12 Year Old Birthday Party Ideas?

May is often a nice time of year to get outdoors so maybe you could stage the party at a public park or indeed any public space. A treasure hunt can be a huge hit with kids this age. It's a bit more grown up than a scavenger hunt - you'll need to give them clues to solve and follow. Depending on the numbers you could split them into teams, or just focus on getting them to co-operate with each other. It can be good to create a mix of clues that let different people shine - for instance you could have crytic clues, anagrams, directions that involve locating north or using a compass, map reading, memory clues, musical clues etc. Really the only limit is your imagination!

The hunt can take up a lot of time and running about outdoors will burn off lots of energy which pre-teen boys have in abundance! Follow it with either a picnic lunch or a barbecue if the local by-laws permit, and then some lazing about afterwards!

If a treasure hunt isn't appealing you could try a few thrift stores for some over-sized garden games. It's not hard to make some of your own: an old sheet could be painted to make a giant x-o's game, or a twister game. You could make a hoop toss out of cardboard hoops and sticks hammered into the ground.

Water fights are fun at any age, and a cheap alternative to paint ball and quasar type outings. You could hide stashes of water balloons in the back yard and round up any variety of water pistols from friends and family (everyone has at least one of these!) or as a "craft" the kids could make their own water pistols from plastic water bottles. Just be sure to let everyone know they will need a change of clothes!

If you prefer to plan an indoors party, center it around a quiet activity (I must sound paranoid about the energy levels of boys!). I'm imagining an indoor cinema - if you could beg or borrow or rent a projector. Could you clear the furniture out of a room, lay cushions and bean bags for the kids to lounge on, and hang a white sheet on the wall to create a movie screen (command hooks are the business for hanging anything and everything). Pick a movie with a sports or action theme. If you fill up the kids on home made popcorn while they watch the movie you can save a bundle on party food because they just won't be able to eat as much as normal!