11 YO birthday party help

[ohgillian]

I am letting DD have a party this year (this Saturday). I didn't plan any activities because I told myself "They're ten and eleven!" but now I"m doubting myself. It's 3 hours. We will have cupcakes and a luau theme with a little diy photo booth thing. But like, omg what are they going to do for 3 hours?

DD already rejected a craft. I was thinking maybe i could let them decorate their own cupcakes? But ugh to the mess. 

It's 7 girls. omg. 

[erbear]

They’ll be fine. They’re going to run around and scream. Maybe I’d put out a few games or a small craft (I’d do cookie or cupcake decorating) but they don’t need a million activities.

[momof2]

My 11 year old hosts “parties” of about 10 girls every couple of months. They don’t really need activities. They run around and scream a lot. They end up playing hide and seek all over the house. They sit around playing with all her containers of slime. When the weather is nice, they run around in the yard. Occasionally, they pull out twister. We usually do 5 hours, and I feed them pizza and dessert.

[momin2013]

I don’t have a girl, but I’d probably have a simple craft ready - (like a bunch of small beads and some elastic string to make bracelets?), and maybe pull out a couple of board games they could play if they want to. Cupcake decorating would be pretty easy too; you’d just need some tubes of icing and some sprinkles.

[ssmjlm]

Michaels had some 99 cent frames last year and we did those and a big letter as part of E’s party. The girls liked it and weren’t super messy.

www.michaels.com/product/10273691

[expectantsteelerfan]

Do you have a speaker and a way to stream music? Maybe make a playlist. And if you have room, you could let them do the limbo for a fun game if they seem bored as a backup lol.

[nicolewi]

I know I’m in the minority here because most people always say you don’t need activities. But I feel like some kids really do! I usually have something planned. If it’s a small group, and they all know each other really well, they might be fine running around and hanging out. But I would plan a couple activities to keep in mind in case you need them!

[hermione]

Do a Saran Wrap Ball. Super fun. Incredibly easy prep. Perfect age.

[fryjack2]

Movie, food, cupcakes. Done

Tie dye socks. Much easier and less messy than t-shirts.

Decorate cookies and eat them. Make a few little cakes and let them have a decorating challenge.

[sdlaura]

My DD is 11. I’d have some activities - I’d go to Michaels and get some beading stuff and slime, etc. doesn’t have to be a specific craft but just something they can do with their hands as they hang out. I also like the cookie decorating idea.

[ellipses84]

We went to an 8 year olds bday recently where they had a table set up with sugar cookies for decorating and it was a huge hit (and not that messy with all frosting colors in a piping bag (or ziplock with a hole in the corner). The photo booth is an activity. Music is a good idea. Have her create a playlist. Maybe throw out some physical activity toys like a hula hoop.

[waverly]

I would do a few activities. After Covid and playing outside with the neighbors the whole time, I find that DD struggles with knowing how to entertain friends in her house. She does just fine from outward appearance, but sometimes loops past me with a deer in headlights looks of what should we do now?  When I ask the kids if they want friends over they always say no since they are used to outside or activities. For sleepovers they just did movies and TV moreso, but I don't know that you want a movie on unless it was a movie night theme.  

[meanie]

3 hours will go by so quickly! You could set out something for them to do while they talk, like drawing supplies or slime - something simple that doesn't need to be organized. In the past I have rolled out white easel paper and taped it to a big table and thrown out a few buckets of markers.

Even without an activity they will entertain themselves. 99% of the time they just want to see what DD's room looks like and hang in there.

[meanie]

Nov 29, 2023 20:01:45 GMT -5 hermione said:

Do a Saran Wrap Ball. Super fun. Incredibly easy prep. Perfect age.

I've never heard of this but looked it up and it looks fun! Definitely keeping this idea in my back pocket for our next get together...I can see lots of ideas for adults too with scratch tickets, money, nips....

[lilac05]

Whether or not kids need activities really depends on the group of kids. Some are so used to being scheduled and in a lot of activities where they’re told what to do, and some have lots of free time that they need to fill on their own (without screens).

One year, we did a “Nailed It” challenge with cupcakes. We used Nilla wafers as the shell, either a crumbled chocolate cupcake or Oreos for the ground beef, a pre-packaged green icing for lettuce, red ball sprinkles for tomatoes, and yellow and white sprinkles for cheese. They had a lot of fun and it wasn’t too messy because I used pre-iced cupcakes from Sam’s Club.

My son was obsessed with tacos, but I’m sure you could find lots of other similar ideas!

This year, I think we’re going to do a blind taste test. Not sure what it’ll be. He has mentioned flavors of Jarritos or candy canes.

[wanderingback]

If she rejected crafts, what is she in to? Could she help pick out some things to do that she enjoys if she’s looking for specific activities?

[livinitup]

I think DD was 11 when I went to Michael’s and bought big letters and colorful paint for everyone invited. The big ones with their first initial. Everyone painted one for themselves, it dried, and then I attached a ribbon. It became their favor to take home.

It was a big hit and my favorite “something to do” for any party we hosted.


You can also throw games into the room. We have a big white board, so Pictionary is easy and fun. Twister is good for a group.

[joy]

Ice cream sundae bar!

[jeaniebueller]

I would definitely have at least one activity ready for them just in case. What about decorating their own t shirts or making bracelets?

[midwestmama]

I agree with others on having something just in case, such as games or a craft. As another option, maybe the girls could paint their nails, or you could get some sets of the plastic press-on nails?

[pittpurple]

My daughter had sleepover parties for her 10th and 11th and I had some activities - I think 7 kids is too many to just hang out all together but not enough to split up into a bunch of smaller groups so it works better if they have a common focus.

I like the letter decorating idea. You could totally do it mess free with just those sparkly gem stickers and some acrylic paint pens.