Children aged between eight and 10 years old are caught in between two worlds: one where they still want to enjoy being pampered like when they were smaller, and the other where they already have their own preferences and wish to be treated like young adults. The experience can be magical, but it can also be quite challenging, especially if he or she has asked you for “the best birthday party ever.”
If you’re like other parents with tweens, you may also be experiencing some trouble in thinking of ways to celebrate your child’s birth without the party coming out too childish or too mature for his or her age.
To help you out, here are seven epic birthday themes that your tween will find really cool:
1. Paintball Blast
Childhood is often filled with carefree play that results in messy consequences. If your child is still quite young (eight or nine), why not offer him or her a last hurrah before he or she enters the teenage years?
If your child agrees, a paintball blast is definitely a good place to start. Have some of his or her best pals come over for a get-together involving splatters of washable paint and complete the event by offering gumball party favors. Of course, don’t forget to prepare suits for the youngsters to wear to avoid ruining their outfits during the main event.
2. Pizza Film Marathon Shindig
Everyone likes pizza, especially children who are almost old enough to cook their own meals. That said, you can plan an awesome pizza shindig for your child’s special day and incorporate a movie marathon.
To ensure that your child and his or her friends enjoy the activity, you should figure out what kind of movie your little one prefers to watch. Of course, you should try to be discreet about it so as not to spoil the surprise.
3. Dance Party
Another great idea for your pre-teen’s birthday celebration is a dance party. You can hold the event indoors or outdoors, depending on your circumstances. If you have money to spare, you can try to rent out an entire hall for the party, just remember that the goal is to choose a venue with ample elbow room for your child and the party guests to be able to dance their hearts out.
4. Backyard Circus
Watching the circus is a dream some children don’t want to admit to having. However, if you’re sure that your tween would adore having this kind of party, why not go for it?
All you need is your backyard, a circus tent, and some clever circus acts and you’re good to go. You can also hire a circus rental service that provides all your circus needs—from carnival games and rides to clowns, jugglers, and flying trapeze acts that will serve as the highlight of the show.
5. Olympics/Obstacle Tournament
Now that your little one is no longer very little, you can also get creative with the kind of party to throw for his or her next birthday. One neat idea is an obstacle tournament where he or she can compete in athletic activities with the guests. There are lots of activities you can choose from, including race relays, soccer goal scoring, and other games of skill.
To complete the event, make sure you have medals and trophies ready for the winning participants. Make sure the party favors are aligned with the theme as well.
6. Spa Party
If you’re planning a party for your not-so-little girl, you can also try to prepare a spa-slash-pajama party for her and her girlfriends. To achieve this, you need colorful nail polish, hypoallergenic makeup, and lots of cucumber slices and face masks for that ultimate girl-time party. You can also offer guests with mini-pastries or even a mini-manicure kit as party favors for your daughter’s pals.
7. Masquerade Ball
Although this may be more appropriate for sweet 16 birthday parties, there’s nothing stopping you from giving your tween an early black-tie party experience through a masquerade ball. While it may seem daunting, planning this kind of soiree for your pre-teen birthday celebrant can be fun for you and your little lady if you hire professional event planners who will take care of all the tiring parts of the preparation.
Quick Roundup
Although parents know their kids best, it can still be challenging to determine what they prefer for different things especially if they’re in a phase where changes are happening pretty fast. However, these unique ideas have been proven to put a smile on pre-teenaged kids’ faces in the past, so you can definitely use them as a starting point when planning your tween’s next birthday party.
AUTHOR BIO
In 2008, Managing Director and Founder of The Big Moo Events Lorate Hamzeh left a successful career in Human Resources to venture into the niche market of children’s entertainment. By introducing the UAE to Singing Telegrams, Lorate attracted the attention of the children’s entertainment market with a collection of fun mascots. Within a year, Lorate added children’s entertainers and bouncers to the company’s ever-growing list of services, and the rest was history.
