He's Turning 16 in a Month -- What to Do?

Maybe instead of how he would like to celebrate his 16, ask who he would like to celebrate it with? And take it from there?

The "who" might help you determine the "how".

Enjoy the milestone, it does seem to go fast.....

My kids really never wanted a party or anything after the age of 13. We usually did a dinner and cake, maybe a movie, sometimes they had a friend (or a few) sleep over and I'd make a fun LATE (lol!) breakfast.

Why are you shocked? You should know your kid well enough to know what he likes, right?

Some people do not enjoy being the center of attention for their birthday. I'd give him a choice of a few restaurants, or ask if he wants to do a cookout and have a few friends over. Keep it simple. Kids are usually pretty good at asking for what they want. Sounds like he doesn't want much, so keep it low key.

Bowling party works at any age.
So does going to a movie.

What about a family trip/experience? We did that when our two 20 yr olds turned 18. We did a trip to Mexico for a week - just the 4 of us (we have 6 kids, so it is special to do a trip alone or with just one other sibling with mom and dad). My 20 yr olds STILL talk about that as the most amazing thing they ever got to do. We did the whale shark dive while in Mexico and it was awesome!

We are not doing an "experience" for our kiddo turning 18 shortly due to his special needs, but we have talked about trying to do more experiences than "things" and "parties" as we move forward in life.

Good luck!

You might try suggesting a couple of choices, instead of asking an open-ended question like how he'd want to celebrate. You might casually suggest something like "so, would you like to invite a couple of friends to get together at [favorite pizza place] and just go to a movie? We could have a family birthday dinner later that weekend. Or do you want to invite a few friends over for video games? I'll make lots of snacks and stay out of the way?"

Or its entirely possible that he thinks that now that he's 16, any kind of "party" is too babyish and although he wouldn't mind if you made him a cake and his favorite burgers on Sunday afternoon, he'd rather skip any sort of planned event.

I have to say, we've always left it up to our kids - even when the were little, they had input.

I gave some ideas, but not once they were about 9/10. They had clear ideas by then.

Good ideas below. I didn't have parties by the time I was 16. I just hung out with friends and did something fun. I celebrated with my family.

My oldest son took a bunch of his friends to do an activity he really enjoys. They didn't have cake or anything like that - they just went and we treated everyone. About 4 guys. It was more like a fun night out than a party.

If your son is low key and would just enjoy doing something with a friend, how about movie and pizza, or something like that?

I too like 'experience' gifts. I guess that's more how we lean in general.

Do you have an Escape Room near you? They are very popular in the Phila area. We also have an indoor skydiving place that is a very cool experience (so people say...I never did it)

Racing go-carts is fun at any age too.

I would say baseball game with a friend or 2, but that's something my son (younger than your son) would like.

-Also, a 6 flags type of place would be a popular option.
-Is he getting his driver's licenses? You could do something car related.
-If he has several friends he would like to hang with, i think paintball wars have been popular. I am not sure if that is his thing though.
-Bowling w/pizza is easy and fun

Welcome to the teen years. You're lucky you got a shrug. Either he doesn't know what he wants to do, or he wants to do something with friends without hurting your feelings. (Think of kids walking in the mall with their parents 6 feet behind or in front, but not alongside.) Ask him if he has plans, if there's anyone he'd like to hang out with and what their shared interests are. Has he gone to anyone else's 16th birthday? My guess is, they're beyond the cake and presents stage, at least with each other, but maybe they headed for laser tag or a climbing wall place, and you just didn't realize it was for a birthday. Maybe he'd like to go for a burger and movie, but maybe he just wants the cash or a new shirt, you know? You have to separate your need for an "event" and his possible need to be low key, but also allow for the possibility that he wants something from you but doesn't want to be "uncool" or even sentimental ("mushy") enough to admit it. But I'm positive that he doesn't want to hear from a bunch of other moms what we would do! Dig in there, Mom, and try to establish a dialogue with your teen - but that means doing less than 50% of the talking with a reticent adolescent. Try not to fill the silences and force him into a decision, you know?

Ask him stuff he likes but in a way he doesn't know the it's for his birthday

when my son turned 16? We went paint balling with a group of his friends.

What does he like to do?

Does he have friends over for XBOX or Play Station? Maybe they could do a marathon and 'rewards' for the champ!?

Will he be getting his license? Do you have a go-cart race track?

It would really help if we knew what he liked to do! one of my girlfriend's son is a "mapper" and a "geo-tracker" - he wanted 5 of his friends to go to Gettysburg (not the national park) and "track" with their metal detectors and see what they could find.

If your son has a hobby? Maybe do that? I don't know. White water rafting? Kayaking? If I knew your son, I could help out more.

What does he want to do? I wouldn't do a bounce house for 16 yr olds. Maybe laser tag or something like that.

Around here most 16 yr olds get their drivers license on their birthday!

I guess I don't really understand your question. Are you asking for advice on how to figure out what your son might want? Or how to plan a celebration without any input from him? I wouldn't do the second thing except maybe to tell him that the family is going out to dinner and he should pick the restaurant or something like that.

How about concert tickets for him and a few friends, or tickets to a sporting event? Maybe a fun road trip?

Just ask him. And then be ok if he says dinner at his favorite place and a cake at home. ;)

Seriously. My son just turned 19 and my daughter just turned 16. I don't recall ANY big boy 16 year old birthday party extravaganzas. Not my son's crowd, and not my daughter's. Only the girls (and not all of them do it, either). My son hasn't wanted a big blow out birthday in a long time. And my daughter's idea of a big 16th birthday was bowling with her friends (about 5 of her closest) and dinner after, at the bowling alley's restaurant (Denny's). She had her license, so she drove up there. I went in with her to pay for the shoe/lane rentals and gave her cash to pay for the meal after and then I went home. We had birthday cake at home on a different day. She had milkshakes with her dinner with friends.

Just go with whatever he wants, and try not to seem surprised or unsure if he isn't asking for a big to-do. You don't want to accidentally give him the feeling that something might be *wrong* that he doesn't want a big party.

And yes, you can't put the genie back into the bottle. They take forever to be able clean up after themselves, and then one day, POOF. They are practically grown and gone. Congratulations, Mom. You are doing your job. Helping a tiny, helpless baby grow into a productive, independent adult. :) Take as many pictures as he'll let you. Mine is camera shy and it's hard to capture those things.
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Added: If you really want suggestions, then maybe ask if he'd like to go to the movies with a group of his friends on your dime. Offer to cover the tickets and some popcorn/drinks, and maybe a treat after somewhere (doesn't have to be birthday cake). Maybe a frozen yogurt place or something. If he has his license, let him go on his own. Do the family stuff at home when it's convenient to do so (or on his birthday, and let him do the movie when it's convenient for his friends to accompany him--weekend or whatever). Small cake (always with candles) and whatever gift you plan to give him. That's my suggestion.

Ask him how he wants to celebrate. 16 for boys is not the same as 16 for girls