Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Keep it simple
• Part 2 of 2: Doing something big
• Tips
• Warnings

You will officially become a teenager! This is a one-time event, so it's time for a great party. What are you going to do to make it a monumental experience? Let's start brainstorming!

To step

Part 1 of 2: Keep it simple

1. Gather a group of friends. After all: the more souls, the more joy. It doesn't matter if it's two or 12 people - having a few friends with it makes everything more fun. Try to make it a number big enough for group activities, but small enough to be manageable yet fun.
   • If you're not sure how many to invite, plan the evening and pick a number. Sometimes it will determine itself - how many people you can put in the car, an even number for teams, or the number of seats you have in your basement.
2. Have a food feast. Eat out at your favorite restaurant, stay in and order pizza, or ask your parents to cook for you, or cook yourself! In any case, make sure your hungry friends have enough to eat and that you can have fun without worrying about school or problems. Good food can be a great start to a great party.
   • It's a great idea to keep your friends busy - anyone can build their own personal pizza with crazy toppings, decorate a cake, or build their own sandwiches or sundaes. Or ask your mom and dad if they want to take care of it! Once everyone has eaten well, the rest of the party can begin.
3. Relax and watch a movie at the cinema or at your home. Comedies are great to watch with friends! Ask if everyone wants to stay after that, and stay up as late as possible. Who can make it to the sunrise? Sure, there is always the sleepless Friday, but it could be any day of the week. Movie marathon, maybe?
   • If you stay up late, make sure you have enough sugar to keep you awake, lights to keep you awake, and things to keep you from getting bored and drowsy. You'll have a tin pyramid big enough for Facebook in no time. Is a Coke Fort an idea?
4. Do makeovers with your friends. If it's girls (or guys wearing makeup ...), of course! Invite some friends into your house, let them bring their make-up and get to work beautifying each other. Who cares if you look crazy? You will still have fun giggling at the pictures! While you make up each other, have a good time talking about school, other friends, boys, movies, music, celebrities, etc. - whatever you want!
   • You could also make this super ridiculous. Bright blue eyeshadow, red lips - the kind of thing you see in those horrible glamor photos. Then hold a kind of fashion show and take photos, pretending you are haute couture models. Do each others makeup with crazy colors, glitter and colors.
5. Do some shopping. Save money in the weeks before the party (and ask your friends to do the same) and then go shopping. Have fun trying on new outfits, even if you can't afford them! Otherwise, just walk into shops that you never would walk in and adjust things you would never to wear. But don't let the seller know!
   • If you don't want to go to a clothing store, what kind of store would you love? It's your day! Do you think bookstores are the end? Would you like to spend hours trying on jewelry? Painting pottery? Outlet stores? Secondhand shopping?
6. Go for a swim. You probably live pretty close to a pool or beach - provided it's not winter, of course. If it can be done, make it a whole day. Have each friend bring some snacks, their towel and spend the day playing pool games and bathing in the sun. When everyone is tired from swimming, you can play backyard or beach games and have a barbecue or bonfire.
   • Make sure your friends agree! Some people don't like it, can't swim, or feel uncomfortable in swimsuits. Before you celebrate your birthday, talk to your friends first.
7. Hang out, sing karaoke and play video games. You can create your own karaoke place in your basement! Buy or rent a karaoke machine (or find a friend who has one) and pretend you're a pop star. When everyone's vocal cords are tired, start playing competitive games.
   • Make sure your parents agree to let you take over some of the house! Let them know what your plans are so they don't have to worry and, more importantly, don't walk in every five minutes to see what's going on.
8. Play some new party games. They're not just for little kids - games can get any party going, break the ice and make everyone laugh. But you probably don't want to play those old games you've been playing for years. Here are some new ideas!
   • Have a scavenger hunt. Have your parents (or someone else) hide things in or around the house. Two teams could look for different clues and it could be a race to see who understood the last clue first.
   • Keep one photo-scavenger hunt. Two teams each have a camera and take five or six photos in a given time. They then exchange cameras and the other team must simulate the photos in exactly the same position in exactly the same place. If you can travel in the city, find a place they might not recognize!
   • Play a balloon game. Write challenges on pieces of paper, put them in balloons and blow them up. Then your guests have to choose from balloons and pop them one by one, to take on the challenge found. But don't be too mean - make the challenges doable and just one bit nerve-racking!
9. Go to the park. Invite 5-12 friends and all head to the park for a day out. Bring a large picnic basket, nail polish, towels to lie on and lots of sunglasses. Also bring a few footballs or other balls to play some games.
   • If there's an outdoor pool nearby, you can do the same there - lounge on the grass by the pool and take a dip when you get hot.
   • Eat cake for dessert at home after dinner, and ask a few of your friends to stay.
10. Don't forget the cake! Because whether you are 3, 13 or 103 years old, cake is part of every good birthday. After you've done all the activities (you don't want everyone to have their fill of laser tagging), whip out the cake and ring in your New Year. Cakes and cupcakes are so in, you probably get one in there each taste you can imagine.
    • If you are having a party, you may also want to arrange a few other things for your guests. Drinks (water, soft drinks), cake (possibly different flavors or an alternative for those who don't like it or are allergic), and snacks will keep your guests from going to the nearest pastry shop.

Part 2 of 2: Doing something big

1. Go bowling. Split the party into two groups and see who is going to win the game - what should the winners get? Anyone can bowl - and those who aren't good at it can usually enjoy laughing at themselves. Check for arrangements for groups later in the evening on the weekend of your birthday. Sometimes that is a lot cheaper!
   • Bowling alleys usually also have billiard tables, dart boards and video games! Not to mention the tasty greasy bowling alley food. So if you are tired of repeatedly throwing a ball to 10 pawns, there will probably be more to do.
2. Go laser tag. Like bowling, it is something everyone can do. And who doesn't like to shoot people? If you have enough people for teams (and an even number), why not? Your birthday is sure to get everyone's blood flowing.
   • Being active is always good - especially when it's a little out of the ordinary. Try a skateboard park, Frisbee golf, volleyball, hiking or boating. Do something you don't normally do!
3. Let yourself be pampered. Either save money for a professional treatment in the weeks before your party, ask your parents to give it as a birthday present, or use your own beauty products and make up at home! There are plenty of treatments to choose from and you will feel great afterwards!
   • Even if you can't afford a trip to a spa, don't let that stop you! You and your friends can give each other manicures or pedicures, do facials (grab the cucumber slices!) Or massage! You can be first of course.
4. Go camping. Just camping in your backyard works best at a party, in case someone wants to go in at night. You can sit around the fire, play games, eat and drink, tell stories, play guitar and enjoy the night sky, flickering flames and good company. Don't forget the marshmallows!
   • One thing that can really ruin a good bonfire is running out of wood and tinder. Make sure you have enough matches or lighters, newspapers and wood to burn to get you through the night. And plenty of hot dogs, cookies, chips and soda!
5. Go to an amusement park. Sometimes staying at home, going to the movies, or the cinema just isn't special enough. Then go to an amusement park, for example! Just make sure all your friends are off all day, have some pocket money for food, and love roller coasters!
   • If the nearest amusement park is quite far away, ask your parents if you and the friends you've invited can stay at a nearby hotel and make it a weekend. You can pack sandwiches and an overnight bag and get all the free coffee and shampoo you want! That's another birthday.
6. Do something completely different. Instead of the standard cinema or restaurant, you do something you hardly ever do. Go horseback riding (as long as you and your friends can ride a horse!). Go to a comedy show or theater. Paint mugs. Go to the aquarium. Dress in school ball clothes. Why would you do what you already do every weekend?
   • Everything normal can be made different with just a few adjustments. Go to your favorite restaurant, but dress as if you were going to the clubs. Head to the theme park with a list of 100 different things to do and indulge yourself. Turn making dinner into a cooking show. Whatever you can come up with!
7. Have a theme party. A short trip to Pinterest yields a thousand and one ideas. You don't have to throw a typical "white trash bash" or "90s" party. Decades have passed and it is time to get creative. Have a "glow party". Second-hand clothing ball. Sandwich party. What have your friends never done before?
   • Talk to your parents about dos and don'ts. For example, a party that costs a lot of money can become difficult. So come up with a list of ideas and find out what you think is doable and fun.
8. Go to a sports game. Whether it's spring, summer, winter, or fall, there is probably something on the agenda for you and your friends to cheer, eat popcorn, and indulge. Is there a league for baseball, hockey, football, rugby or basketball in your area? Local competitions are generally cheaper and the competitions can be a lot of fun and energy.
   • Make it extra fun by bringing soda, snacks, blankets and chairs. It's like a picnic with entertainment! Bring some travel games too, in case a match has long breaks and you and your friends need to kill time.
9. Go to a concert or show. If you're partying on the weekend, there's probably something around that could be fun - even if you're not sure! Try a band you've never seen or a show you've never heard of. Find out what's going on in your area and buy tickets as soon as possible. Make it an evening!
   • Some concerts come too late or are too expensive. Make sure to discuss everything with your friends before making any plans. They may be thinking of pizzas and video games while you have all kinds of crazy ideas planned. But maybe you can change their mind too!

Tips

• When throwing a party, make sure your guests are well supplied. That means there is plenty of food and you have to make sure they are comfortable and having fun.
• Make sure food is available for those with dietary restrictions such as allergies or veganism.
• Make sure you do something that suits everyone. Also, make sure you treat everyone the same and don't exclude anyone.
• Don't do something just because it's what everyone else does or if you feel pressured to do it. It's your party, so make sure you do what you want.

Warnings

• Make sure no one is allergic to the food you have chosen!
• Make sure that none of your guests upset or shut out in any form. You don't want to ruin a friendship with this!
• Stay away from any kind of drugs or alcohol.