Turning 12 and becoming what many of us affectionately refer to as a ‘tween’ can be an important part of a girl’s life. And for many adults, it’s usually the first birthday party where parents realise that planning activities and themes are going to become a little more difficult with each passing year.
After all, she’s not yet a teenager, but she’s also inevitably going to want to shun anything she deems too babyish as well. This means parents have a fine line to walk when it comes to putting together a party that’s going to make her happy while keeping things family-friendly and fun at the same time.
From themes and venues to activities and cool gifts for 12 year old girls, here are some of the most important things to remember when planning a birthday party for your little tween.
Choosing a venue
There are so many places to choose from these days that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. And if your little girl has recently been to a party that was a huge hit amongst her friends, then chances are she’ll want the same on her special day.
If you’re worried about how to narrow it down, try presenting her with a list of venues within your budget that she can choose from. Laser tag, trampoline venues, bowling alleys and arcades are still popular birthday destinations. But there’s nothing wrong with hosting at your own place as well!
Deciding on a theme
The birthday girl needs to have a big say in what the theme of the day should be. But there’s certainly no harm in nudging her in the right direction either! It can be a party based on her favourite book characters, her favourite sport, her favourite show, or even a theme that’s based entirely on the number 12!
Just make sure everyone is happy with this theme before throwing out invitations. If the birthday girl changes her mind after that, it can be a messy affair!
Invitations catered to kids and parents alike
Now you can get stuck in and plan out making the invitations. Here’s where things really get fun for the tween in your life, and the party begins to take shape. Just remember to include information about start and end times, the location of the party, and an email address for parents to contact you about dietary restrictions and other concerns.
Activities
While girls turning 12 don’t really want to have too much planned out for them (it may be deemed a little too babyish), a fun karaoke machine or place for the girls to make some fun cupcakes may keep them occupied in between other activities.
Party bags
These don’t have to be kiddie bags that the girls will be embarrassed to take home. They can be small tokens of appreciation for them to take home that include a cupcake, some sweets, and a few small bits of makeup. If you can get them leaving with a smile on their faces, you’ll find your little girl beaming from ear to ear for a long time after she’s blown out those 12 candles!
