Tweens are sometimes the hardest age-group to have a party for when it comes to games. They’re a little old for piñata, yet you can’t think of anything else to play but Pin the Hair on Zac Efron. Here are a few games and activities that you may already have around your home, or are fairly simple to make up.

• Pop Culture Trivia: No need to go all out for this. Visit a few websites or read a couple of magazines your child has lying around. Pull easy questions from what you read, break the kids into teams and voila!
• Who Knows The Birthday Boy/Girl Best?: Come up with a few questions about your child (favorite book, celebrity, etc.), and have them write their answers on a separate sheet of paper. Again, you can break the kids into teams, or have them compete individually writing down their answers on their own paper. Whoever gets the most right wins!
• Apples to Apples, Jr.: This is a great game that can last for minutes or hours. Kids have to make the best match of a noun to the given adjective (e.g. Heavy = a bowling ball, elephant, car, etc.)
• Make Your Own…: Now pick what to make! Pizzas, tacos, and snack mixes are all great food options. or, you can let the kids make their own party favors by making necklaces, decorating journals, or cd cases.
• Scavenger Hunt: Hide different clues around the house (or even the neighborhood) to find prizes or even party supplies.

When choosing the games and activities for the party, keep the birthday tween involved in as much of the planning as possible. They’ll appreciate the grown-up responsibility. Also, let them choose their invitations and decorations on Big Dot of Happiness. They’ll take so much pride in decorating their own party; it may just be effortless for you!

Posted by Jillian, a Dot-arilla Blogger