11yr old boys birthdays

[okstamper]

Please help me! Do you give your 11yr's birthday parties with all the works. I mean, do you invite all of his friends to it or just a few and go do something. Is it different once they turn a certain age. His birthday is tomorrow and he's wanting to do something with all of his friends. I need suggestions. I do know they dont get the themed parties like my younger son. What is your opinion of this and what do you think I should suggest. I need to make some quick invites just to be sure. Let me know. Thanks a bunch.

We will have a birthday party with family members, just curious of what to do otherwise.

Bonnie

[scrapchic21]

My son turned 11 last year and he did not want a birthday party. He said he was too old for that and kids his age don't do that. Instead we took him and his best friend and their family because we were very close out to dinner where my son picked. I made him a birthday cake for just us and him. Gave him his gifts and he was as happy as could be. He'll be 12 in 2 months and we are now living in Germany so I have to maybe think of something a little more creative for his bday since his best friend isn't here. I think we will offer to take him to which ever country he wants to see within driving distance.

[Sunnee]

I don't have any kids, but my cousin had a bowling party for her son who was I think about 10. A friend took his kid (not sure the age but it was pre-teen) and his friends to the movies. Hope that helps.

[PMR]

The parties got smaller as my oldest got older. When he was 11, I think we had a few of his friends sleep over. His birthday is in July. They played video games, etc. I think we had 4 friends because that is how many we can fit in the car.
Hope this helps.
Pia

[okstamper]

Thanks for the ideas. I thought about a sleep over with a few friends too. They can be up all night playing video games and things like that.

Bonnie

[CAcardcreatin']

Card ideas for this age is sometimes difficult too, but the last one for a 12 year old boy, I just took some white cardstock, and crossed it with duct tape and caution tape.

[bjc57]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CAcardcreatin'

Card ideas for this age is sometimes difficult too, but the last one for a 12 year old boy, I just took some white cardstock, and crossed it with duct tape and caution tape.

That's great! I love that idea!

As for me, I have a 2 year old so I don't have experience with an older kid's birthday. I have a friend with 4 boys (the oldest is 11), and he had a birthday party with his family last year. He usually has play dates/sleep overs with his friends though so I'd go with that too!

[postcardgirl]

Starting with my son's 11th birthday, he didn't want a full-on party, but just a few friends -- I took them to a new movie that had just come out, then back to the house for cake/presents.

For his 12th we had a HUGE blowout the day before his birthday, invited tons of kids from school, and just did a STEELERS (football!) party, when the game was on -- every kid he invited showed, which was very unsual, and most of them brought presents even though we hadn't specifically said it was a bday party. They ended up watching the game for a while, but spent most of the time oustide playing football.

For his 13th & 14th we've just had a couple of friends over, nothing major.

[dj_pinkey]

My son had friends overnight for his 12th b-day. The next few years he did the movie thing with a friend. He had a party for #16 - I checked with a local pizza place, found they tended to be slow between 1 and 4 on Saturday afternoon, and made a "reservation". They had a party package, but it was more geared to young kids. About 20 kids showed up, I think I bought 8 large pizzas, and individual "free refill" drinks were cheaper than pitchers. The kids "hung out" for about 2 hours - worked out well all around!

[meluvstampin]

For both of our boys when they turned 11,
we took them and a few friends skateboarding and then a sleepover at our house.

[Novell]

My oldest DS is 11. He likes having sleepovers. Most of friends do the same thing for their birthdays. One did just have a party at a bouncy house place. This place is cool cuz they have more than just slides. I'd say go to a movie or something...

[RiverIsis]

I agree with the sleepover/movie/games/eat out thing - we just did this with our oldest (14) enough kids to fit in the van though we did say we would be willing to take both cars if he wanted. He invited 3 and we went to the movies and a meal.

Mine went to a 12th Birthday party not too long ago and it was a sleepover, they ordered in pizza, played games, watched movies and played flashlight tag outside as they were in the country a bit.

[PMR]

Let us know what you decide. My son turned 14 in July. My husband took him and 3 friends to an all day concert. They had a lot of fun but dh was a little bored!

[jamielady]

We just had a BP for my 12yo son this was his first party w/ friends. I did a lot of research online for ideas. We ended up using our small local rec center for the party and it turned out great! I did see a lot of great ideas, but the most popular one I saw theme wise that is, was "Fear Factor" or "Survivor". Of course it wasnt as gross as the stuff theyactually did or ATE, but I couldnt believe how many people said their boys/kids loved this theme! They had many great ideas of stuff to do and eat..lol! If you Google it I'm sure you will find tons of stuff like I did. I have four boys, so try to get creative, and this age kind of stumped me too. It turned out to be a great party and he was very happy! Contact me if you want I am sure in my favs on my computer I have a list of sites w/ great ideas! Good luck!

[DannieGrvs]

My son just turned 11. We're having a few friends over for pizza and a video game night. Later we'll take take his two closest friends and go paint balling on a separate weekend. It's too expensive to take everybody--that's why I've limited it to two boys.