Best Birthday Party Ideas for8 – 12-Year-Olds

Introduction

Keeping up with all of the latest trends and staying up to date with all of the things your kids like can be exhausting. One minute it is all about Pokémon, the next minute, it is about LOLs, then Roblox or Minecraft is all your kids talk about. We are here to help and to take the guesswork out of the way! Here are a few ideas for the best birthday party ideas for 8 – 12-year-olds. 

Spa Day 

If your daughter (or son) is anything like my sassy queen, an at-home spa party might just be what she needs. It does not take much to customize this party theme, and you can go as over-the-top as you choose. Start with a few bowls of water to soak their feet, throw in a bit of bath salt for scent and texture, and you are ready to start with manicures and pedicures. Play a spa playlist for soothing vibes and serve the girls some lemon water. Don’t forget the face masks, and your party is off to a great start. 

For added fun, let girls come in their pajamas and pair it with a movie night slumber party, complete with all their favorite snacks. Top the night off with a fancy cake or cupcakes. 

Science Convention 

Most kids love science experiments. Set up a few stations around your home or backyard and allow the kids to get creative. Some of the most popular experiments to do with the kids include making their own slime, excavating fossils, and creating volcanic eruptions. Serve their drinks in test tubes or beakers and dress them up in goggles and lab coats as they complete their experiments. 

For dinner, they can create their own pizzas and decorate their own ice cream sundaes. Make sure to give them each a pen and some paper to take their notes like real scientists. 

Superhero Bash

A classic birthday party theme for all ages is a superhero party. Encourage the kids to dress up as their favorite superheroes. Incorporate the superhero theme in the decorations and activities. Print off a comic book panel template and allow the kids to create their own superheroes or write their own comic books. There are all kinds of fun carnival-style games that can be adjusted to the superhero theme as well, such as the bean bag toss game. The kids can use the bean bags, and their superhero powers, to knock down the villain milk jugs. 

Get creative and allow your birthday kids to come up with a few of their own ideas to make the party extra special. End the night with the birthday kid’s favorite superhero movie. 

Sports Extravaganza 

Nothing is more exciting than playing a game of soccer or basketball with friends. Invite your kid’s friends over for a sports extravaganza. Set up an area where the kids can play all of their favorite sports, with a twist, of course. Just as any great sporting event, structure the party as a tournament. Separate the group into four teams and have them pick their own sports team name. Give each team a color to represent during the event. Then set up games for the groups to compete in throughout the party. These can be a one-on-one basketball toss or a group tag footfall game. 

You can also incorporate various Olympic sporting events such as running races or silly games like sock hockey. Use whatever you have around the house and let your creativity run wild! At the end of the party, award all the athletes with medals (golden chocolate coin glued to ribbon). After all, everyone was a winner at this tournament! 

Fashionista Fiesta 

Give your girls the chance to strut their stuff on the runway. Allow the kids to bring their own outfits to show off to their friends. Include fun themes so that everyone can get involved, such as expressing your inner animal or color. Don’t forget to add props like oversized sunglasses or feather boas. Let the girls mix and match to their heart’s content. 

If you have a larger budget, take the girls thrift shopping, where they each pick a piece to complete a look together. Make sure to add some flare with trendy music and flashing lights for the runway. End the night in pajamas and cookie decorating. 

Pool Party

For a summer classic, pool parties are always in style. Gather the kids together for some fun in the sun, splashing and making waves.  Add water toys like floats, pool noodles, diving toys, and the crowd-pleaser: water balloons. Make sure to add plenty of hydrating snacks, such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Apply plenty of sunscreen and find a shady spot for the kids to rest as needed. 

Many neighborhood pools have lifeguards on duty for added safety and offer more variety, such as a water slide, a diving board, and a splash pad. This is one of the easiest, self-generating fun party ideas. 

Video Game Party

It’s no secret that kids love video games. Whether it’s Pokémon, Minecraft, Fortnite, or Roblox, video games provide hours and hours of entertainment to our children. So, let’s celebrate with the game they are most fond of. Incorporate the game’s graphics and concepts into the party decorations, food, and activities. For Pokémon, you can print out images of all the Pokémon and hide them around the backyard. The kids then have to go out and ‘catch ‘em all.” Minecraft utilizes mobs as enemies. You can set up several carnival-style games or challenges for the kids to defeat the mobs in. 

The opportunities are endless, and I’m sure your birthday kid will have plenty of their own ideas to incorporate into the party. Don’t forget to let them spend some time playing their favorite video game at the end of the party.  

Rent a Venue 

With such a large variety of event venues to choose from, there is bound to be something for everyone! From ice skating to laser tag, to adventure parks, to paintballing, to art classes, the options are endless. 

One of the current trending party venues are nerf war battlefields. Join in the fun and shoot your best shots. Come check us out at The Battlefield in Denton, TX  to learn more about our party packages. Play a variety of family-friendly NERF games on our massive MEGA arena, and bring your friends for an amazing Nerf birthday party. We have private party rooms where you can book up to 8 tables to take a break from battling for your food and cake.

Final Thoughts

These are some of the best birthday party ideas for 8 – 12-year-olds. Planning birthday parties are incredibly exciting and allow our imaginations to run wild. Remember to check in with your birthday kid and make sure they like what you have planned for them. Better yet, involve them in the planning process and let them help you decide on decorations, activities, and food options. After all, it is their big day, and we are there to celebrate them! 

How to Host a Kid’s Birthday Party

Introduction

Birthdays are important milestones in our children’s lives. We gather together with family and friends to celebrate everything our child has achieved over the past year, marvel at how much they have grown, and shower them with wishes for the upcoming year. The birthday kid excitedly opens thoughtful presents, blows out symbolic candles, and everyone eats the ceremonial cake. Birthday parties are a staple of childhood. With all the different themes, supplies, and expectations, planning a successful birthday party can be overwhelming and time-consuming. Here are some steps on how to host a kid’s party. 

Plan a Budget 

The first thing to decide on for your child’s birthday party is the amount of money you are willing, and realistically able, to spend. It is far too easy to walk into the party store and get caught up in all the excitement of decorations and extra party favors. One second you are getting paper plates, and the next thing you know, you are walking out of the store with five hundred dollars worth of balloons and confetti. Avoid this mistake by sitting down and deciding on a specific amount that you are going to spend on the party. 

Next, sit down with your child to identify the most important elements that you both want to see at the party. This may include a custom cake, interesting entertainment, and possibly even an event space. Prioritize these elements first when estimating the cost of each item and category. Once you have an estimated amount for each of the categories, you will have a better idea of where you can splurge or what you can pass on. 

Pick the Party Theme 

This is the fun part of party planning. Sit down with your child to pick out a theme for their birthday party. Children usually already have creative ideas for their birthday parties, long before their birthday month even arrives. Whether they decide to go with a classic theme such as dinosaurs or pick a new computer game theme that you’ve never heard of before, allow their imaginations to run wild. They will be more than happy to help you come up with ideas to make their day magical. You can incorporate tools such as party store websites or Pinterest vision boards to help bring their dreams to fruition. Make sure to stick within your allocated budget and utilize items and elements you already have at home. Your child would also love to participate in any crafting projects that take place before the big day. Hand them some construction paper and let them join in on the fun. 

Pick the Venue 

Next, it’s time to pick the venue for the birthday party. Many people choose to host a kid’s birthday party in their own backyards. For many others, this may not be a feasible option. There are plenty of venues to choose from, including wide open spaces or event centers that cater to birthday parties. Regardless of which option you choose, be sure to research any rules or restrictions when it comes to setting up decorations in venues. Whether you decide on an event center or keep the party close to home, plan the decorations out ahead of time. Decide where the food and drinks will go, where the presents can be placed, and where the kids will play. Make sure to save some space for the parents as many of them will probably stay for the duration of the party as well. 

There are pros and cons to choosing an event center over your backyard. Pros for choosing an event venue usually includes entertainment for the kids, party hosts during the event, catering may be included, and set up and clean up is usually minimal. Cons include the cost, time restrictions, limited decorations, and possibly sharing the space with non-party goers. 

Make sure that you find a space that fits within your budget. If you choose to stay home, then you could use the venue funds to splurge in another category. If you choose to use a venue, you could draw more from the decorations category to fund the space. Remember, whichever you decide, the kids will have a wonderful time.

Create the Menu

Once you have chosen your venue, you will be able to decide on the food and other treats for the party. If you are hosting the kid’s birthday party at an event venue, they may provide the food or suggest easy options such as pizza. If you are doing a backyard party, choose food and snacks to go with the theme of the birthday party. Make sure to have a meal available for the children, such as mac n cheese, in addition to the sweets and treats. Pinterest is a great tool for choosing themes and treats on a budget. Make sure to include ‘grown up’ food and drinks for the parents that are sticking around as well. 

Don’t forget about the special birthday cake! Custom cakes are very popular and are more affordable than ever. Cupcakes are also a great alternative for kids and are easier to distribute to eager children. When picking out the candles, make sure to keep an extra lighter or two on hand as they tend to malfunction when it’s time to shine. 

Final Thoughts

Hosting a kid’s birthday party can be overwhelming and stressful. Take a deep breath and enjoy the excitement. Decide on your budget, pick a theme, find the right venue, create the menu, and the rest will take care of itself. No matter how the birthday party turns out, your child will have an amazing time and feel so incredibly special! 

If planning a birthday party after all these steps still feels too exhausting, come join us at The Battlefield in Denton, TX. We are a massive indoor arena where you will have the ultimate NERF experience. We will do all the organizing, serving, and entertaining for you. All you have to do is show up and get your NERF on. Let’s celebrate your child in style! 

10 Ways to Decorate for a Kid’s Party

Introduction 

Many core childhood memories are formed during occasions such as birthday parties. Children have incredible imaginations, and when paired with the magic of birthdays, many fantasies become a reality. What may seem like simple decorations transport kids into a fantasy realm where magic and superpowers are real. Let’s look at ten ways to decorate for a kid’s party to ensure their dreams come true and they magically step into their fantasy world. 

Space Theme 

To bring your space-themed kid’s party to life, hang a black plastic tablecloth across the ceiling of the party area, such as the dining room where all of the food will be set up. Then, hang your eight planets (or nine, if you include Pluto) from the ceiling using a fishing line. Arrange them in an orbit-like pattern at various heights around the sun. You can use balloons or paper lanterns to create the various sized and colored planets. Now add some stars, asteroids, and even a few rockets or alien spaceships in between the plants. The stars can be cut from cardboard and covered with aluminum foil, and the rockets or alien spaceships can be created on colored cardstock. The kids will feel like real astronauts when they enter space and explore the galaxy. 

Minecraft Party

Minecraft is a popular video game where the graphics are pixelated, and almost everything in the game is square-shaped. To decorate the party area, simply paint a bunch of empty boxes. You can recruit your kids to help decorate all of the boxes to represent the different terrains of the Minecraft world. For added fun, hide a few diamond or emerald cubes behind regular stone terrain boxes. Craft each kid a pickaxe from cardboard and allow them to ‘mine’ for the precious gems. They will feel immersed in the Minecraft world while utilizing the decorations for more than just something interesting to set the scene. 

Dinosaur Party 

Another classic kid’s party theme is dinosaurs. Decorate the party space to give off jungle vibes by incorporating greenery into the area. This can be achieved with fake plants, green cardboard and cardstock leaf and tree cutouts, balloons, streamers, and tablecloths. Different shades of green, brown, and teal will bring the wild space to life. Don’t forget to add brown and green dinosaur footprints in the form of cardstock laid out across the room as if they had just walked through. The kids will be transported into the Jurassic Era in no time. 

Unicorn Party

The perfect unicorn color scheme usually includes white, pastel pink, lilac, sky blue, and gold. Other elements to include when decorating may be flowers, rainbows, and glitter. One simple decorating idea is to create a pastel-colored balloon arch. Then add rainbow-colored streamers raining down from the balloon arch to create the perfect photography backdrop. Add a few photo props, such as unicorn headbands or unicorn cutouts for extra fun poses. 

Construction Truck Party 

Kids love construction vehicles, such as dump trucks and cranes. One way to decorate for this party theme is to fill a plastic kid’s splash pool with play sand and allow the kids to play with their construction vehicles in the sand. Remember to add a few bright yellow hard hats to the food table for added safety fun. 

Princess Party 

Princess Parties are always magical events. Whether you choose to decorate in the blue colors of Cinderella or the pink colors of Aurora, make sure to add floral and sparkling elements to your decorations. Some of the most elegant decorations include a head table for the food and cake with sheer curtains draped to the sides with a central backdrop of sparkling streamers. Balloon garlands and floral garlands add an extra touch of festivity. Set a dining room table, complete with silverware and teacups, to create an air of royalty. Again, add draping cloth to each of the chairs to round off the theme. Don’t forget to add the tiaras! 

Candyland Party 

An iconic board game and great kid’s party theme is Candyland. Decorate your party space with giant candy to replicate the different candy biomes. Red pool noodles can be wrapped with white ribbon to create the giant candy canes from the Peppermint Forest. Balloons can be tied to white poles to lead the way to Lollipop Palace. Cardboard can be cut and painted to create King Kandy’s Castle. Two paper plates can be glued together (top side facing inwards to create a bubble-like effect) and then painted to look like swirl mints. Let your imagination run wild and create a candy dreamland! 

Under the Sea Party 

One of the most versatile parties to decorate for is an under the sea party. Whether you choose to focus on sharks, fish, or mermaids, this theme is perfect for any kid’s party. You can create floating jellyfish by attaching long ribbons and streamers to round paper lanterns and hanging them up with a fishing line. Green streamers can be used to create seaweed by attaching the bottom of one cut strip onto the wall at a central point on the floor, then twisting that strand a few times before sticking the top part down onto the wall. Start each streamer strip at the same central point and then fan them out into different points. A group of five or six streamers should be enough for one seaweed plant. Don’t forget to add the blue plastic tablecloths, which can be used to create an underwater scene. 

Superhero Party 

A great color scheme to start off with for your superhero party are red, blue, and yellow. Most superheroes incorporate these colors, including superman, spiderman, wonder woman, and the flash. For a photo booth backdrop, create a nighttime skyline of skyscrapers by painting cardboard buildings black and adding yellow blocks for windows. Set it over a dark blue tablecloth that represents the sky and paint it with tiny yellow and white stars and a crescent moon. Add the birthday kid’s name in bold, comic book style font and add props in the form of comic book phrases, such as ‘boom,’ ‘pow,’ and ‘wham.’ Remind each kid to come dressed as their favorite superhero and soon, you will find the magic of superpowers come to life. 

Nerf Party

Nothing but fun and a whole lot of Nerf games! Take your birthday party to the next level with nerf fun. The Battlefield in Denton, TX offers 2 blaster arenas for huge nerf wars. Home to a 10,000 SF indoor area for family entertainment, they are available for private reservations for after-hours adult fun, camps, team-building events, fundraisers, field trips, and birthday parties.

Nerf wars are a great way to burn off some energy for the teenagers when they take a break from screen time, completely action-packed fun. Check them out today for unlimited options for your next party.

Final Thoughts 

Whether you go all out on decorations or keep it minimal, the kids’ imaginations will fill in the gaps and add the magic to bring your fantasy world to life. Enjoy celebrating your kid’s birthday while creating lifelong memories!

Party Tips and Tricks for a Successful Kid’s Party

Parties are events for celebrations and are great for entertainment, fun, and socializing, especially for kids. The most common form of celebration for kids is the birthday party. Every kid wants one of those! So it is our duty as parents to grant that request every once in a while. 

Throwing a party for a kid can be overwhelming for us parents and even the kid in question. However, the gratification that comes with it is undeniable- seeing the child as happy as he can be. Other Kids’ parties may not be related to birthdays, but it is still necessary to plan for a successful celebration.

The truth is, we all need tips and tricks on how to get a successful kids’ party. Here are a few that might help.

7 Tips and Tricks for a Successful Kid’s party

Prepare a to-do list to follow

Preparing a to-do list is simply not leaving room for failure. As the saying goes; “failure to plan is planning to fail,” it is easier to fail at something when we do not plan for it. It is convenient to think everything will fall in place when the time for the party comes, but it does not work that way. Having a to-do list is arranging the events; people to call, things to wash or take out of the basement, things to buy, in order of importance. More ticks on your list mean the more likely the success of the kids’ party.

Prepare guest lists and invitations

Preparing a guest list and having several invitees is another way of planning. Also is a way to determine the minimum required amount of items one may need to get. It depends on other factors like; the age group category. There is an age group category that most guests fall under for kids’ parties. Almost all the time, guests for kids’ parties fall in the age group of the celebrant, making it more fun and easier to plan. 

Be sure to include the start and end time, date, and location. Also, make sure you ask for an RSVP, so you know for sure if they are attending. 

P.S. Kindly note that babies celebrating their first birthday are an exception because everyone will be attending!

Things to consider when making your list:

How big or small will the party be?

How many guests does my budget allow?

Will the party be for your kid’s friends or only family?

Is the party venue large enough to host the amount of guests you want to invite?

It’s also important to decide what types of invitations you would like to use for the party.

Store bought invitations: these can be fairly cheap and easy to use, but you may be limited to certain themes or designs that are pre-printed.

Custom invitations: These can be a little more costly, but you can create your own design and make it more personalized with colors and themes.

DIY: Creating your own invitations can be less expensive using what you have at home. You can be very creative in the design and materials you use creating a one of a kind invitation for your child.

Choose a theme

Choosing a theme helps with the party décor, and it takes the burden of looking for random decorations off. Using a Barbie theme or Ben 10 theme, for example, defines that the party is going to be pink or green and black. It makes picking colors and décor hacks easier and more fun.

Decide on a Location

Deciding to rent a venue might be a good idea or not, considering some factors that may come to mind. Proximity, cost, and decor arrangements are a few of those factors. Getting a good venue is tantamount to planning a successful kid’s party, but we need the right information. What ages does the venue accommodate? Can you have a private party or do you have to share the area with others? Do they allow you to bring in your own food/cake? 

Remember to keep your budget in mind, renting a venue can get costly the more guests you have. 

Decide on Food

The next step is ordering or bringing in food for your party. Before deciding on food choices, it's important to find out some information.

• Are there any dietary restrictions or allergies that you should be aware of that apply to any of the guests?

• Can you bring in food/cake to the venue?

• Make sure you allow enough time to have the food delivered if ordering out.

Planning on what type of menu you would like and where you will be getting the food at least a week in advance will help you prepare for your party and ensure the food will be ready. Also, it’s a good idea to provide plenty of water or beverages, partying takes a lot of energy.

Choosing the Decorations & Party Favors

Sometimes when you rent a party venue, they will decorate the area for you. Make sure you check with them in advance to see if you need decorations. If you do need party decor, it’s important to ask your child what decorations they would like to have at their party.

• Balloons

• Tablecloths

• Themed decor

• Centerpieces

• Birthday banner/signs

It’s also imperative to decide if you will be making any of your own decorations, or if you will be buying these items. 

Nothing is more exciting than having all the good times in the world at a party and still getting to take a handful of goodies home. After all, is said and done, this is the definition of a party well-done!

Games for entertainment

Another tip for throwing a successful kids’ party is having lots of games and excitement to keep the kids occupied. The type of games depends on the age group we’re dealing with, but overall whatever keeps the kids occupied while at the same time entertaining them is excellent for a successful kids’ party.

5 Other Things to Consider When Planning a Successful Kid’s Party

Budget: It is essential that planning goes hand in hand with the budget in mind. It is not unusual that we may get a little carried away with preparations that we forget to properly apportion the amount that we can spend on each item/agenda. Having a budget simplifies all these problems to know what we are working on. 

Venue: As earlier mentioned, we can decide not to use our homes for the kid’s party but rent out. There are questions to ask yourself when considering a venue.

• Is this venue suitable for my child and guests?

• Does this fit my budget?

• Is the venue in a good location?

• Will decor arrangements be made?

• Can we bring in our own food/cake?

Decide if you want parents to stay: Most parties become drop-off parties but you should indicate on the invitation if parents should attend or what time they can pick up their child from the party.

Open gifts before guests leave: It’s important that your child open gifts before the guests leave. Especially for small children, it’s exciting for them to see what they receive from their friends, and for the guests to watch the birthday child open their gifts.

Create a checklist for the day: Creating a checklist for the day will ensure you don’t forget important details. It’s not a bad idea to make a list so you have everything ready for the party.

• How many guests are attending

• Food is ordered and will arrive on time/is prepared and ready for the party

• All decorations are set up well in advance for the party

• Games are ready and set up for party start time

• Favor bags are ready for the guests departure from party

Planning the perfect party for your child can be challenging and stressful. Finding the perfect place for your kids party doesn’t have to be. Check out The Battlefield in Denton, TX. This massive MEGA arena of NERF fun is the perfect party venue. Nerf birthday parties are the perfect way to celebrate boys or girls and accommodate all of their guests. 

Let us help you with the planning, you can decorate in your own way. We can help you as much or as little as you want! Contact us today, our family amusement center is just the spot for your next party!