this time next month, she will be THIRTEEN!!!
i need your help!
she’s having a sleepover with at least 10 girls and even though they are at the age where they can take care of themselves.. she’d like to have ‘activities or games’. im so not a party planner. i can make some paper hats, bake a cake, yeah– but activities, no. and she didnt go for my idea to scrapbook, LOL.
anyone know of anything that will keep them entertained for the night? i’d be ever so grateful! 🙂
watersix 
Oooh fun! Some nail polish and nail decals would be fun 🙂 Every girl loves some mani’s and pedi’s!
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HOw about a karioke machine and have an “American Idols” type contest. If she doesn’t want it to be a contest maybe they could use it to make their own Music Videos. My 17 yo daughter still loves to do that!
K
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You could have them make some jewerly-like earrings or something. I think you can get kits for that. OR maybe they would like to decorate some cupcakes themselves, might be fun!
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spa party? breakfast for dinner? crafty party? can they make their own pillow cases, it’s very easy to do so. jewelry is another good idea
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for my 13th birthday oh so long ago… my dad hired a photographer who set up a full on “PHOTOSHOOT” with a background, wardrobe, hair and makeup! Of course it was the early 90s so Glamour Shots were totally in!? We all had such a great time taking turns in front of the camera.
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I’ve seen on the internet party ideas for teenagers that had a Survivor theme. They set up challenges and reward activities. You can get matching bandanas for the two teams of 5. If you are at all interested, email me and I can locate exactly where it is on the internet. I’m a year ahead of you because next month at this time, my son will be 14. YIKES!!! Where did the time go?
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wow! 13?! that’s amazing!
time flies huh? my parent’s had a surprise party for me with my 2 best friends! it was a blast! we slept in my paren’t garage. well we never even slept reallY LOL! we sat up and talked and played pool/ping pong and laughed!
i think these ladies all have some cool ideas!!!!
are there some fun games you could buy like pictionery or something along those lines? music is always good, dancing music….karaoke would be a blast!
i still think tie dying shirts or something like that would be fun. does kira have any of her own thoughts/ideas about what they all like to do?
tara
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at my 13th b-day, one activity we did was decorated t-shirts. we took some fun ‘teeny’ photos and then we all wore them to bed as night shirts. not a large long activity but i am 31 and i still have mine!
🙂
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i was thinking karaoke, but not sure if kids do that anymore.
i like the idea of a ‘jewelry making’ party.
that would be fun.
i’ll keep thinking.
thirteen, sigh….wow, it flies by, huh?
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What about a pampering party? My friend just had a party for her 12 year old and they did face masks – complete with cucumbers for the eyes, painted nails, etc. You could always get some cute slippers as the party gift… Good luck and can’t wait to hear what you/Kira decide. 🙂
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Hey Jaime–
I think it would be fun to get all the stuff for manicures and pedicures for the girls. They could take turns and give each other the royal treatment. I think you can look online and there are even services that will come in for a party and do the mani/pedi thing for you! Hope the party turns out great! I’m right there with you…my oldest son is turning 13 next month as well. Where does the time go? Having a teenager is already giving me sleepless nights!
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Hi Jamie — What about a “mystery” type of game…Like a “Whodunit” mystery??…you can pick a theme (vintage, modern, Roaring 20’s, etc) dress up (ooh make-up too) like the part they’re “acting”, write up a play and have them read their parts (like a play)…Pre-plan which character is ‘missing’ (as part of the plot) and let that character know…etc…etc…Know what I mean? 🙂 Sounds like fun!!!!!
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Doesn’t Kira like to cook? They could bake cookies, cupcakes, etc…
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Ok so I think 13 now is way different then 13 back in the day, but we LOVED going on scavenger hunts, like a polaroid scavenger hunt was a total blast. Break them up into two groups and send them out with a parent to bring back certain items or have things planted already in certain areas like the amazing race. I also love the idea of doing a glam photo shoot with fun props and costumes….maybe have an 80’s theme since it is pretty easy for kids to find costumes for that theme and ask them to bring their best 80’s outfit. And to end the day they can do the whole manicure paint nails thing in their pajamas and chit chat about girly things before bed. If you combined these it would be enough to keep them happy until the weeee hours of the night.
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the photo shoot idea sounds good. I like that one and you take great pics :). but what about an hawaii or island themed kinda thing. with authenic (sp) food, miniture style, cause that’s in for parties. maybe crafts centered around that, making lais, paper laterns and etc. maybe do some mock “suvivor” challenges.
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when my younger sister turned 13, she had about 7 girls at her party. i organized a scavenger hunt (quite in depth)…and IT WAS A HIT. they LOVED it. i took them to walmart & gave them clues to find different movies (where i’d hid each of the clues behind movies/books/CDs inside the store. my then-15 year old sister was inside watching them with a walkie-talkie (they didn’t know). the goal was to find the envelope with money in it…and buy themselves a giant gallon of vanilla ice cream & a new movie to watch that night (so…about $30). they squeeled & screamed..and HAD SO MUCH FUN!!! when we got back to the house, i took out some cookie dough i’d made before, made brownies, etc. & set up a “make your own coldstone creamery” for them in the kitchen. they watched the movie they had all agreed on buying…ate ice cream until they were sick…and had a VERY memorable night 🙂
good luck! let us know what you do!
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13!!!!!!!!!!
Geesh!
That must mean you are getting to be old! LOL!!!
I want to come to the par-tay! 🙂 Sounds like some awesome ideas!
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I saw an idea on Heidi swapps blog a year or more back. SHe had a “pink” party for one of her children. They made things painted nails etc, then took photos and decorated photo frames. I lifted a little for one of my chldre…we deocrated plain wood frames from IKEA with ribbons and buttons, then I took photos of the group of children, printed them out and put them into their framses. They took them hone, so it kind of doubled as a party bag gift too.
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hi jaime we did this for our friends b-day (we’re in our 20’s LOL & it was so much FUN!!!!)
Prize Auction Game – On the invitation ask everyone to bring an inexpensive item or a “white elephant” (something in good shape they don’t want anymore) wrapped or sealed in a bag. Give everyone $100.00 in play money and start an auction for the unwrapped gifts. Hold up the first sealed bag and ask who will give $1 for it… and so on. For fun you can add food and gag gifts to the auction items. Keep the items sealed and don’t let anyone know what is inside until the high bidder opens the item. At the end you can trade bags or buy each other’s presents with their left over auction money. With any other left over auction money you can bid on who gets to pick where they want to sleep, what game you play next, first dibs on the biggest piece of cake or who chooses the music to listen to.
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there are a lot of homemade spa treatment recipes online they/you can make-avacado masks, face scrubs, etc. they can paint each others nails, put on a yoga video. set up the house with lavendar smell and candles.
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My daughter for her 13th birthday, had a bunch of friends over as well, they did a scavenger hunt in the mall that we came up with, they though that was a lot of fun.. she has also done karoeke parties.. a spa party would be fun too!
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They could do a make over. Take photos of each other dressed up. Maybe find there favorite song and do some dancing routine. Maybe cook and decorate cupcakes. Cut out and sew insteed of dolls monsters stuff them. Make tee-shirt iron ons, puff paint etc.
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guitar hero.
scavenger hunt.
homemade american idol videos.
fashion shoot
those are a few i think would be fun!!
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I love that auction idea! I think my friends and I might use it for our Christmas party at the end of the year!
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play the movie “13 going on 30”?
… i know, that sucks. bad idea, must run in the blood.
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When I was thirteen (or maybe it was 16) my mum threw me a “little kids” party – the whole ho-hah – pass the parcel (grown up prizes like jewellery, fake tattoos etc) fairy bread, pin the tail on the donkey – except it was “Pin the kiss on the hunk” (sticker kisses to put on a pin up poster – think it was Tom cruise at the time LOL!
Everyone came in pigtails etc and it was hit. Especially the party bags, we played games like balloon popping, sack races, etc.
Another party idea is to have a “formal” dinner at Macdonalds – we dressed in prom clothes, ate our burgers with silverware on china plates, and drank milkshakes from champagne glasses – it was scream, and then we all posed at a local park for photos. You could do this then all go back home and have a “prom” with your dining room transformed with all the prom decos. Streamers etc
My almost thirteen is having a gymnastics party this year – three coaches will take them all through their paces and swing them up on the ropes etc (my girl is VERY sporty!)
Hope these help! Go to party.com – they have a zillion party ideas too! JEN 🙂
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I just had a sleepover for my 11 year old a few months ago. We made mini (3×3″) albums called ‘Best Friends’ and included school photos of each of the girls. Then we took a LIMO to get pizza from their favorite pizza place, and took wild and crazy photos of the girls pretending to be rock stars in front of the limo. The limo was not too expensive as we kept it under an hour during their non-busy time.
The girls called it the best birthday party ever!
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Hi Jamie!! I do hope you can sell the “PHOTOSHOOT” theme! Seriously… we had so much fun. Even to this day, 13 years later, my friends still rave about how much fun they had that day! PLUS think of how many awesome pictures you’ll have to scrap with… 😀
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Hi Jamie,
Since Kira is such a baker, have them whip up some birthday cupcakes. Have junk food galore and rent or buy a Wii! Teens and adults alike love it! Also, download some of her favorite music and play it all night! When they are winding down pull out the polish and start with the manicures and pedicures. Good luck.
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This would involve taking them out but something that is a fun idea is a scavenger hunt at the mall with disposable cameras. They have a list such as modeling a yellow shirt with polka dots, etc. You can make it as hard or as easy as you like and they can combine multiple things into one picture for bonus points… that is always fun 🙂
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Hi Jamie :)! WOW! Everyone has really great ideas! I’d go with any of the above ideas or even have a movie night and watch something cute like “13 going on 30”? Something like that… 🙂
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What about a mini “drive-in” movie outside your home? We haven’t done it, but our neighbors have a DVD projection player or something, and they have entertained kids (different ages) by projecting the movie onto a white sheet/screen draped outside their house. All the kids just hung out on the deck, with blankets & pillows, and watched the movie on the big screen.
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At the time of my thirteenth birthday – there was a restaurant in town that provided the dough and then bowls of toppings. We made our own pizzas and then they cooked them. It was fun – lots of girl gossip…
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treasure hunt (still love those!)
home spa
scavenger hunt at mall (i.e. sticker from stride rite, to go menu from ?, 5 gummy bears (provide them with limited $$)
oh. just read other comments, and I think they’ve been mentioned! Love the outdoor movie idea, too.
good luck 🙂
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At my DDs pool party this past month, we used spray fabric paint to decorate t-shirts made into swimsuit cover ups. I bought size small mens t-shirts, cut off the sleeves & the collars. You could also make fray trim on the bottom. I used ribbons to tie the shoulder up tight. They were super cute. The spray paint dried fairly quickly & the girls were able to model them at the end of the party. There were also canvas bags that would be fun to decorate and flipflops with ribbons and jewels are also fun. Love the idea of a scavenger hunt, too.
One of my friends did a party based on the Clue board game. The girls really enjoyed that.
My older DD is turning twelve next month so I’ve enjoyed reading the other comments from your post.
Have fun…
Machele
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Don’t you miss the days where you can just rent “Jump to the Max” and call it a day….(sigh).
Ok so here’s my idea…put them in 2 teams. Blast some music (their music…not what you choose for them) and have them do a dance routine…they have to come up with their outfits and everything. Then turn off the lights turn on the strobe light and have them battle it out…like America’s Best Dance Crew! (I have a disco light thing that turns and makes it really official if you want to borrow it, ha!)
Well that’s what the kids do here in the hood. Don’t know ’bout S.Pas…lol!
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Hi jamie
Well I have a son.. who’s almost 13 but he is so into Guitar Hero/Rock BAnd.. and those kinds of games.. I saw it on Cathy Z’s blog too that her daughter had a blast doing video games like that.. we love ROCK BAND as a family!
Just one idea.. but then they are girls.. 🙂 Manicure/Pedicure :)?
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Not really a game, but you could do a portrait pic party and do a mini photoshoot of each of the girls. Take individual and group shots-change of clothes, etc. Then you could send them home (or send a week or so later-if time doesn’t allow-LOL)a CD with some great portrait shots. Not only would they love it, but I’m sure their parents would love some nice professional portraits of their girls too! HTH
Suz
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i was gonna say just throw on movies. aja sucks.
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I was going to say the spa/pampering party, as well. You can get individual stuff for their own personal mani-pedis and let that be their take-home gifts. Do masks, polishs…the works. Would be fun. Have music playing, candles lit, etc…and spa type food.
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We had a “Paris, France” themed party for our daughter last year — we set up a “cafe” and “Patisserie” in the back yard with twinkle lights and canopies — the girls had (decaf) coffee and croissants and treats in the cafe and decorated cupcakes to take home in little boxes at the bakery. They had breakfast of crepes (and fruit and waffles or toast) the next morning. (We had normal hotdog type cookout earlier in the evening.) The girls LOVED it. We had eiffel tower (stamped) invitations and gift bags with “merci” on them and with lip gloss, nail polish, etc in them.
Husband set up a big obstacle course in the yard (totally non-French) — that was the biggest hit of all. They ran in relays and then heats and we had the championship run the next morning. It was nothing more than hula hoops and balls in a basket, find a number “10” in a pile of tags — nothing too extravagant. But the girls loved it and it burned off energy before bed. We had 14 girls over. All age 10 (2 were age 5) — lots of fun.
Happy birthday early to Kira!
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How about
1) a braclet kit for each girl and they could each make one.
2) tie die tee-shirts or pillow cases lots of fun make sure each girl wears old clothes and provide plastic gloves
3) painting or collage on a little canvas frame collage might be good for that age throw out some magainzes on the table and maybe some clip art and words you printed with all of the “hip sayings” of kids this age group.
4) nail salon party maybe you can hire someone to come in and do nails etc or take the girls to a salon.
have fun
Lisa
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How about hire someone to teach them how to dance…maybe hip hop, since they’re 13 yrs. old.
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At Christmas time I did a simplified version of Jeopardy- I took a large posterboard an created the gridlines with the answers on the board. I created different catagories ( Christmas Carols, Foods, etc.) and then covered the answers ( all in the form of a question you know!) with the “answer” We had several of those call bells for people to hit and in our case we had 3 teams.
You could take catagories from your daughters and her friends current interests to make it more fun.
Lots of great ideas here!Have fun!!!
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a mini spa party? let them give each other pedis, paint their nails, goop on some face masks? honestly, the idea of a 13yr old party scares me, I’m not ready still getting a handle on the two year olds! good luck!
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Think 70’s Disco Dance Party. Maybe a little dry-ice, wigs, costumes, you get what I mean. At 13, Mom in go-go boots (yes, I have some)is cool! And those are some serious scrappin pictures! If not that, then totally go for the in-home spa day. I have all the tricks on doing it at home in real style!!
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i was going to suggest scavenger hunt…someone (or two) already did. kids love them!
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make overs, we always liked to play spoons, scavenger hunts are fun if you have large enough place, pictionary, one of those DVD trivia games.
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Wow, you have a lot of comments, so I didn’t read through them.
13 year old girls love girly stuff. So I think painting their nails, doing their hair and getting their makeup done would be fun.
Followed by a headshot captured by JAC shoot.
Then a movie teenage movie chick flick with popcorn and candy.
While they are watching the movie, you can print the photos on your printer.
Then give to the girls as party favors the photos you took in an altered frame from Michaels. They have wooden frames for $1. You can alter them with scrappy stuff…
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