Teen Birthday Party Ideas

I remember it like it was yesterday; on my daughter's first birthday, I called a few of my friends, they brought over their children and we had a birthday party. There were balloons, a cake, a donkey to be pinned, and some silly hats. Then, somewhere during the blur of time, birthday party themes crept in. Her birthday parties became more elaborate with large scale sets, a cast of characters, dozens of friends and "entertainment." What's next?

Well, to answer that question, I asked some of my students what birthday party themes would work for a teenager? If you have a teen in your household, then you know "the look" I received. It was a complex mix of "You've got to be kidding," "I might get sick," and "If I laugh, will I get in trouble?" Apparently, teen birthday party themes are more difficult than I imagined. In fact, teens don't have themes they have experiences.

I was informed that teenagers do not want a party with a theme, they want an event that is memorable - an escapade. I have compiled, with the help of experts, a list of teen birthday party themes - excuse me, I mean experiences. Good luck with these; hope this list will help. If you are reading this because you have a teen with a birthday coming up, you will need all the help you can get.

Experience #1 - Night out on the Town

Big Idea: This teen birthday party idea features the experience of traveling, via limousine, to a resturaunt of your teen's choosing. The teen gets to invite a small group of friends to join in on the adventure. The family meet's the limo party at the restaurant, and after dinner, the birthday group returns via limo back home.

Hints: Depending on the age of the teen, a parent might want to join in on the car ride. The birthday teen and his/her friends should be encouraged to dress-up as formal as comfortable for this event. This teen birthday party theme will make the teen feel like a rock star, but in a way that doesn't involve shaving his / her head or being arrested.

Cost: The local limo rental outlet I called would charge approximately $150 for the evening. You would also have to foot the bill for dinner.

Experience #2 - Sports Camp