Themed Parties for Teens

My kids were all born in the summer so it was a family tradition to have themed birthday parties that were suitable for the outdoors. Since a park with a pavilion was nearby it made the perfect venue to host many of our events. My sons just loved sports themed events. The most memorable party was for my oldest son's 13th birthday. He chose an Olympic theme. The afternoon was filled with water boat races, biking challenges, archery and swimming competitions. While the events were modified from actual Olympic events, they were age appropriate and kept everyone engaged in activity. The award ceremony with the presentation of medals made for a great photo op at the end of the event. A photo of each guest was placed in a paper frame and sent out with thank you notes after the event providing a lasting memory for all of the guests.

Here are some things to consider as the planning begins:

• Include your teen. Enlist your teen in the planning. Solicit his/her ideas for the event. Allow them to take responsibility for certain elements. This is an excellent teaching opportunity for organization, logistics and execution of a plan.
• Party Purpose. What is the reason for the gathering? Does the gathering require a timeline for activities or awards? Should it be casual or dressy? Be sure to include this information in the invitations.
• Guest List. Will this be a mixed group? How much space is required to accommodate guests and themed elements?
• Food and Beverage. Select foods that are age appropriate. Keep it simple. Create a special punch for the celebration that bears your teen's signature name. Over estimate the amount of food you will need.
• Theme. What do the kids enjoy? Incorporate a hobby or interest into the theme. Select a theme that has interactive activities to keep the interest level high. There are many party rental companies that can provide game rentals and party favors.
• Possible Venues. Bowling alleys can lend themselves to a great party site. Local recreation centers also have affordable space that can be transformed. Outdoor venues are fun, but there should be a weather back up that can accommodate activities.

Parties are a great place for teens to learn social skills. As teens transition from being children to being adults, they need the opportunity to practice being grown up. A supervised gathering of youth is a perfect environment to learn proper etiquette for social events. Themed events with organized activities can also assist shy youth to step out of their comfort zone and build confidence.