Teen parties will be successful if you listen to you teen’s current interests and plan the party accordingly. Teens may want a co-ed party or not, and parents can determine the level of supervision. Younger teens will have different interests than their driving teen counterparts, and the teen party should be limited to guests within certain age groups. Keep the number of teens at any party to a manageable amount depending on how many adults will be there. When there are younger siblings in the family, be sure to provide separate activities so they do not feel too left out of the teen party, where an older sibling may not want a younger sibling interfering.
Spectator Sport Party
Host a teenage party for a small group of teens at a local stadium or indoor arena with an amateur team. Local spring training or minor league baseball games are affordable options. Send directions to the location with the invitation. Make a budget to determine if you will pay for parking or admission, or both. Let guests know what will covered, and that extra adults accompanying the teens are welcome if they pay their own way. Make a sports-related cake and bring along your own soda and snacks. Order pizza for the party.
Dance Party
Host a co-ed dance party at your home for older teens. Send VIP invitation passes to the guests. Discuss with teens your home’s rules on alcohol and smoking before the party begins. Decide with your spouse if you will be chaperoning the party constantly or if you will be giving the teens some freedom and only checking in on them periodically. Set up the room with furniture along the walls to make room for dancing. Decorate with flashing holiday lights. Ask your teen to help you make a playlist and compile music before the party. Serve popcorn, pretzels, fresh fruit salad, fruit juices, soda and water. For younger teens, host the party in the late afternoon rather than at night.
Recreation Party
Call the local indoor or outdoor recreation locations in your area, including laser tag spots, miniature golf courses, ice skating rinks, skateboarding parks, water parks or snow tubing and ski resorts. Request group rates and party rates. Make a guest list that fits within a pre-determined budget. If the teen wants more guests, choose the less expensive recreation activity, or the business that offers you the most with a package deal. Bring your own cake, beverages, decorations and paper place settings. List a firm start and end time on the invitation to let parents know when to drop off and pick up their teens.
Celebrity Party
Make star-shaped invitations using gold foil paper or outline the paper with gold glitter, to look like a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Ask guests to dress like their favorite celebrity, sunglasses required. Use red tissue paper or red chalk to create a red carpet leading to the front door. Invite family members and friends to take photos of the teen guests as they arrive. The photos can later be printed and emailed or mailed to party guests. Set up movies and DVD players in a couple of different rooms, playing age-appropriate films. Serve popcorn and make a cake in the shape of a star. Make ballot boxes for different, positive awards including “Best Costume,” “Coolest Sunglasses” and “Best Couple.” Hand out awards in a ceremony.
Media Trade Party
Invite teens to a media trade party. Teens can bring their used CDs, DVDs, books, graphic novels, comic books or video games to trade with other guests. Supervise the trading to encourage teens to make fair trades. Set up movie trivia games and hand out new media or gift cards as prizes. Provide CD players, DVD players and game consoles to let the teens try out the used media before they make a trade. Limit finger foods during trading to keep the items from becoming soiled. Make the party a green media trade party and invite guests to bring their used batteries, which you will later recycle for them.
