Suggestions for 10th birthday party at home.

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It’s dds birthday in a few weeks and she’s invited 10 friends over for a party. We’ve not had a party at home in years.
I’m a bit clueless to what to do for entertainment. Presumably we don’t just leave them to their own devices? What level of managing the party have you done when they get to 10? Which games and activities are popular? It’s only 2 hours but I guess this could fly by if all goes well and really drag if it’s not going to plan.
I absolutely hate running parties which is why I’ve avoided them for so long.

Is it over a mealtime? That always fills a bit of time!
What kind of stuff are they into? My DD’s 11 and went to a party where they did manicures, which isn’t really her type of thing but went down well with the majority.

I used to love traditional party games at that age - pass the parcel, pin the tale, a treasure hunt in the garden. Perhaps karaoke? Games with some nice food sounds like a good two-hour party to me.

Semi made crafts from Hobbycraft went down well with my DD and her friends.

Or cooking- making cakes and decorating them? Or biscuits.

Or a disco? Make a playlist etc.

How about some crafting? You can get nice sets from Hobbycraft, candle holders, figures etc that the kids can then take home. Or decorating cookies

Make your own pizzas, eat pizzas, watch a movie with ice creams

Have a murder mystery party. You can buy a pack online (that is age appropriate) and then ask attendees to be in character/dress up etc. At this age they do plays and stuff at school so will totally get it and it's so fun! You can set it over a meal time and integrate yourselves (as supervising adults into it too).

We had a party for my daughter at this age where they made and decorated cup cakes. While they were cooking and cooling a bit they had the birthday tea. We had a lady come and facilitate it who new how to make the cupcakes look like flowers but I guess you could go lower key and do it yourself.

I used to have stuff available for them to do then leave them to it. One game that used to go down well was I'd write dares on slips of paper, put each one in a balloon and blow them up. Then truth questions in a jar. So they could play truth or dare knowing all the qs/dares were 'safe' ie not bitchy or dangerous etc.

Karaoke, dance competition on the Wii, piñata, Who am I, pizzas (maybe they can make their own), pampering (nails, face masks, braids).

Mine liked mix of both craft and games they allove rhe mummy game where you compete too wrap the mummy up. Probably last year for party games?

Make pizzas. Decorate cupcakes or biscuits. Pottery painting kits.
I think they are a bit old for party games. My 9yr finds them babyish

Do you have a link for this? Sounds like a great idea!

I think I just bought a pack from Amazon,but this looks interesting: www.great-murder-mystery-games.com/kid-party-idea.html

T shirt painting, or jewellery making. With the t shirts and bracelets being the equivalent of a party bag.
Pizza making and then movie watching, with an ice cream sundae bar to make their own. Lots of different flavours, sauces, sprinkles, m&m s, chocolate buttons, cocktail umbrellas etc. Maybe some cocktails too?

Thank you for all the suggestions. Lots of really good ideas and it’s coming together in my head now.

Dd likes the idea of making dream catchers so I’ll look into that as a craft to start it all off.
she’s played the toilet paper game at a previous party and loved it which id forgotten about. Will play that! I’ve also started to come up with a list of silly challenges/games I can get them to do as a group as needed to break up free time. I like the idea of a ‘safe’ truth or dare using balloons too. I think her friends would be up for that.

Maybe check with your DD before you organise stuff too. You don't want her to be embarrassed by anything her uncool mum has organised 🤣 (not saying you are, but you know what kids are like!)

Oh yes - DD will get full vetoing powers!

Following!! Some great ideas that i will be using!