Throwing a kids birthday party is always pretty stressful, there's loads to get right and lots of opinionated little people to please! But while you might look forward to them getting older and the jelly and ice cream parties becoming a thing of the past, it can actually get a lot harder when they become teenagers.  Teenagers are even more difficult to please. They still want attention, and they want to be made to feel special on their birthdays, but they don’t want anything babyish or embarrassing. You might still want to do something special to celebrate their big day, but it is going to take a little more thought. Here are some ideas to help.

Have a Sleepover

Teenagers love a good sleepover. They can stay up all night with their friends playing games and watching movies without adult supervision. It makes them feel grown-up and cool. Leave them some snacks and drinks, and give them a little space and freedom to enjoy themselves. If their bedroom is small, you might want to give them the lounge, taking mattresses or air beds down for them to sleep on.

Hire a DJ

A significant difference between a kids party and a teens party is the music. Kids are happy with cheesy classics and baby shark and friends. They’ll dance and laugh along with anything as long as it’s upbeat and fun. Older children and teens can be embarrassed by anything that's not trendy. Let them help you to look at dj hire and build a playlist, so there’s nothing to embarrass them.

Find the Right Food

The chicken nuggets and chips days are long behind you. Your teen might still have basic tastes, but they won’t want baby food at their party. Ask them if they’d prefer a buffet, or a sit-down meal and let them have a say in the menu choices. They might still want pizza, but it should be a more grown-up type with toppings and dips. 

Leave them to It

Your teen might not want a party at all. They might prefer to do something with a group of friends without supervision. They might prefer to go for a sit-down meal at a restaurant with friends, or to the cinema. More active teens might like to dry climbing, high altitude assault courses, or something similar. Look online for ideas, but give them some freedom. Drop them off, and pick them up if they need you to, and speak to other parents about doing the same, but don’t spend the whole day with them. Let them have some time with their friends on their own. Show them that you trust them and that you are happy with them growing up.