Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash
{This is a collaborative post}
Planning the perfect party can be a headache for any parent. Kids can be
changeable at the best of times, and what they loved last month might not be
what they like today. If you want to deliver the kind of amazing experience
that your kid deserves, you might need a bit of help.
Planning a party for a preteen can be even more challenging because it’s often difficult for parents and guardians to find the balance between delivering the grown-up teenage experience that kids crave, and still catering to their younger tendencies. So, how do you make sure you impress your pre-teen with your party planning? These tips will help.
1. Get the Right Gift
The great thing about pre-teens is that even if you mess up the entire
party experience, they’re likely to forgive you as long as you get them the
right present. The problem with this is that it can be notoriously tricky to
figure out what your kids are going to enjoy. To avoid any mistakes, make
sure that you keep an eye on your child for gift clues, for a couple of weeks leading up to
the big day. You can also check out gift ideas sites like
UKGifts.co.uk for inspiration
relevant to their interests.
Ask for hints on the kind of presents that your child would like – most of
the time, they won’t mind helping you out. You can also do some hunting
online for some of the most popular items in the industry right now.
Preteens generally like to keep up with what’s trending.
2. Pick the Perfect Food
Another thing that can save just about any preteen party is the right food.
Now probably isn’t the time for you to go all-in on your healthy eating
strategy and try to get your kids to eat as many veggies as possible. Unless
your child is one of the very few that actually likes eating healthy foods,
ditch anything green and nutritious and replace it with the items you know
your kids love.
Crisps, biscuits, candies, and home-made cakes always go down a treat. It might also be worth mixing up some mocktails for your kids too, to make them feel more grown-up. Placing fancy drinks into cocktail glasses can really class up a party.
3. Get the Music Right
Another thing you need to really work on when you’re planning a pre-teen
party, is the music. No party is much fun without the right soundtrack.
Unfortunately, there’s a good chance that your kid isn’t going to enjoy the
kind of tunes you have on your Spotify playlist. With that in mind, borrow
your kid’s iPod for the big day, or ask them to give you a list of their
favourite songs right now.
If necessary, you can always reach out to your kid’s friends and their parents for some extra help getting the track list right. Parents that work together often have an easier time planning a great party than those who work alone.
4. Pick a Theme
Themes make parties a lot easier to plan for. What’s your pre-teen most
interested in right now? Is there a game that they love playing with their
friends? Then focus the party around that. Maybe you can have a game-themed
cake, decorations, and activities that are all centred around that main
idea. It should be easy enough to find the right theme.
All you need to do is talk to your kids about the things that are most
interesting to them right now or check out the items that they spend all of
their pocket money on. A lot of kids have a particular interest that seems
to take up most of their attention in the pre-teen years. Choosing a theme
based on what you know your child likes will boost your chances of a successful party significantly.
5. Pick the Right Activity
Finally, remember to think about what your kid might like to do on their
big day. Sure, eating cake and listening to music is fun, but would your
child also appreciate a trip to a local ice rink with friends, or a chance
to watch the latest movie at the cinema?
Most children at this age are pretty vocal about what they want, so you should be able to get a pretty good idea of what appeals to your child. Sometimes, it will be a simple trip to a bowling alley or a park. Other times, your kids might want something a bit more unique, like an opportunity to learn a new skill for a day. Whichever it is, as long as they have a great time and you can afford it, you're on a winner!
Happy planning!