Not quite a child and not quite a teenager, planning a party for a preteen girl sometimes poses a challenge.
Coming up with games to play at a pre-teen girl's birthday party can sometimes be a tricky task. Preteen girls are not yet teenagers, yet usually more mature than the typical elementary-school-aged student. Games played should be grown up enough to appeal to their more mature sensibilities, yet fun and silly at times, as these girls are still kids. Does this Spark an idea?
Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt will appeal to preteenage girls if you put items on their lists that they will genuinely want to find. In that case, instead of setting the party at home, set it in a shopping mall. Assemble girls into teams, give them some pocket money and varied lists with items they can find in the mall. For example, write down things like "cherry red nail polish" or "a hoodie that looks like a dress" or "the best milkshake in the world." Instruct girls to meet back at a designated point in the mall when they've finished finding everything on their lists. For safety, consider having an adult chaperon each group.
Murder Mystery
This game is suitable for preteens who enjoy being scared but also enjoy a challenge. Tell all the guests of the party that a murder was committed in the house last night and that a series of clues lie scattered around the house. Tell the guests that it is up to them to find out who the murderer is. Divide guests into teams. Give each team their first clue. This clue should lead them to a place in the house where they should find yet another clue. Each team should go about collecting clues in separate areas of the house until they can say for sure who the murderer is. Top the night off with a scary movie.
Invite Boys
Often preteen girls prefer to have more "grown-up" parties that include socializing with boys. This shouldn't be a problem as long as the party has plenty of chaperons. Connect an iPod or computer to speakers, hang a disco ball from the ceiling, clear out furniture in the living room, add some neon lights and put out healthy and unhealthy snacks like raw veggies and dip, pizza, sliced fruit, nachos, mini sandwiches and punch. The party should take care of itself, with the kids dancing, talking and eating until their parents pick them up. Provide alternatives to dancing such as board games, trivia games or scavenger hunts for those who get tired of dancing.
Tags: into teams, more mature, Tell guests, their lists