Party Ideas for a 16 Y/o Boy

Let him have a camp out in the back yard. It might be fun to let him just hang out with his close friends with a little bit of "privacy" while not being too far away.

Good Morning!

With this age group, he probably won't want a mom and pop party. He will want to hang out with his few close friends. I would invite his few close friends over for a pizza and movie night party. Let them hang out by themselves watching the movies, eating pizza, etc. At some point you can bring out the cake and presents and share that part of the evening with him, but other than that, I'd just let him hang with his friends. Or, take him and his friends to the movies, then out to his favorite restaurant for dinner with his friends. Or to paintball or lazer tag or go-carts or mini golf, etc, then some pizza.

ask some of his friends they would know better than anyone!

Perhaps a bowling party???? Or, take a few of them to a Nascar race!!

Take your nephew and a few of his close friends to a sporting event, paintball, camp out, etc. Ask your nephew what his friends have done for their birthdays and what he would like to do for his birthday.

GO CARTS! Every boy young or old loves go carts. Here, they have places where you can go to drive/race them. Maybe get some friends and family together and meet or go there for his b-day? I bet it would be a hit! Good luck!

L.,
How Fun! Try a photo "scavenger" hunt. This takes some planning ahead and can be a bit pricey. If your SIL can afford it, hire a limo for the day. (They aren't really as expensive as it sounds ($60 for four hours or something) and, for a small group of friends, it's perfect!) Give the kids the first clue and a digital camera (the camera, with clue included could even be your nephew's first birthday gift! ) at the house. (If it's played right, he may even think this is his whole birthday - a camera and limo ride/scavenger hunt to play with his camera.) The clue should lead them to some landmark around the area where they will find their next clue in some gift shop or store in the area or planted somewhere around the landmark just ahead of the group (a la the Great Race tv 'reality' show, wherever the first clue directed), along with instructions to take a picture at the landmark. It then should direct them to the next landmark with instructions for the picture there. The kids should find someone to take a picture of the whole group at each landmark, find the next clue directing them to the next landmark/photo, which will lead them to yet another landmark around town and yet another clue and another picture. (Using your imagination, you can even direct them to non-landmark locations such as:
"At the corner of Chestnut and Broadway have your picture taken in the crosswalk with everyone walking arm-in-arm and in cross-step. Find your next clue taped to the inside of the top of the JOBS Free brochure box.")
The next clue can lead them to the lobby of a hotel where the registration clerk (for a nice tip)can be put upon to be in charge instructions for the stop. (this is one of those parts that requires a few days' advance planning) tie it up in a gift box (include another small gift along the way if you like, a ball cap or T-shirt or something like that.) Have them get the hotel clerk to take a picture of them with the concierge or the head chef or hotel manager. This will need to be pre-arranged and approved by the hotel. That person should present them with the next clue location.

Give them a full afternoon of running about town (considering however long you have the limo). The final clue should lead them to a paintball or laser tag arena where the party "fixin's" can be waiting for them to chow down either before or after the game. Make sure to have plenty of his favorite foods; they will be hungry after running all over town all day!(most places have special party prices for groups and party rooms for the celebration. They can even help with planning and set-up.) Of course you'll want to set the theme for the party in NASCAR or his favorite sports team. Any gifts his friends may bring can be collected at the house and taken to the laser tag or paintball arena after the kids leave on their scavenger hunt and well before their arrival at the end of the line.

The nephew will not be expecting the scavenger hunt to lead to the party instead of back home (He'll just be expecting another clue!) and so the biggest surprise will be at the end of the hunt where he and his friends will find the party room festooned with balloons and signs just for him.

Kids of all ages absolutely love the game and the series of pictures collected along the way make wonderful mementos of the event! It's also a great experience, especially for somewhat shy kids, to approach strangers on the street and ask them to take the pictures.

Good luck and Happy Birthday to your nephew!

He's 16, and he thinks of himself as a grown man. Since he's not super popular why are you trying to throw him a big party? That will just create embarrassment and stress. My mother did that to me when I turned 16 and I'll never get over the horror of it.

He might rather have an expensive gift, a LAN party for him and his friends at a hosting shop, some concert tickets, a road trip weekend. Please please don't throw a party for him.

L., it seems like an oldie but goodie has been bought back from the past - a new version of Toss A-Cross/horse shoes. It is called around in my area "Corn Hole". It is where two teams pitch corn bag (bean bags) at a board that has a hole in it. Scoring is kinda like horseshoes, but the game goes to 21 points. My daughter's couple bridal shower will be having a tournment with all the donations to play given to the couple with a set of the game being auctioned off at the end of the shower. These people are having a ball with this. Maybe your nephew would enjoy this. Have fun. T.

Scavenger hunts are a lot of fun. His mom could make up a list of clues or things to do in their area for him and his friends to find. Put each clue in a separate envelope. The teens could be divided into teams and each handed their set of envelopes with clues. Each group should have a camera to take pictures of the group finding the clue or completing the task that is in that. Have a set time for everyone get back together. When everyone comes back together they can share the pictures and enjoy pizza and do other games or activities. If she does this she might want a trusted adult drive each of the teams on the scavenger hunt if necessary. Some things that we have done on scavenger hunts in the past included going to a local mexican restaurant and getting a pictures with a sombrero hat. Finding a particular street address or local building in a picture. Taking pictures of the group at a local park (on a slide, or swings etc.) There are lots of options and you can make up your own rules such as giving each team points for every clue or task and giving points for the team that gets back first. Another rule that we always have is that a team can only open one envelope at a time and must find the clue or task before opening the next envelope. Each team is usually allowed to pass on one task.

If he is going to be getting his drivers license soon a gift card for gas would be a good gift. A gift card for a store he likes to shop at or a gift card that can be used anywhere (I think you can get those at the bank)would be good also. For party ideas if he is a NASCAR fan, that could be your theme for the party.

Hi L.

What about a tail gate theme party you said he has a favorite team you can get things decorated in the school colors a couple what nots of the team serve tail gate food wings, hot dogs etc. I'm pretty sure that would open up the door for more interaction with guys from school have the tv set to the school games can probably look somes games up and record them, just a thought good luck let me know how it goes. Have games like throwing the football through the hole for small prizes etc.