You've got a preteen or teen birthday coming up! And those parties that focus on dolls, superheroes, or cartoon characters are sooooo yesterday!  So consider these preteen and teen party ideas specifically for kids 10 and up. Your son or daughter will think you’re amazing for coming up with such an awesome idea—at least for one day!

Best for...

Girls and boys aged 10 through 15.

Party Planning

For peace of mind, begin planning your teen birthday bash six to eight weeks in advance. This will allow you time to gather all the supplies that you need, including teen party decorations, gifts, and menu items. Planning ahead also gives your guests time to RSVP and make travel plans, if needed. Don't panic if you find yourself short on time; you can still plan a great party! Planning ahead simply reduces the risk of conflicts with guests' plans and may increase your party’s attendance.

For teen birthday invitations, use white card stock or construction paper folded in half, and decorate it with cutouts or stickers that reflect the theme of your choice. Or, if you’re short on time, purchase personalized or pre-printed teen birthday invitations online. We recommend mailing your invitations three to four weeks prior to the party—any sooner and your guests may forget, any later and your guests may already have plans.

To simplify the rest of the party planning process, check out our Party Planning Timeline, and read the paragraphs below for information on selecting decorations, supplies, activities, and more for your child's party.

What You’ll Need

If you plan to use paper tableware and preteen or teen party supplies, our Suggested Party Supply List may be quite helpful. Please note that you may not need everything on the list; it is intended only as a guide.

Before decorating for your preteen or teen party, choose a color scheme that best fits your party theme. For instance, for a "Glow in the Dark" party, choose neon colors. For a "Blackjack" party, go with red and black. Simple balloons and streamers in the color scheme of choice work perfectly. For goodie bags, purchase stickers, costumes, candies and other teen party favors that fit your theme. Place all of these items inside clear or printed cellophane bags, and tie the bags closed with colored ribbons.