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AIBU?

AIBU to dread dd's party! (Ideas please!)

57 replies

Italiangreyhound · 10/10/2016 02:25

My dd is not far off becoming a teenager and another mile stone will be reached this year (12); plus for the first time would like a few boys at her birthday party.

All well and good and I was all up for a bowling party, or swim party or some sort of cinema thing.

But she wants the party at home, doesn't want karakoe and I am now wracking my brains about what the group will do!

I am not trying to be sexist but if it were all girls we could have a pamper evening or craft or jewellery making. I am well aware somewhere not too far away there may be boys who would love all of this but it is unlikely to be dd's male friends!

I've really tried to push her on the cinema thing but she is adamant she does not want it.

Looked up paint balling and Lazar today but it is very expensive. Especially for the number she wants. She is quite shy so i really had hoped her party would be a chance to meet old friends and a few new ones. But as she wants it in our reasonably modest/average home that is going to limit it.

We are looking at about 12 12-year olds!

If it was summer I might go for this in the garden www.groupon.com/deals/the-hawaii-party-rentals-honolulu (no we are not in Hawaii and autumn is cold, so the garden is out!)

Last year it was a sleep over for half that number and it totally exhausted me.

Any ideas, please? I don't feel I am being unreasonable to feel daunted by this task and really it is the first birthday I've really felt such trepidation about!

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Italiangreyhound · 10/10/2016 02:26

Thanks in advance. Thanks

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NightCzar · 10/10/2016 02:30

What has she suggested they do at home?

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NightCzar · 10/10/2016 02:33

Bottle flipping championship?!

Can you rig up a sheet or a big screen, hire a projector and do a movie night?

Sorry I don't have kids that age but thought I'd move the thread along :)

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Italiangreyhound · 10/10/2016 02:37

What has she suggested they do at home? Listen to music and dance about but our living room will not fit 12 children moving about a lot easily.

She mentioned craft or drawing.

She mentioned the garden. But it is autumn and we have a trampoline and I cannot police the trampoline for hours on end. It would be exhausting.

I could do a movie night at home but I think she is expecting more. (She is spoilt blighter, but i do adore her!) Wink

Must go to bed will check in tomorrow.

Thank you in advance.

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Discopanda · 10/10/2016 02:50

Do you have a local Jamberry rep to do a party? Could do a girly thing and everyone can have their nails done without anything as permanent as acrylics.

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Skweeki · 10/10/2016 02:58

Pizza and a movie sounds ideal to me! Or could you make it a sort of "piss take of kids party" thing? Pass the parcel with a grown up prize, pin the pants on the butt, etc, etc...

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Skweeki · 10/10/2016 02:59

Oh and...YABU to be up at this time worrying about this. Just saying. Grin

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PomBearWithAnOFRS · 10/10/2016 03:32

Bonfire and/or barbecue maybe? Get a gazebo or cook indoors and finish off on the barbecue if it's raining.
Let them do a torch or candlelight scavenger or treasure hunt, and tell ghost stories.

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Aebj · 10/10/2016 03:41

I have a 12 year old boy soon to be 13 . They are just happy to sit around talking, playing on Xbox , playing outside on scooters, throwing hoops in basket ball. We provided pizza , some fruit and cake .dont plan to much. They are just happy to hang out together

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user1471506482 · 10/10/2016 03:41

Trampoline park?

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Optimist3 · 10/10/2016 03:45

Bake off party. A friend of a friends child did this recently. Walked to supermarket. They were given time to go and buy food and then made food at home.

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Optimist3 · 10/10/2016 03:46

After kids choose recipes first.

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astronomical · 10/10/2016 04:28

Sorry I know this doesn't answer the q but how is 12 a milestone? Confused

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NightCzar · 10/10/2016 04:37

I like the Autumn garden idea. Could you hire a couple of gas heaters and have an outdoor disco. Or toast marshmallows and chat around a bonfire or a fire pit.

Or if she just wants to sit and dance indoors then move the furniture out and do that. Get pizza and perhaps a show stopping cake (if you want to make one part of it looking as though you've made an effort)

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Bulbasaur · 10/10/2016 05:30

Pizza night! Get the dough from the bakery, then have the kids decorate however they want with cheese and toppings.

Honestly, at this age, they're old enough to be left alone to their own devices. I wouldn't worry about actually entertaining them beyond providing the junk food and speaker set up so they can listen to music or pop in a movie.

Then just do your own thing in a different room and passively listen for the sounds of any of them dying. Wink

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KC225 · 10/10/2016 06:20

Dust down all the old games like operation, buckeroo, kerplunk, ludo. Games night, someone will lends them to you if you don't have them. Get some cinema/topshop vouchers for the winner /winning team. Order some pizzas.

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astronomical · 10/10/2016 06:42

some of these ideas making me wish i was 12 again...

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LellyMcKelly · 10/10/2016 07:00

Pizza, DVD, popcorn, and get out of the way! They don't really need entertaining much at that age.

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DonaldStott · 10/10/2016 07:25

Well I am currently looking for my dds bday and you can hire a mobile van where the kids can get on board and play minecraft, racing games etc. Its abt 170 quid for an hr and all managed by the games people. So food and that should suffice.

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Italiangreyhound · 10/10/2016 16:35

Skweeki I am sure pin the pants on the butt would go down a storm!

Yes, I am sure I am being unreasonable! Between my two kids I've done 14 parties but I must admit that last year's sleepover was knackering!

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Italiangreyhound · 10/10/2016 16:48

Aebi re "dont plan to much. They are just happy to hang out together" trouble is I am a bit of a control freak at times!

Optimist3 Re "Bake off party. A friend of a friends child did this recently. Walked to supermarket. They were given time to go and buy food and then made food at home." I love this idea but DD doesn't watch Bake off. She does like Master Chef though.

astronomical re "I know this doesn't answer the q but how is 12 a milestone?" First party since going to high school.

NightCzar Mon 10-Oct-16 04:37:58
I like the Autumn garden idea. Could you hire a couple of gas heaters and have an outdoor disco. Or toast marshmallows and chat around a bonfire or a fire pit.

NightCruz Re "Or if she just wants to sit and dance indoors then move the furniture out and do that. Get pizza and perhaps a show stopping cake (if you want to make one part of it looking as though you've made an effort)" I love these ideas, thank you.

Baulbaser re "Then just do your own thing in a different room and passively listen for the sounds of any of them dying." Scary thought but so far it's been OK.

Thanks so much, keep the ideas coming, please! I am grateful.

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SatansLittleHelper2 · 10/10/2016 16:57

Have you got a local, indi cinema thing ??

I recently found out we had one, the whole thing can be hired for £120 (( seats 60 )) all we have to.do is.provide our own dvd and any snacks, drinks etc.

I didnt even know this place existed until a few weeks back (( got invited to a showing of night of the living dead by a friend, £2 a ticket !!!! )) And my town is tiny

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TeenAndTween · 10/10/2016 17:08

Pizza and Wii games / sing along stuff?
(Or tell her it's just not happening at home)
How will you entertain DS and keep him out of the way? That was always our problem for DD1 home parties.

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Toocold · 10/10/2016 17:11

We always have mixed parties, just the way their friends have worked out, my dd is 11 and loves a good nerf battle, they could bring their own guns and you supply the bullets and a few extra guns and make a fort of some kind? My dd would be horrified by a pamper party...my ds would love it 😀

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Italiangreyhound · 10/10/2016 17:59

DD doesn't want cinema or Karaoke, she is making it hard for me!

I am not sure what to do with ds, probably round to a friend's for tea. He will be upset to miss out but cute as he is a bunch of 12 year olds do not want a 6 year old tagging along!

Toocold we had mixed parties until dd was about 8 and then 9, 10 and 11 have been all girls. DS (6) has always had mixed parties.

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