Help! Is this too babyish for a 9th birthday party?

[Thebigfriendlymoth]

It's my youngest DS, birthday party this weekend and I've been happily planning away. Today another mum made a throwaway comment (in a jokey way) about her DS thinking party games were "babyish" and now I'm having a wobble!

The party is at my house and is pirate themed (he loves a pirate anime his older brother watches but that is not necessarily child appropriate so it's a nod to that 😳)

So far I have a treasure chest Pinata, a treasure hunt with prizes, cannonball popping (black balloons with a treasure chest pic in one to win a prize), and a walk the plank game (played a bit like the floor is lava).

Would your 8/9 year olds enjoy this or are party games a bit too immature? - i feel like they are still little and will have fun but really second guessing myself now.

Also open to any more suggestions of things to do!

That sounds fine to me but probably the last year of that. My DD has been having sleepover parties since age 8 but the last one was very loud lol. She’s 12 next year and it will be an activity with a couple of friends

Mine is almost 9 and whilst I don't think he'd ask for a party like that himself, I think he'd really enjoy it if a friend had one! I think the balloon popping and whacking a pinata
would be a big hit with that age group

My 9 year old would love that.

Amazing. I know a couple of boys who would LOVE that. You sound amazing OP.

Is he involved in the planning, what does he think?

I think it's great for 8/9 although it's on the cusp and I agree with pp that this will be the last year for this type of party.

Have you not asked him? You say you've planned and you've got......what about ds planning?

I agree with the others that it's slightly on the cusp of being too young - they'll probably love it but I don't think you'd be able to get away with it next year.

Thank you all. Immediately feel better. I know the loud and destructive elements (Pinata and popping!) were right up my youngest street!

My DS is excited by everything but isn't the most mature so was a little worried i'd totally missed the mark - sounds like this year at least I'll get away with it!

My kid would love that as would his friends, I think there is a tendancy to make kids grow up quickly these days but 9 is still little and there will be plenty of time for more “grown up” parties with activities like laser tag or cinema etc later on!

Gosh, kids have to grow up so fast, don't they? And many don't really want to.

They'll love it, OP, even if it's not what they'd necessarily do themselves. Fwiw we had a couple of 12 year olds round a few weeks ago and they spent the whole afternoon playing with our Happyland collection and building a huge wooden railway. My toddler could hardly get a look in 😂.

In my DC's school, kids not going on school trips choose a classroom to hang out in sometimes, apparently, and they always seem to choose reception.

No I did a themed party for DD’s 9th with traditional party games and lots of prizes. They absolutely loved it

If you want to make the party a bit more "grown-up", then maybe put together some really subversive party bags that the kids will love and parents will hate?

I'm not hugely familiar with this age group but my neighbours possess a 9yo and they were messing about in our close the other day with fun snaps so that might be an idea. I also bought them a small birthday gift and gave a snack tub of Pringles and some American cereals (Lucky Charms etc) on the mum's advice.

But what do I know 😂? Maybe party bags are out/uncool for this age group.

I hosted a 9th birthday party last month and the piñata I bought to stretch out the “eating” time was easily as popular as the organised and quite expensive activity that formed the main part of the party!

I have a 9 year old girl and agree with the others, she’d probably not suggest a party like this herself (as is too influenced by her 13 year old brothers activities) but she’d love it if she went to one.

We do parties like this as a family and invite another family. Youngest kids are 9, oldest about 15. Everyone enjoys it, especially the adults! They kids will love it. Make sure you get some good prizes!

It sounds great, I think they'll all enjoy it!