Tricky situation so asking for ideas for a birthday celebration for an 11 year old girl please?

[Rainbowsandrascals]

My dd is soon to be 11 years old. She has recently been diagnosed with autism (her friends are not aware of this). Over this last year, my daughter has had some friendship issues and is not getting invited to as many birthday parties now.

In previous years my dd has had parties and we’ve invited 10-15 girls and they’ve all come and had a good time. We’ve done things like a cinema party, bowling and a pamper party which I book and pay a deposit for. I’m reluctant to put on a similar party this year as I fear some of the girls might choose not to come which I think would bother my dd.

Can anyone suggest any ideas for a celebration for just 3-4 close friends that will feel like a special treat and will possibly distract dd from asking for a party for 15 of her “friends?”

what about a girls day out? go into town, have their nails done, then go and have some pizza and they could sleep over?

I've seen businesses advertising sleepovers where they come to your house and set up cute sleeping areas with lights and teepees. I think that would be lovely!

Just to say that IME parties by that age tend to be much smaller anyway, and invites are fewer. Try not to take it personally for you DD.

I‘m going to book a hotel with an inside swimming pool for my daughter’s sleepover birthday party. You can get interconnecting rooms - but you could only invite a few close friends

Good suggestions- thanks. I like the hotel idea and so will dd, she loves staying an odd night in a hotel 😁

Has anyone done an escape room for a party? What’s the minimum number of people you can have please?

Not done an escape room as a party but have been to a couple of escape rooms.
Minimum number of people you can book for is two, usually a maximum of about 8, depending on where you go.
Although they can be great fun, I’m not sure I’d recommend it for an 11yo party. Some of the tasks can be quite tricky and require lots of concentration and team work which can be pretty intense as you’re on a time limit. People often come out arguing!

Some of the escape rooms do a junior version. Minimum varies. Think here it’s pay for five or six but can take fewer.

One thing I’ve got my eye on is a junior driving lesson. It’s not cheap, but probably works out about the same to take three or four as to take 15 to trampolining etc.

Pottery painting, horse riding, roller skating?

Anything + a sleepover (or just the sleepover + things at home).

The fact of it being a sleepover will "explain" why it has to be 3-4 close friends.

My dd had her 11th at a pottery painting place.

A lot of places do party packages (with minimum numbers) but you could easily just do a 'pay as you go' - trampoline park, bowling etc, then either eat at the venue or go to McDonalds or Burger King if there is one near.

DS is 11 early next year, and has autism. Last birthday we took a few to pizza hut, he wants a proper party this year but I am really struggling to get the minimum numbers required as he has such a small friendship group - my current plan is a joint party with his little sister - not great, but I am sure I can make sure they are kept separate as much as possible.

Agree with pottery painting. DD invited three friends to do this for her most recent birthday. We ordered pizza for them to eat there. We picked up the fired pieces a week later.

One or two friends to the theatre in London (expensive but totally avoids issues) or three of four friends to a local theatre/gig/event plus dinner.

Escape rooms often have a minimum age of 13.