Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Flip

Original poster

13 year old boys birthday party!

18 replies

NicknameTaker · 21/03/2023 08:30

I have a little while yet, but I do want to get ahead and start planning as next year I have three big birthdays to plan.

My Dts are going to be 13 next year and have I said they would like a party, which is fine by me, however what do 13 year old boys do at parties? I don’t want it to turn into a sit down gaming session, but they’re all slightly too old for pass the parcel 😅
So what did you do for your Ds 13th birthday? Help!

OP posts:

Leeds2 · 21/03/2023 08:38

I don’t have a 13 year old boy but, if I did, I would probably take them paintballing followed by pizza.

Luckingfovely · 21/03/2023 08:55

Huge range of things in the same age group here but all activity based rather than at home - golf, climbing, laser quest, go karting, Go Ape, etc.

Or an organised activity at the house - a 'party gaming bus' or a CSI / Escape type thing.

mumonthehill · 21/03/2023 08:59

Definitely an activity with food afterwards. All suggestions above are great. Go karting a huge hit with us one year.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

13 year olds Events & celebrations

Marsyas · 21/03/2023 09:01

Mine is doing Ultimate Ninja. It’s like soft play for grown ups and teens.
Last year he did laser tag.

skgnome · 21/03/2023 09:06

Activity followed by food
my DD (12) has recently gone bowling, VR gaming, laser quest, climbing and escape room - all followed by food
seems to be the to go option for this age group

notthisagainforest · 21/03/2023 09:10

Ask them what they want ?

CoffeeChocolateWine · 21/03/2023 09:30

For my DS's 13th birthday, we took him and his friends to an indoor activity/entertainment centre where they could choose a few activities they wanted to do. They did go-karting, crazy golf and then gaming with lunch in the middle. It was a huge success and they all absolutely loved it.

For his 14th, a smaller group of them went to a golf games range and had great fun too.

Most parties he's been to recently for 13th/14th birthdays have been paint-balling, 4D cinema or theme park.

Original poster

NicknameTaker · 21/03/2023 10:21

notthisagainforest · 21/03/2023 09:10

Ask them what they want ?

They want a party, it says in the Op.

OP posts:

Hellocatshome · 21/03/2023 10:23

Go karting/paintball/laser tag/footgolf etc followed by food.

MrsSkylerWhite · 21/03/2023 10:24

Went to a track with one friend and they drove sports cars.

Original poster

NicknameTaker · 21/03/2023 10:29

I’m not sure if I made it very clear in my Op, but they would like to have a party.

I don’t mind doing it, but I’m not keen so will try and persuade them to do something else.

I just think they want the whole singing, dancing, cake cutting hurrah. But in reality I’ll likely have at least 20 teens standing in a corner not speaking and doing TikTok’s.

I’d happily pay for a day out paintballing etc and maybe do a family party for them.
They did want to also do a theme park, but their birthday is in the closed season so it would have to wait until summer.

OP posts:

CoffeeChocolateWine · 21/03/2023 11:32

Apologies OP, I just use 'party' a general term for a celebration of a person's birthday...didn't realise you actually meant a traditional party involving music and dancing and games.

Hellocatshome · 21/03/2023 12:12

CoffeeChocolateWine · 21/03/2023 11:32

Apologies OP, I just use 'party' a general term for a celebration of a person's birthday...didn't realise you actually meant a traditional party involving music and dancing and games.

Yes me too OP. We tend to say its a birthday party even if its just an activity and some food.

I would maybe enquire what they mean by a party. Some kids I have known at 13 would be expecting a working mens club, a DJ, very few adults and some sneaking in vodka in water bottles. Whereas other 13 hear olds are still ok with a church hall, a buffet and some games.

Having said that it tends to be girls around here who go with the DJ, dancing and illicit alcohol type parties the boys definitely go for more of the activity and some pizza type events.

Original poster

NicknameTaker · 21/03/2023 12:22

Hellocatshome · 21/03/2023 12:12

Yes me too OP. We tend to say its a birthday party even if its just an activity and some food.

Having said that it tends to be girls around here who go with the DJ, dancing and illicit alcohol type parties the boys definitely go for more of the activity and some pizza type events.

Show quote history

I class a party as a party and an activity would be a day out, but I see where the confusion lies.

I agree that it seems parties for that age group, would definitely be more aimed at girls or even more enjoyable as they are more likely to get involved.

My two are gamers and I’m actively trying to avoid a gaming activity as they play daily and if they were to have a party in a hall they would probably all end up outside playing football or hunched in a corner glued to a screen.

OP posts:

Daisypod · 21/03/2023 12:31

When my son was 13 (and 14 and 15!) we had nerf war parties in the garden, basically brought a load of bullets on Amazon, people brought their own guns or borrowed one of ds's and divided them up into teams and played different games with them. Also had music on and got to do cake etc. there were prizes for winners of the games and we also had a prize for who could collect the most bullets from the garden at the end which limited our need to clean up!
They loved it, hence doing the same the following 2 years!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 21/03/2023 12:51

Bowling and KFC (12)
Retro gaming centre and KFC (13)
Paint balling and KFC (14)

Talipesmum · 21/03/2023 12:57

My 12/14 yr old teens would call any activity organised for someone’s birthday “a party” - it doesn’t necessarily mean a pass the parcel do at home. I agree that’d be harder to engineer with that age group. Saying they want a party can mean they want to do something with friends for the occasion of their birthday.

Mine have had / been to: go karting, aqua ninja warrior thing, party gaming bus, laser quest, climbing wall, cinema and food, nerf / similar outdoor thing. Usually followed by pizza / party food and cake.

WashAsDelicates · 21/03/2023 16:25

Birthday parties my sons have enjoyed at that age:

GoApe.

Gravity Force. They thought it much better than Air Hop.

Indoor climbing walls. Preferred Clip and Climb, though still enjoyed serious ones with a coaching session.

Laser games at a softplay. Much more entertaining than at a dedicated laser venue because they loved playing on the softplay, (which they had all claimed to have outgrown ). Solo hire in the evening.

Ahh those were the days...

Flip