Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party

We did a scavenger hunt for our kid's 16th birthday parties. We assigned each group of kids an adult driver - didn't want teens to be "racing" around town - and gave each team a list of items with a point value attached to each item. They had one hour to get as many of the items on the list as possible.

The list included some video items so we borrowed video cameras from friends for each team. When all the teams arrive back, you add up the points and watch each teams videos. It's a lot of fun and very inexpensive.

You can serve food and drinks during the video portion of the party. Prizes can be as simple or elaborate as you want them to be.

I don't know how much time you have before your daughter's birthday, but you could set up a separate account and start putting money aside just for her birthday. Once you have an idea of what you want to do, you can figure a realistic budget and have a better idea of how much money you need to try and put aside. The idea of the scavenger hunt is very fun. Some mom friends of mine get together once a year for a scavenger hunt and we have a blast. We always carry cameras. Each team receives a packet of say 10 envelopes the envelopes have a slip of paper in them with instructions. You cannot open the next envelope until you have completed the first envelope. Some of the things that we have done are going to the local mexican restaurant and having a picture in a sombrero or going to Wal-Mart and trying on an outfit and have a picture taken. We've had to find a tombstone with a certain name on it (Jones, Smith something common). We have had to find a certain address or locate a building with just a picture of the building to go by. We have also gone to the park and had to swing in the swings or something that you would have done as a young child. A lot of times everyone on the team has to be in the picture except the person operating the camera. One person is not allowed to operate the camera at every challenge. That way everyone can be seen. It really is a lot of fun. You have to wait until your entire team is in the car before you can open the first envelope. Good luck!

1. Scrapbooking party
2. Slumber party/movies

Hey C., 16 is a big deal. Unfortunately most of the kids now are looking for a big party!! My son just turned 16, luckily for us he is not in to the bday parties. We simply took him and about 8 of his closest friends out to his favorite resturant. They all just hung out in the basement media/game room until 11:00 pm., and the boys all spent the night. A good time was had by all, but I do know that every couple of weeks he is going to a huge sweet sixteen blow-out for someone! Good luck.

My daughter's only 10 but I've thought about her 16th birthday quite a bit. I thought it would be fun to invite maybe 5 of her closest friends to have a "motel party"...get a motel (with indoor pool) for the night, have pizza, chips, pop, all the junk a kid could want, lol. Dont' forget the bday cake :-)...and have fun in the pool. Don't have to worry about cleaning up, that's what the motel housekeepers if for!

Hi C.,
My parents gave me an outdoor 16th b-day party and i remember it well. we had a patio and a picnic table. on the pic nic table we set up my stereo that at that time had a record player...lol. we had my cake and a couple of coolers full of pop all kinds. i invited just about everyone form school which was about 4-5 hundred kids but this was a little country school. and of couorse my b-day landed on friday the 13th so i just knew no one would show...lol. Well we wound up having about 100 kids in our front yard that night and we all had a good time we played records and the thing i remember most is when my dad who had a lower leg cast on his foot still did the stroll with me as my first dance to dr. hook she was only 16. I hold that very dear to my heart because he is no longer with us. As far as the drinks you could tell everyone to bring their favorite pop and or snack to her party and you do the cake. Good luck and i hope this helped.
M.

First off, what does she want? I am 64, the biggie when and where I was living, was an all girl luncheon at a hotel, a corsage to wear at school that had roses and sugar lumps. Oh, how I wanted all that! I got none. We were very strapped for money. I know my parents did something, because they always did. So, I would give her your budget, and let her have at it. Maybe she has a best friend and they would like to spend the day at the mall, have lunch by themselves, and you could give her the money for that, and a gift card. Maybe she would like a weekend at the beach with the family, or just you and her. Maybe a luncheon for her friends at your house. Maybe you could afford to cater it? Or, do it yourself, and have a terrific cake as a surprise. Don't go over your head, nothing is worth that, and I don't even remember my 16th.
I love the scavenger hunt idea.

ask her what she wants to do you might be surprised what she says

I would have a surprise party for her with her closest friends. Ask her best friend to get you a list of friend's addresses and send out 'shhh surprise' invites! Either at your house or at a local rest in a party room or rent out a party room. If you can have it at your house, it would be MUCH cheaper. You can do the food yourself. Have all of her favorites, or even just pizza. I would have a pink and white theme and decorate really pretty but simple. You can do all girls or boys and girls and then after the boys leave, let the girls spend the night. The next am have a breakfast bruch for them. Either that or take a few of her close friends to lunch anywhere she chooses and then give her $100 or whatever you can afford to shop! Or, let her take a few of her close friends or just her best friend for a spa day....let them get a mani and a pedi then go to lunch! I love the hotel room idea. You and your hubby can get a room next door to them, they can have their own room and stay up all night, swim, etc Redecorate her room, tell her she can choose and you buy the paint and bedding. Buy her a special piece of jewelry, you can get a charm bracelet, earrings, etc for not so expensive. Honestly I can't even remember my 16th bday, I know I got a pair of small diamond earrings but I don't remember much else so whatever you do will be special. Please let us know what you decide! FUN!

we did the scavenger hunt thing with my sister for her 16th - just a girls day out of fun things from lunch to shopping where she got to pick out presents along the way, got her makeup done at a counter in the department store and she got to get a lipgloss, (we even had someone at each store hand her the clue for the next place - by just having one friend asking an employee once we got to the store to give her the clue to the next place) - the evening ended with dinner - which you could have your husband take care of so when you get back home that evening he has dinner, decorations, and cake ready for the b'day girl. A slumber party with punch, unique treats, and a movie would make an entire day of it, but still be relatively affordable. - Photos at each spot with friends were perfect for her photo album afterwards. :)

I am a Stampin Up Demonstrator, and do Birthday parties for older kids. They can make scrapbooks, diaries, or picture frams. Just throwing it out as an idea.

Thanks,
L. Boyd
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