (I would suggest doing that earlier these days.)

Whatever you decide, get her input and make it all-about-special for the birthday girl!! No money needed for LOVE! xo

you could do a craft project like making t-shirt bags all you need is duck tape, a stapler, and a old t-shirt or graphic t. you could provide duck tape and staples they bring the t-shirts. play some of your daughter favorite playlist in the background. then they can do something togeather and the guest have something to take home!

L., My thoughts are on the spa line also. If you don't want to do it at your house the beauty school in oswego is great. they do manicures, mini updo's facials etc and it is minimal cost. you could do the mani's and then go home and do make up and watch movies etc. or you could maybe get some old teen movies and just do a fun popcorn and pop thing. kids that age also love art. so maybe some kind of art thing. like decorating the cover of a scrap book that they can use thruout high school etc. or journals. girls that age love journals. good luck.

How about a mini spa party for her and her girlfriends?? Nothing "dangerous" but cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, and the why/what/when of it all.
I could come do a skincare demo, and after I leave you could all paint nails, soak feet, do girlygirl stuff. I love to educate people about skincare and I wouldn't ask for anything in return except maybe recommendations to others! Think about it!
They could each bring their fave nail polish, you can get some soap and a tub to put warm water in, they could do manicure, pedicure on each other and practice putting makeup on.

Hi L..
Congratulations on your daughter turning 13. My daughter turned 13 last September and I gave her a surprise spa/slumber party. I invited 8 of her closest friends and had some of my friends help out. We used our own foot spas and etc. The ladies recieved pedicures, manicures and facials. I even sliced up cucumbers for their eyes. And they left with goodie bags filled with spa products from the dollar store. I purchased plastic wine glasses from the dollar store and filled them with sparkiling juice. They also had a chocolate fondue fountain with sliced fresh fruit. She loved it! And the girls (and their Moms)still talk about it.

Is it a family party or just some of her friends?

If it's just her friends maybe they would like to make their own dinner/dessert. Have them make homemade pizzas and a yummy dessert. Maybe a movie after?

Good Luck!
T.

Hi L.!

I really recommend the website www.birthdaypartyideas.com. Click on "kid parties" and select a theme that interests her. There are a TON of ideas, for all age ranges (so you can view only the older kid ones) and the ideas are in all price ranges, as simple or elaborate as you want, and a lot of do-it-yourself, instead of "birthday party in a box". I have used this for going on 7 parties now (princess, cowboy, LEGO, tea party, CARS party and more, for ages 1 through 10) and have found it invaluable...hope it helps...have fun!

What about a pajama party/midnight feast? You can do something like: give them a mask, facial, pedicure ext. As a party favour make pampering kits. At the same time they learn it's important to take care of their bodies. For food you can do healthy snacks!

Another idea is to make an american idol/pop star theme. Let them dress up like their favourite pop idol! Build a stage and let them perform! Have judges and let them win prices! Give them sparkling grape juice in champagne glases to celebrate!

Good luck, it's a fun age to organize theme parties!

For my sons 13 th birthday we rented two hotel rooms invited friends had pizza played games . Had a pool party , some places have game rooms or bring a video recorder to watch movies or play video games If you bring a recorder you need an adapter for the tv. It was fun the boys. They got up had continental breafast and swam again . We were out by 11 and no mess at home.

Sad, but the girls will want to experiment with make-up or soon anyway. Why not call like a Mary-Kay person. I think they come out for free and sample and try on make-up. As a treat you could get everyone a chapstick or something.

I wouldn't go too overboard for this birthday. You should save the bigger things for the years to come. Spending the night at a hotel, or in Chicago are things she'll want to do when she's 17, save those things for later.

Unless she has tons of close friends, I like the idea of 4 girls. Drop them off at the movies (a very independent thing to do) then pick them up for a dinner at a restaurant. Sit at a different table and let them order on their own. Return for a sleepover.

If you like the spa idea, do it at home (again, the actual spa can wait until she's older) like suggested below.

My whole advice hinges on doing events and receiving privileges gradually. I liken it to the girls who, for prom, get expensive dresses, hair and nails done professionally, limo, etc.....how are you going to top that for your wedding? If you get the party of your dreams when you are 10 or 13 or 16, everything after that will be a let down. Just give her a little extra this year, to acknowledge the special birthday, but don't give her everything you can think of or afford.

Have her girlfriends over for a spa party. Have a few of the moms help out with painting nails, doing hair, etc.

Since they're teenagers, I would expect a few pizzas, soda, cake and maybe the latest released (on DVD) movie would be appreciated. You could also bring in a few teen people and seventeen magazines for them to look at while they spa.