Looking for a Fun Activity for My Daughter's Twelve Birthday/guest List Issues

Hi S.,

My daughter will be 12 on April 30th, so your question caught my eye. This is such a tough age to please! I understand what you mean about friends she should and shouldn't invite! I think the less friends, the better!! A movie and dinner sounds great!!! I'm sure she will want to feel like she is alone with her friends so maybe you can see a different movie at the same time. And eat at a different table (out of her sight!!)
I'm not sure what my daughter will propose this year; hopefully it will be something we can both agree on!!! Let me know what you and your daughter decide!!!

Lasertag.....really fun...no mess....they can work out their frustrations and energy!!!!
Good for adults too, try it some time!!

my daughter had a scrapbook party each child brought about 12 pitchers .and use diffrent types of scrapbooking sissors.you can find the scrapbook at a $1 store. good luck J. k

My step daughters 12th birthday was last year. we went to an arcade and besides an organized game of lazer tag (a HUGE hit) and the pizza they were all off on their own little cliques and all. It was a great, and cheap, day!
This year she wanted to have a dance party and invite 50 people. That's too insane for me , but we compromised and are having 25 co-ed kids over. there will be simple pizza and popcorn outside and we will project a movie on the side of the garage.

Hi S.,
We've had just about every theme under the sun for our 14 year old daughter. Some of the most popular were the skating party, scavenger hunt at the mall and then sleepover at a hotel, and a paintball party. I'm not sure if this is an all girls party or a co-ed party. Paintball was our daughter's first co-ed party. Any of these themes may alleviate the clique issue. However, her guests should remember that the celebration is about your daughter and their friend; so they should therefore be able to put aside their petty differences for a day or not come. If you go the route of a scavenger hunt, pairing people who otherwise wouldn't speak may be a good way to break the ice and the tension. Good luck.

When I was a "tween", I had a party with all the girls in my class (it was a small class) so that no one was excluded or cool/uncool for being invited. We did "make-your-own-pizza" while listening to some Beatles (at the time they were a neutral band because I liked Alternative and other kids liked hip hop or metal) and then we all played in the snow by trying different sleds or throwing snow and stuff. In the end, everyone was so gross and wet that they all wore my dad's big shirts while we ate pizza and the pictures are so cute because no one is clearly "Cooler" (ie, more made-up). People have mentioned that party to me at reunions as being such a fun time. It was also just a few hours and my mom kind of poked in to change the activity when necessary. Tweens are still kids, after all. So, I'm remeniscing, but hope that this gives you ideas. Sometimes short and sweet is best at an age where cliques and gossip take over REALLY quickly!

Good luck!

hi S.

If the groups are different cliques invited - my advice do not have a sleep over! It allows to much time for things to
go wrong! I have a 13 and 17 year old. We have done movies
and out to eat, make up parties at a salon, rollerskating
rinks,and pool parties(at the YMCA if in winter.)
Just keep them busy!! Less time for gossip!!
I always let them choose who to invite and kept them busy!

P.