kids parties - ideas/thoughts please?

Would it be weird to be invited to a "just because" party - for kids?

Whenever DD & I sit down to plan birthday parties, we see just hundreds of cool ideas for a summertime, outdoor-type party. But her birthday's in February, and an outdoor evening party in a foot of snow & subzero temperatures just doesn't sound nice. We were thinking of just having a party... inviting a bunch of her friends... and NOT having it be "birthday" in any way. She's thinking of an "Enchanted Evening" type party, with tulle & lights in the trees at twilight, dainty sweets & iced chai - fancy schmancy girly stuff. That'd be cool, not weird... right? I mean adults can have parties any time they feel like it, why not kids?

Because we're thinking of this, we're also letting DS have a birthday party this year. (they usually have one every OTHER year) For him we're stumped. Whaddya do with a 14yo? I suggested inviting 14 kids to a picnicky dodgeball type "thing" at a nearby park & then having his two bestest buddies spend the night. Can anyone with older kiddies think of anything else we could do that wouldn't be completely uncool?
love,
mom

 

I definitely think that a "just because" party is a cool thing for kids! Why save the parties for only birthdays or holidays? I bet the kids wouldl love it, gives them something really fun to look forward to and plan, keeps them occupied and happy!

Hmmm, not sure what to suggest for a 14 year old's b-day. Don't have one that old yet. My oldest is turning 10 in December. But I think the picnic-dodgeball thing would be pretty fun. Or maybe a camp-out type deal, have a fire, serve up camp-style food.

 

I reserve the parties for birthdays and holidays simply because I/we go to so many birthday and holiday parties for kids as it is, I really don't want to add any more to the agenda. Seems as if I have a party every weekend as it is.

 

My kids and I would LOVE to be invited to a "just because" party!! Sounds like so much fun and teaches kids that you don't need a birthday or holiday to celebrate and have fun!

 

That would be awesome. Kids in public school have parties for everything, every birthday, every little holiday, etc. So why not during the Summer too, just because it's Summer?? I'm glad my son was born in May (we weren't thinking of the due date when we conceived!) because outside parties with kids are so much more fun.
As for the 14 year old, why don't you ask him? My parents always asked me what I wanted for my birthday parties - what kind of food, dessert/s, etc. For a theme or whatever, it just depends on what he's into. If he's athletic a party in a park would definitely be a good thing.

 

Aww, thanks!

I've talked to a few of the moms, and they say their girls don't go to that many parties and would LOVE the idea... so we're going for it. I just picked up a MOUNTAIN of pink & white tulle from Craigslist and we're ready to start with the fun planning. Here's what we'll be doing for my daughter: I know these girls, and if I let them loose in this they're gonna come up with their own fun most of the night so I'm just decorating & leaving the rest to their imaginations.

Enchanted Evening Party - to start at 8-ish pm and run until 10-ish am. (7 guests plus my princess)

* String lights in our flowering crabapple (use our Christmas lights or candle-jars)
* Drape the front garden-bed in tulle & twinkle lights
* Make an enchanted pool to go under the flowering crab

(it's a kiddie pool covered with a tarp, and homemade cattails & foam lily-pads)
* Set a long table & chairs up under a tulle-tent with underwater roses & a white tablecloth

(It's not the best photo, but you get the idea. We're gonna use the tulle I picked up, and our camping-tent frame & Christmas lights to go around a FREE dining room table we're picking up this evening... and donating to the church freestore when we're done with it.)

* Use Tulle & twinkle-lights on the marriage wall inside
* Have a nice yummy-scented essential oil in the oil-lamp
* have soft music playing in the background

* Watch The Secret Garden at bedtime
* Make flower hair-wreaths OR butterfly mobiles just after breakfast

Evening snacks:
multigrain crackers
mixed cheese plate
veggie plate with a light dip (dill? veggie/herb?)
fresh fruit salad
oatmeal cookies
chocolate crinkle cookies
lemonade & iced chai

Breakfast snacks:
herb omelette
mini-scones
fresh fruit
apple cherry juice

My son has politely asked if he can sleep at Grandmom's house for the night... I don't blame him. He's still not sure what he wants to do for his own party - but he liked the idea of hanging out at the park, so I think we'll do SOMETHING outdoors.

Any other ideas? We love planning parties, and are always looking for the next fun idea!
love,
mom

 

Those are always the best. Like, a slumber party? Slumber parties are fun.

My birthday is in February. When I actually had a birthday party with friends over (about every other year, maybe every 2....because we were pretty poor) my sister and I chose the theme between the two of us, because her birthday is one week before mine. Once we had an Ice Princess party....we all had little crowns and tutus, mom got them at the Dollar Tree. We had it at the skating rink (my dads friend owned it) and we 'ice skated' there for a few hours. We had pizza, of course....a party staple....and sparkling pink princess punch.

I like the Enchanted party idea! It sounds like it'd turn out pretty. I don't think it'd be weird for a kid to just have a party.

When is your sons birthday?
My brother....who just turned 12....had a rockstar birthday. My dad bought some of those blow up electric guitars and some hair paint spray and sunglasses for each friend, I think there were 5 of them. Dad made each of them a mohawk and let them choose how to paint it, then he did it....to keep the mess to a minimum. Of course, they put on a show and 'played' music. Then, my little brother cracked out his Guitar Hero video game and they played with that for about an hour. Then, they wanted to go to WalMart to show off their new look. Lol. It wasn't much....compared to what a lot of kids get, but they had a blast. Maybe it's uncool at 14, though....??

 

When my children were teens I always asked what they wanted to do. I have had some bizarre requests, go to the zoo, video night in, tickets for the football, camping in the back garden etc. All without parents though! It's that kind of age when a little bit of trust is the order of the day! Not for the faint hearted.

 

My aunt gives my cousin "just because" parties all the time. The only weird thing is people kept on asking what the occasion is. I absolutely love your "Enchanted Evening" party theme. You could also have mismatched tablewares with whimsical design to complete the theme.

 

Does your son like to play video games? You could bring his favorite game to life in your outdoor party! Have a real-life game based on the video game itself (nothing too dangerous, of course!).