To ask you to help plan some party games for my 13 year old to be…

[Runnerupthehill]

So… it’s my daughter’s birthday in two weeks. I’m having it in the shed (nicer than it sounds!) Having about 20 people (all girls).

Got karaoke and a few other tricks up my sleeve but I want to get them involved in some team games. This is where you lovely lot come in!! Any ideas for team or any kind of party games that teens will like that won’t be too ‘cringe’ please?

Doing it myself so the cheaper the better!

With 20 kids I think they might need some sort of entertainment
if it was just 5 or 6 kids I’d say sure leave them at it

do you have a switch or anything they could play on a projector screen?
how long is the party - if it’s only two hours the karaoke might be enough, if it’s more like 5 hours you might need more

You absolutely cannot plan party games for 13 year olds. Your dd will die of embarrassment.

I think it would be ok to have some activities around they can engage in if they get bored. Something like mario karts or mario party can be a laugh if you have a console that can be rigged up. Suitable age craft stuff - resin jewellery, candle making maybe? Pamper stuff, maybe tattoo pens? I've done some bushcraft-type stuff before, but this only works if they are a sensible and outdoorsy group.

20 is a lot for an unstructured party. Can you ask your dad what sorts of things have been a success at other parties?

Does your DD want games?
20 seems a tricky number to do anything structured with. I think that the mocktails/sundaes/photo booth ideas are good though

None, you do nothing and stay out of the way, don’t go arranging games and forced fun. Lay the food out, make sure there’s plenty of drink, plug the karaoke machine in and then leave them to it.

Not sure on games at that age but that's a big number to leave loosey goosey. I'd use some of the ideas listed above in addition to karaoke & maybe leave out a console or couple of games they could play in teams if they wanted?

At 13, provide food and drinks, make sure the karaoke machine is set up, set up a photobooth of sorts and leave them to it. I know 13 yos act much younger than they did 30 years ago but I would definitely have not wanted my mum there. Probably check in now and then to ensure they're not bored.

You sound lovely OP and a great mum. I know you mean well, but I would leave them to it. And I say that as the mother of a 13 year old girl!
Just lay out plenty of food, drinks, movies if possible, and games/games ideas - they can play them if they want to.

Loving all the replies! Thank you so much everybody. I get what most of you are saying about leaving them be and no games but I was worried about the number. Perhaps the best thing to do would be to have ‘stations’ etc with pamper stuff/karaoke etc and for me to pop in sporadically with a few tricks up my sleeve in case they start to get a bit bored.

My daughter had a 'Magic 8 Ball' type thing, about a tenner from Argos. You ask a Q n roll it and it gives you an answer like 'I think so'....or 'definitely not'....most of their Q revolved around who was going to marry Justin Bieber or who fancied Mr R the headmaster....they shrieked for hours! I bet you could do something similar with Alexa with a list of daft questions.
Others are right though...don't try and be cool. Her friends might love you but she won't. Give them space, food and cushions.

I would be doing activities rather than games. Jewellery making kits. Cupcake decorating. T shirt printing. Tie dying. That sort of thing.

We had a cardboard cut out as a sort of funny photo booth and that went down very well.

As others have said, chocolate fountain or mock tail bar.

Cheese fondue is lots of fun, but better made from a recipe than a packet. Offer bread and veggies to dip. Fondue pots can be found easily at secondhand shops. A sundae bar is great as well.

Sounds perfect

No party games.

Do mocktails, selfie station and pamper stations instead. 13 year old girls think they are 16 year old girls and want to pretend they're grown up.

Arrange snacks, music and fun 'stations' instead or hire a nail tech to come in and do basic gels for the girls if funds allow.

I split the girls into two teams and had a trivia competition, like they do in pubs. they LOVED it. You can Google trivia questions for teens. Or just think of them yourself.