Tweens are kids aged 8 to 12, not teenagers and not little kids anymore. These party ideas for tweens provide plenty of ‘teenage’ activities to engage tweens and still keep the fun age appropriate.
Planning party activities for tweens is challenging. Once tweens come together as a group, they form a collective identity. Not one of them will admit they like something if the ‘group’ does not. The best party ideas for tweens involve having a selection of different activities and easy to eat food choices.
First, create the party place and take steps to avoid conflicts.
- To avoid conflict, have a phone/ipad basket. Ask the tweens to deposit their items in the basket. Let them know that in an emergency, your phone is available. They can have their phones and ipads back when they leave the party.
- Create a party friendly space in the family room complete with pillows and blankets. Place bowls of snacks on the end tables. Using the family area allows parents to monitor the tweens without being too invasive. Closed doors can encourage unwanted behavior.
- Set up a portion of the kitchen counter or the dining table for party foods. Tweens eat a lot of food. Serve pizza, pizza rolls, and/or bagel bites. Have paper plates, napkins, and paper towels available. Add drink choices like juice pouches, bottled water, and juice boxes. This will keep mess to a minimum.
Tween girls
- Ask each girl to bring a favorite movie. As each girl arrives, have a movie basket. Later in the evening, the group can ‘vote’ on movies to watch.
- Purchase inexpensive nail polish, eye shadow, eyeliner, hand mirrors, tissues, and cold cream. Have the girls put on a beauty show for you.
- Rent Dance Party (1, 2, 3, or 4) for the Wii, Just Dance for Xbox, Playstation, or Wii, or Just Dance: Disney Party for the Xbox or Wii.
- Rent Karaoke Revolution for the Wii, Xbox, or Playstation.
Tween boys
- Ask each boy to bring a favorite movie and ask that the movies are not too violent or scary. As each boy arrives, have a movie basket. Later in the evening, the group can ‘vote’ on movies to watch.
- Put a basketball hoop in an open area. Little Tikes Play Like a Pro Basketball Set adjusts to 6 feet high and costs $49.97 at St. Louis area Wal-Marts, or choose Franklin Sports Hoops To Go Pro for $29.99, an electronic basketball game that can be door mounted, also available at Wal-Mart online.
- Rent Skylanders Giants for Xbox or Playstation, Super Mario or Mario Kart for the Wii, or let your son choose some popular video games that you approve of.
- Rent Karaoke Revolution for the Wii, Xbox, or Playstation.
With plenty of snacks, a (supervised) party space, and several activities to choose from, your tween’s party will be a success.
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