Good morning mamas! My son is turning 12 this summer and outgrowing the traditional birthday party thing. We're looking for some ideas of ways to still celebrate with a few (like maybe 2 or 3, perhaps4) of his buddies. Preferably something not too expensive (taking them to CAnobie Lake park gets too $$$)...We were thinking perhaps a matinee and then coming back for pizza/cake/ice cream and such. as apossibility... Thank you
BTW: yes, we've asked him what he'd like and he keeps coming up w/ Canobie Lake Park...sorry that I was unclear...
Laser tag?
Tell him that the park is out of the budget so what does he like about that park that might be do-able?
Have you asked your son if he has any ideas of things he wants to do? Explain to him that things can get expensive, but if he has some ideas then you might be able to *see* if any of those ideas would work.
Off the top of my head I think of Putt Putt Mini Golf or Laser Tag, but that may/may not be 'cool' for his age (my kids are still pretty little...and too little to do these things). Of course you would still want to check pricing. We have some pretty cost effective places around here to do some of those things, but I know it can get pricey depending upon where you go.
Really, a matinee then pizza/cake/ice cream sounds like great fun to me. :)
Tell him you"ll take him + ONE friend to Canobie Lake or 4 fiends to the movies.... Seems like that might be the same amount of money????? Also if Canobie Lake Park will let you in and out..... Picnic instead of buying food.
If that's what he really wants then YOU coming up with alternate ideas isn't going to work. At 12, HE is old enough to be able to problem solve this. Tell him the budget for the party (not including gifts) and have HIM figure out what's do-able, and tell him you need to know by such-and-such date. He may end up with no party, if he drags his feet.... But that's as natural of a consequence as they come.
Rock Wall, Laser Tag, Camping, swimming, movies, lunch or dinner at a fun place, over night at a hotel with a pool, Cookout at your house with video game tournament.
See if there is a Groupon for an inflatable water slide.
My son is turning 11 and is going to take his friends to a baseball game. My son who is turning 8 is doing mini-golf, go-carting and bumper boats.
Do you have any rock climbing walls or ropes courses near you? My brothers loved to do that when they were teens, and it is pretty affordable. You could still come back for pizza and ice cream/cake afterwards.
Tell him what he wants is not doable and to come up with something else. In reality 12 year old boys don't usually do birthday party type things. They are usually over it by then.
Ditto Patty K.
Suggest a sleepover with a movie theme. They watch movies you have or buy a special new one, set up a popcorn/snack bar, serve hot dogs and/or pizza and let them chill. Make cupcakes so they can help themselves. Low maintenance, low cash outlay.
We did one for my grandson when he graduated from 8th grade. Pizza, a homemade from ice cream sandwiches cake, popcorn, drinks, movies, they loved it.
Here's some ideas, you wouldn't have to do all, or any of them ;)
http://www.tweenparent.com/articles/view/121
my friend took her same-aged son and his friends for a limo ride for his birthday! first time for everyone and they had a blast just driving around (might have gone thru a drive-thru for extra fun too).
Have him invite 3 or 4 friends and make a day of his favorite things:
-a movie
-fun place like Laser Tag or something
-lunch somewhere totally cool or fun
-end at an ice cream shop
Edit:
Also, here we have a xBox roving trucks you can rent. The truck parks in
front of your house (it's huge) & they all play inside at the same. It's fun.
