Several years have passed since planning your child’s birthday party consisted of little more than capitalizing on their favorite cartoon. And even though your child seems so young (and little) to you now, the sad truth is that teenage birthday parties must pass the ‘cool’ test. No child wants to return to school after their own birthday party and become the butt of jokes from relentless middle or high school peers. This means that you, mom and dad, need to plan the party, provide the party favors, and then quietly slink back to your bedroom while the party goes on, so as not to embarrass your child. But before you go… remember that baby monitor you packed away in the attic years ago? You might want to get it back out and hide it somewhere discreetly in the middle of the party!
Teen Party Themes & Planning
Teenage birthday parties should be packed with fun! Probably the best way to get the party started is to sit down with your teen and choose a theme. Unlike the themes of yesterday that involved characters like Dora, teen parties can revolve around things your child is actually interested in. For example, if your child is in the band, plan a musical party complete with a competition for first seat, followed by a performance they could videotape. Beach parties are also popular for teenagers (whether it’s winter or summer) and give you a great excuse to break out those Beach Boys albums. For the teen softball or baseball enthusiast, rent a field and host a scrimmage game that would make the pros jealous. You can also plan teenage parties around themes teens love, such as Survivor, American Idol, Amazing Race, or House of Anubis.
Be sure to get your child’s input before you commit to planning a luau party. It could be that one of their friends just had the same type of birthday party, and copying them would be social suicide. Your child may want to skip the themes altogether and opt for an all-night campout instead. If you go for the whole slumber party idea, be prepared for the fact that the teenagers – unlike the kids of yesterday – will likely stay up all night. And come morning, it will be difficult (or impossible) to wake any of them before noon. The key is finding a theme or party atmosphere that is considered ‘cool,’ so your child won’t be the recipient of snarky comments. Plus, chances are, their friends will love anything as long as your child gets the final vote on the party theme.
Next up is, of course, food. When it comes to teenagers and food, the rule of thumb is to plan for a lot. Anyone who thinks a houseful of teenage girls at a slumber party aren’t going to eat much because they’re worried about their figures is out of their mind! The good news is that teens love junk food, which means ordering pizza and having plenty of finger foods (either homemade or ordered from a fast food restaurant) will definitely satisfy their appetites. While a soda fountain might make a beautiful centerpiece, remember that it’s far too easy to spike! Stick with liters of soda, cans, or even water bottles to keep those teenage kidneys hydrated! If the party goes all night, plan for an easy breakfast – something like pancakes or cinnamon rolls. And don’t be surprised if most of the kids opt for leftover cold pizza instead.
Music will likely be the centerpiece of the activities. Make sure to plan the party in a space that will accommodate all the teens and give them plenty of room to dance (although they won’t call it that). If you’re renting movies, be sure to pre-watch them or at least look them up online to ensure you’re presenting material that might be offensive to some of your child’s friends’ parents. Your best bet is to stick with a PG-13 rating, despite your child’s possible insistence on getting the latest and greatest horror flick, which is rated R for a reason! You definitely don’t want to deal with condescending glares or upset phone calls from parents of the kids you’ve invited. Other ideas for teenage parties include pulling out the Wii! If you don’t have many remotes, see if you can borrow some or have the partygoers bring their own. Teenage birthday parties are not complete without some form of gaming.
A few words to the wise: with so many teens in one place at once, things can quickly get out of hand. Make sure you don’t allow them access to your computer, and listen for hints that they might be up to something troublesome, like prank calling the class dork. Also, if the kids are staying the night, make sure you have an energy drink on hand so you’re not left responsible for a group of mischievous teens sneaking out. And even though you aren’t technically invited to the party, it’s a good idea to make your presence known at least once an hour. Obviously, you don’t want to run through the living room in your nightgown pretending to need yet another cup of tea, but moseying around and acting uninterested in the goings-on can be a great way to get to know your child’s friends and keep tabs on things.
Finally, the big question: should you have a birthday cake or not? The answer… of course, you should! Even if your teenager declines the necessity of one, you have the parental right to overrule them. A birthday cake is a part of birthdays, complete with candles and the classic rendition of “Happy Birthday.” It doesn’t matter if you’re hosting a birthday party for a 5-year-old or a teen—it just isn’t complete without the cake.
