Seeking Ideas for a 13 Yr Old Boy B-day Party

My son will be 15 this year. We couldn't afford to do anything for him this year, but we have in past years. He really enjoyed the Main Event. It's on HWY 183 just past Anderson Mill (I think).

Anyway, it is bowling, laser tag, rock wall and video games. It even has an indoor roller coaster simulator! (and a bar for the guys to sit and drink and watch the game). They have private rooms and are fairly affordable.

Hope this helps. Austin Park and Pizza is another suggestion, so is Dave and Busters.

I went and played laser tag with my 8 yr old this last week and we had a great time. I think it's something 13 yr old boys would enjoy as well.

My sons really liked the Laser Game place at that age. There is one in Spring & Humble. I believe the name of it starts with Laser.

K., my twin boys are 11 and they are starting to see an interest in paint ball. IF not look for movie theatres that have restaurants in them so you can eat while you watch. THat is fun. Dave and Busters is a restaurant arcade that they would have a good time. Camping is also fun with boys and there friends.
Best of luck!
S.

Hi K.,

Lazer Tag of some sort would be great! Our church's youth group does this sometime and even the high school kids love it.

Good luck!
C.

Laser tag is cool but I noticed with my son that was the thing for 7-10, the 11 thru like 14 are wanting paint ball parties thats what I'm doing this year, he asked last year but I bought him an x box so he had a choice of that or a party. He'll be 13. Also if you don't want to do all of that this is what the boys like to do to, get a few of their favorite game systems probably x box and the boys do play offs. I'm not sure how they do it but when they do it at my house they have several going and winner plays loser type thing till they get down to two guys on one x box. Let the kids make the rules I guess, but all you have to do is have his friends bring their game system over.

Lazer Tag is always fun and its a good "boys only" activity. If you live around Austin, then you might want to consider Austin's Park and Pizza and Main Event. We've been to both places and its pretty fun for the kids. When my son turned 13 we gave him the options of either having a party with some friends or us giving him the money that we would have spent on a party. At the time he was saving his money for a big purchase, so it was an appealing offer. All of the suggestions that have been posted sounds great!

Good luck!
D.
http://www.themomteam.com/rdeniser

I asked my 13 yr old nephew. First thing he asked was "will girls be there too" Hmmm. I asked him why, he said "If you have girls, guys will not want to get all sweaty." Ha!

Anyway, this is what I sent Didi a while back. This is also based on a conversation with my nephew.

How about old fashioned Bowling? So many middle schoolers are so into bowling at the neighborhood lanes. Many of the alleys have a cafe. Give them each a budget and let them pick out what they want to eat from the cafe or order pizza. You can take a cake or cupcakes for dessert.

Another thing Middle schoolers are into is card games. Texas Hold em is a fun card game to play. I bet your 22 year old knows how to play and they would think it was neat to have a beautiful college girl teach them.

Feeling really ambitious? Take a group of boys camping. Afraid of rain? Take them to Bastrop State park (or park in your part of Texas) and rent a cabin. Do a cook out and put them in charge of preparing the meal.

Do a "kidnapping" let the moms know that one morning you will be picking up their child at 5:00am and kidnapping them for Breakfast at the Ihop or Kerby Lane. Let them order whatever they want. Take tons of photos of the sleepy heads.

Have a blast.... L.

Laser tag, Paint ball (expensive), Mountasia, Splash Town (when it's warmer, NASA, Rockwall climbing.
You can also rent a rockwall climber, blow up obstacle course (gets very expensive.)
They like activities & food rather than just watching.

We Just had a Paintball party for my 14 year old, This is the paintball party we had. We had it at our house, We have 2 acres. (it is a blast, But you need to have rules) I told my boy I will go buy invitations, He said no, and he made some phone calls to his buddies, I am guessing Boys do not hand out invitations at that age. We had 13 boys invited.
He also asked them if they have any paintball gun. I think 4 boys had their own.The rest of the boys used our guns.
We have 9 guns,(i have 5 children and 2 step children) we supplied the guns, painballs, and Co2.
Depending on when his birthday is You can start buying the guns (for your family to keep, If you do not have any already.
You can buy them at walmart, or academy, I believe the cheapest one is like $59-$79, but they can run up too hundreds of $. You will also need to buy a cylinder for the Co2, I think those are around $20, Some of those bottle come with the guns, BUT CHECK THE PRICES. I found out it is not worth buying the pre-filled Co2 bottles, They run out fast. They are only 4oz bottle, Which is really small.And you can not refill the 4oz ones. You can get the 9oz, or 20oz Co2 bottles filled at academy,and at welding shops. And these bottles can be refilled , But many of the welding shops are not open on weekends.But Academy will refil them whenever they are opened.
It is about $4 to fill up C02 bottles. And at academy.
The paintballs are about $24 at academy for 2000 balls, and at walmat they are $26 for 2000 balls. we spent $72 for the balls, And $42 to refill our Co2 bottles, and then $47 for pizza, And I had 2 pizzas left over, They kids snacked on soda, water, candy and chips during breaks when reloading up on paintballs. If you need to ask me anything feel free to ask. And they also need extra clothes for padding, Make sure you tell the parents that they are playing paintball.
We had the party for 4 hours, it takes about 30 minutes to get everyones guns ready and to get dressed for the extra padding for just incase they get hit, It will leave bruises, but we call them fun battle wounds. This is what all of his friends have been having for their parties also, IT IS A BLAST
Thanks T.

Lazer Tag
Kayaking/canoeing on Lady Bird Lake
Ride around the velloway
Hike up Enchanted rock
Shoot rockets (see a hobby shop for help on this)
Grill steak, hamburgers, sausage a total meat fest...unless vegetarian then marinated tofu...add lots of cake and ice cream... Have fun!

SOMETHING ACTIVE....

1. Have you asked the Birthday boy?

2. Laser tag or paintball (while I don't enjoy these things and feel that it is kinda violent, I know that boys that age LOVE IT).

3. An overnight party -- boys won't like it if you call it a "slumber party" but you if you name it something cool, then they will enjoy it. When our church had all night "lock-ins", the guys that age loved it more than the girls. Just plan something pretty active for the beginning -- roller blading, organize a basketball or football game in your yard -- or even the "nasty games" where they get to use shaving cream, eggs, whipped cream, etc. to do relays... basically, they run around and it all ends in a "food fight" of the game components but everyone has fun. Also rent lots of goofy movies -- horror or fart humor or whatever and get lots of junk food. If you know a willing person -- let the boys go toilet paper their house -- perhaps a girl that one of the boys likes. If you are going to do that -- alert the parents and make sure they won't call the police, YOU go with them to make sure things don't get out of hand... about 10 or 11, take them to the store to buy the supplies (this takes up time and it is fun to see how they decide which kinds to buy), then take them to the house -- park a houses down (oh and don't tell them that you have called the parents -- they will have more fun if they think they are being OH SO SNEAKY).

Hope you have a great time.
blessings,
stacy

We did a limo party....same price as party place!
Did a scavenger hunt...they loved it!

Or google partythemes......I was AMAZED at all the ideas I found! Papparazii party; Mall scavenger hunt; Tour your local baseball arena.......
Have Fun!

We went this weekend to Ridemakerz in Baybrook mall. It's a place where you can build your own car and even make it a remote control car for $25 extra. My son had received a gift certificate for one for Christmas. Family friends of ours got it for him and one for their son (same age) too.

Anyway, they do birthday parties. I picked up a brochure, but didn't have a lot of time to look at it. The boys had a blast picking out the stuff for their car. They have base grade level stuff that comes with the car/truck free. Of course, then you can upgrade. It can get pricey if you're not careful. They even have a pink car and girly stickers you can get.

I don't know if there are any other of these stores in the Houston area. It can get pricey on the participants if they want to add stuff over what you pay for the party. So, you do have to be careful there.

HOw about go to an arcade or do paint ball

We customize either Nature or Horse birthday events at Camp Tonkawa Outdoor Learning Center. Check out the web site www.camptonkawatexas.com or call Apri at ###-###-#### for referals or ideas.

My son who is 13 yr old prefers sleepover and in Oct he will be turning 14 yr old. Another suggestion is if he is into video games. There is places that have B-day and another suggestion is a place where they mini-golf etc.

O. O

When my son turned 13 he had a paintball party. We invited 4 or 5 boys. Paintball USA is on Grant Rd over in NW Houston. Tanks is in Katy and Commando is on 45 North. Tanks and Commando are small fields with an obstacle course. Paintball USA has that as well plus it has woods so the kids can go out and do scenarios. My son is now 16 and is on a competive paintball team and works as a ref at Paintball USA. The boys will have a blast! Can be pricy.

Ask what he wants then oblige

I dont know where u live but if u live in San Antonio you can always try Laser Quest. Thats fun for all ages!

Of course, there is quite an age difference here, but I hosted a game circuit night for an 19yo birthday party. We had a typical game night (cards, board games, etc.) that included a video gaming system and even ball games in the back yard. (We also had a room with a DJ for dancing, but you might not want to do that.) There was a variety of activities, and they tired themselves out. A few even slept over.

I like themed parties, but--because I'm so hard to entertain or please--I like to give a few options for party activities. The "kids" stayed entertained, and nobody was left out of anything. At one point, a few of them created their own contest and turned it into a gaming circuit.

Try a bowling party, or a trip to a miniature gold course followed by a trip to a pizza parlor, or come back home to grill hambergers. If there's a decent movie you might go there. If they play baseball, a trip to a batting cage would be fun, buys like to be competitie.

My son just turned 13 on christmas eve. For the last two years we have had a "sleep over", (not slumber party as they are boys. Only girls have slumber parties). Anyway with about 8 other boys and the next day we load up all the kids in two or three vehicles and take them to the Putt-Putt place. For $20 the boys get to have unlimited putt-putt, go carts, laser tag, a cup of coins for the video games, two slices of pizza, and soda's. It's as much fun for the big boys as it is the little boys. My husband has a blast. Anyway, about the cost. When I send out the invitations we ask parents to not send gifts only the $20 for their kids to get into the park. My son had rather have a blast with his friends than a tangible gift, because those memories stay with them forever.

Along with the invitations, I send a permission slip to be signed, so parents won't sue us if the unthinkable were to happen.

Hope this gives you an idea. Have fun, 13 is an exciting age.

Hi K.,

I am also looking for birthday party ideas for my son who will be 13 on March 22. I sent a post about it a while back.
I had some good responses...one mom suggested bowling. I'll be watching to see if people respond. Good luck!

D.