We've had a lot of nice, creative parties over the years, by themes or locations, etc. My son just turned 11 but we have not decided on a party. We've discussed (he and I) numerous different things. This has happened before, and he never had a 9 yr old party, as he wanted it to be outdoors, and then my dad got sick....; he had his 10 yr old party 2 months late as he wanted an outdoor party (playing football...it was a blast)! I don't want this one to just pass, too. Would be interested in ideas, both indoors and out. He doesn't think he wants the movies or baseball (minor league). He might be interested in a fun dinner out and a movie at home, but not sure. He is very easy going, but also a deep thinker, so I don't mind that he is giving it all this thought...but would love to hear other ideas. He loves sports and has a lot of close friends... Thanks!
Hi, all! Thank you for all the wonderful ideas. We have had some of those, others he has not wanted (or have been too pricey), and others are a thought that I'll look into with him, so THANK YOu! Donna, I am all for "old fashioned" and have had some of those, with a twist, but pin the tail on the donkey, etc., is for 5 year olds, not 11 year olds (and my son is a very mature 11 year old)! He had a terrific, "old fashioned" party last year, 8 weeks after his birthday...a flag football game at our local park, and it was terrific. It wouldn't be bad to do that again. Some of the suggestions are much more $$ than we would spend on a kids' party, but I thank you. (We try to limit the parties to either home or a non-profit, although we offered one of the local minor league baseball venues...much less than the local major league. ) Yes, a lot of kids have very small parties now, and that is fine, too. Our son has a lot of very close friends, from school, religious school (some of whom he has been friends with since preschool) and the neighborhood, so it is tough to have a very small party...even a very scaled down party is more than a handful of kids. But, I love the ideas, and it is all great food for thought. Thank you all so much for taking the time to weigh in. (Some of the parties we've had for our kids over the years include: at nature centers, in our home, in our back yard [summer birthday], at the local YMCA, at a n historic house, at a supermarket, at a fire station, at a resource room at the preschool. ) Thanks again!
Hi, T.S.
How about an old fashion birthday party like pin the tail on the donkey or some type of social activity to get the youngsters some guides for interacting once again like in the old days.
Just a thought. Good luck. D.
My son is 11 and it seems to me that he and his friends are phasing out of big parties. We took him and a few friend to see the Harry Potter exhibit which was great.
Others have gone to the movies and one friend invited him and another boy to go to Six Flags.
If you have the right set-up you could have a few kids come for a movie night, throw a pizza party and have a sleep-over (or a 10 PM pickup).
Laser Tag is always a hit, and more interesting than bowling IMHO.
IMy son is very indecisive, and at this point I also think it comes with age. Too much is a stake by picking the "wrong" thing, kids at that age want to be popular and have a great party. We had a lot of discussions about what kids would think about the party. The most important thing was that it was cool. Sad but true.
Brunswick bowling alleys are a great place for a party. We've done a party at the Lego store. Our park district has good parties. Check yours - there could be a variety of themes. Ours was sports. The party was in the gym and the organizers managed the games. Rain Forest Cafe does parties. We did a "build your own pizza" party at home once. Trader Joe's sells pizza dough ready to roll out. The kids build the pizzas and then you bake them in the oven at 400 degrees. I used a pizza stone with a layer of corn meal to keep them from sticking. How about an outdoor scavenger hunt (just a thought...) Good luck!
We rented the local gym for about $100.00 for a few hours of private instruction. The kids go to dance and gymnastics there and they were able to invite their friends too. They loved it.
Also, one thing we haven't had the opportunity to do yet is go to an indoor rock climbing place. They just turned a grain silo into a huge attraction down in OKC and it is the hot spot right now for birthdays and such. Everyone has to take a 20 minute class on how to climb and repel, and safety issues. The parents of smaller children work the ropes for their own kids. I can't wait until we get to do a road trip this Summer and do it.
When our daughter turned 11, we had a party at her TaeKwonDo studio. We had 20 kids running around, playing games and learning some moves. They also got turns hitting the self-defense dummy. My daughter demonstrated some kicks and broke a board. Her friends were mightily impressed. In the viewing area, we had snacks, pizza and cake. The kids had a lot of fun and the adults that stayed were able to relax.
Like Margie said, ice skating, roller skating, bowling, and laser-tag are also fun options.
My son is turing 11 this year as well. He has a feb. birthday in Ohio so no way we can do outdoors. When he was 8 we had a swimming party at the YMCA- lots of fun I made parents stay even though lifegaurds were on duty. 9- we went as a family to an indoor waterpark then had a family dinner with grandpartens, aunts, uncles, etc. where we had cake,icecrem and presents. He was allowed to invite a friend or 2 but decided not too. When he was 10 he invited about 5 boys to come over and just hang out spend the night etc. We had pizza, watched movies, let them stay up all night playing video games. He did have cake and icecream with his friends but no presents (also we sent the girls to grandmas house so no sisters to bug them). This year he asked to take a friend to an indoor water park. (see a theme with my kids) so that is what we are doing and a family dinner at the house with the grandparents,aunts, etc. I always make the kids a special birthday dinner on the day of their birthday (anything and everything they want.... they are not usually too crazy with this may get that way as they get older.) The bad thing is the girls share a birthday so I am sometimes making 2 seperate meals... sometimes just one that they agree on (like pizza this year). And bring lunch to them at school on the day of their birthday (until they ask me to stop embarrassing them... probably the last year for my son since he will be in middle school next year).
Going bowling or to the movies is always fun too. You could have an outdoor party if you make it a snow party (and have snow in your area at that time). Make the day or his birth special for him and a party really isn't necessary, especially as they get older.
Have fun, hope this helps :)
My kids love the bowling parties.
We have also had skating parties.
This year we are having a movie party for my 9 year old. See if your theater will rent one out just for the kids. Our theater will rent for parties on Sunday mornings.
We have done swimming parties at the Y and Lazer Tag.
We went to a mini golf/gokart park for one, that was fun.
If you decide to do the movie thing at home, there are a couple of ways that you could go. Buy some club pack sizes of "movie theater" candy (like Mike n Ike's, Jujubees, Junior Mints, Sour Patch Kids and others that I can't spell) and let them have a buffet. You could also do an inexpensive ice cream sundae bar or a popcor bar with melted caramel, chocolate, nuts, sprinkles, etc. I realize that these are all sugar heavy ideas, so it depends on whether you are having a sleep-over or sending them home to their folks ;) Some dinner alternatives are build-your-owns like the pizza idea that Gail already suggested, a burger bar (maybe fries with cheese, chili, gravy, etc. if you're really ambitious), a pasta bar with various noodles and sauces, or even shish-ke-babs if you have a grill (and grill master) that's available regardless of the weather...
If this doesn't sound like something that fits your son, what about a good 'ole board game party? Does he have any favorites that you could turn into a team tournament? You could borrow enough card tables for everyone and have a different game going at each table, then rotate. It's up to you if you want to keep track (with tournament brackets and silly prizes for winners) or prefer to minimize the competition. The nice thing about this idea is that it works for all ages just by changing the games... so maybe next year ;)
My son is 8 and just had a snow tubing party. Lots of fun!
