Your teen daughter is likely trying to become her own person, while still wanting to fit in and be popular. Help her plan a party that reflects her interests without compromising her reputation. Allow your teen to experiment a little with a more grown-up celebration than she’s previously had, while remaining youthful, fun and age-appropriate. Discuss the party budget with her and help her stay on track.
Themes
Choose a basic theme for the party to make it easier to plan the invitations, activities, favors, menu and anything else party-related. Popular reality shows, bands or other glitz and glamour themes are a popular favorite amongst teen girls. Set up a mock Hollywood red carpet, night club or awards show complete with VIP lists and paparazzi. A girls’ night out with a nice dinner, concert or show and hotel stay is another idea. A simple spa party, whether at home or at a spa, is another common teenage girl theme. Opt for a coed party with a black light dance, disco or mystery party.
Location
Host your teen’s birthday party at home if she wants a slumber party, backyard pool party (if you have a pool) or for a low-budget or low-key party. The mall is a simple party location as the girls can shop, see a movie or participate in a mall scavenger hunt with no setup or cleanup required. Rent a hotel room for a spa party or a girls’ night out treat. A restaurant, museum, bowling alley, skating rink or amusement park are other options.
Types
Different types of parties are possible. Throw her a surprise party by conspiring with one or two of her best friends if you think she’d enjoy it. Sleepovers are common for a tightly knit group of girls who can talk, gossip and be goofy together all night. Plan an activity-based party if she’s an active teen who is always on the go. Choose a party that makes her a princess for the day if she’s a diva-in-training. A coed party is another option. This option, however, can be a sensitive subject if she likes one of the boys who attend or if anything goes wrong that could be detrimental to her confidence or her reputation.
Activities
Avoid planning too many structured activities for your teen’s party, as your teen and her friends may want to relax and gossip about boys, fashion and makeup more than playing party games. Put together a few activities they can enjoy without pressuring them or putting them on a schedule. Putting together a music video or fashion show can occupy the teens for quite a while and give them something to laugh about as they get creative. Crafts, such as making jewelry, scrapbooking, designing T-shirts or pillowcases, are another thing some teen girls enjoy.
Considerations
Check with your party guests’ parents before planning that involves leaving the teens at the mall unsupervised, dyeing their hair (even if it’s only temporary dye), spa treatments (such as waxing) or other activities that might not be acceptable to other parents. Put together a favor bag for each guest, preferably with items related to the theme. For example, a spa party can include makeup, nail polish and hair goodies from the dollar store.
Photo Credit
- teen with vinyl image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
