Sweet 16 - Party Game Ideas

At 16 it's all about "hanging out." Ask her what she wants to do. Movies, some games, food, a girly non-alcoholic special cocktail, whatever.

At 16, you should probably ask her what she wants to do. As far as games go, Cards Against Humanity is hilarious.

At this age, they don't do the games and such.

They like to hang out, chat, watch movies, have mani/pedis, etc.

Around here the newest "thing" to do is to is to have a few close friends and go to a favorite restaurant and most of the time they sleep over.

A lot of teens get their driver license on the 16th bday. Our daughter was more excited about her license and car than anything else.

For her 16th, we had a private room in one of her favorite restaurants. She and her guests went to the restaurant and then on to a favorite dessert place (we paid the bill in full) and then they slept over at our house. They had to manage transportation because in TX a new driver can only have 1 person their age in the car with them. It worked out and they had a great time.

She has done the same routine since 16... dinner at nice place with a few friends and in Dec. our daughter turns 20.

At age 13, we threw a big DJ party with the works and it was a hit because that age group was more interested in the dance contests, etc. It was a hit at that age.

What does your daughter want to do?

Maybe instead of a game (or in addition to a game you choose), you could provide a fun and interactive cooking event. Provide either pizza dough that has already been prepared and risen and is ready to roll out for individual pizzas with lots of topping choices (meat and vegetarian), or sugar cookie dough and lots of sprinkles and trimmings and frostings. Let the girls chat and decorate and eat. I have found that being in the kitchen makes for great fun and great talk and lots of laughs. Just make sure no one has serious allergies, or make sure no one needs a gluten free or dairy free option. Rolling out dough, grating cheese, slicing olives and tomatoes and other vegetables requires lots of time to chat and share, so don't have all the prep work done beforehand, just the harder work like the dough (and pizza dough can be made and kept in the fridge for 3 days - which actually makes it better!).

Or, you can provide cupcakes and let them all decorate one for the birthday girl and one for themselves. Or let them all decorate a huge plain sheet cake for her. Buy a huge plain frosted sheet cake with no decorations from a bakery (or make it yourself), and set out tons of frosting tubes and candles and flowers and sugar decorations (maybe centered around a theme; often a good cake decorating place or hobby shop will have decorations that teens will like), and let the best friends make an impromptu birthday cake! Take lots of pictures during the process.

My daughter recently turned 18...and in recent years, when we have had a 'spend over' (they seem not to sleep, so that is what we call them) they mostly watch movies, listen to music,eat and play with the 'cards' from trivial pursuit (they never seem to use the board). Did I mention they eat???

They have done 'mani/pedi' from time to time.

I generally leave them on their own. I pop into the kitchen from time to time (mostly to refill MY wine glass)...but I found from about 14 on...they really did not want planned activities.

Happy Sweet 16 to your daughter!

Wow! You're planning games? I would have been mortified!

No games. They are 16. Let them decide what they want to do.

They won't want to play games. My SD's 16th was a big party at a hall with a DJ. The kids just hung around, talked, danced and ate. At smaller house parties, they just did what they normally do hanging out in small groups...snacked, watched movies, talked, listened to music, etc. Other than peripheral parent supervision (to make sure no one is doing something stupid and that you're watching for alcohol and other things being snuck in) and providing food, the kids keep to themselves and the parents stay out of the way.

Trust that your daughter and her friends will know how to entertain themselves, make sure you have their favorite foods on hand and if your daughter wants something specific (maybe speakers set up in the basement or renting some specific DVDs, etc.) then accommodate what you can but beyond that, you don't have to plan anything.

I am unsure how conservative you are but Cards Against Humanity is a super fun, adult version of Apple to Apples and I feel 16 is probably old enough for them to enjoy it. It's typically about $15 and would make a good gift for her.

If you are against that idea I would say doing a home spa would be really cool. Get stuff for mani\pedis and maybe a how to massage book and let them go wild!

Sandy,

Most 16 year old girls don't really want to play games...

I would suggest:
* movies and popcorn
* Manicures and pedicures
* Make up...if you know a Mary Kay Consultant maybe she will come over and teach the girls how to apply make up? But NOT sell them anything!!
* cooking something - like pizza or find out what they all like to eat and have them help prepare it....

My oldest is 11, so we aren't there yet, but at my 16th (also my sister's 18th) we had a DJ and that was it. No games, nothing my parents were involved in. They basically hung around to ensure safety, but otherwise left us alone....it was great. I'd imagine that is what MOST 16 year olds want.

My daughter and her friends have played cards, Apples to Apples, Pictionary, charades and other games like that. Ask her what she'd like to do.

I was SO not into sleep over/ party games at this age. How about a movie and some popcorn? Or karaoke? Karaoke would be fun! Or a dance DVD? Like Dance, Dance Revolution or Just Dance (if you have an xbox, wii- not sure if they do just the DVDs).

Say Anything, Taboo, Uno, What's Yours Like, Logo Board Game, Bubble Talk, Jenga

Get one or two of these to gift to her before the party and give them a try as a family. She may actually choose to play it with her friends. My kids love these games and they are 18 and 20. They take these games out when their friends come over to hang out. They are simple and fun. My personal family favorites are Bubble Talk and Say Anything.

She should be able to entertain her friends.

Are you positive that she wants to play games and that she thinks her friends want to do this? I'm really surprised because so few 16 year olds want this sort of thing, and they don't want the parents that involved in the party or even in the room other than to say hello and bring in another pile of snacks. I think parents have to be vigilant and check for improper internet use (put in parental controls if you haven't already and keep an eye on their cell phone usage), alcohol (it only takes 1 kid to smuggle it in or dare the others to sneak into your liquor cabinet), and so on.

If your daughter and these friends absolutely would love this sort of thing, fine. But given teens' penchant for the internet and high tech things, it's highly unusual that they will be entertained by typical party games. Most 12 year olds don't want it, and most adults don't either. (I'm not anti-game - I love them, but not everyone does). I would imagine that more 16 year olds would want a movie and access to the microwave to make popcorn, plus the ability to stay up too late. Make absolutely sure that your daughter is on top of this situation and not setting herself up for push-back by friends who find a bunch of planned games to be "lame" and then leave her feeling crushed on her special day.

You may do better just renting some DVDs (even if they don't watch all, you can get 3 or 4 and they can choose), or even a little karaoke machine if not too expensive. But don't plan on being part of the audience. You can cook up some semi-healthy snacks or just let them eat junk for one night. And don't supervise a bedtime - they're 16 and can be exhausted for a day if that's how it works out.

I disagree with posters saying girls won't want games. I don't think they will want pin the tail on the donkey type games. But apples to apples, taboo, mad gab etc. are huge hits with that age. also things like fingernail polish, makeup stuff etc is fun. but they are old enough to do it alone. you won't want to be hanging in with them every minute. supply food and some games and leave them to hang out.

I would ask her what she and her friends would want to do. maybe they have a favorite activity that can be made into a game, like a trivia thing or similar. My girls will be 16 in March. They have asked about a party and I asked what they would want to do. Who wants to just sit around and only listen to music? They are thinking about it. I did suggest games at first but both said "ewwww, that's for kids". Teenagers.....:)

I am with Elena B and Sherry. Games will help when the hanging out gets boring. I like the idea of cooking their own food: pizza, spaghetti, hamburger helper. Making ice cream floats. Baking brownies.

Have Scary old movies like Carrie, Texas Chainsaw Murders, Candyman, etc.

Buy some nail colors so they can do their own nails, but remember to have plastic bags laid out.

I think it is great that you want it innocent but fun.