It’s a psychological fact that teens come to a point where they need to push their parents away. It’s not pleasant, but it’s part of the process they need to discover who they are and prepare to leave the nest. This doesn’t mean you should give up. While it’s good to give them some space to grow, making them a priority means more to them than they’ll let on. Throwing your teen a surprise party can be a great way to celebrate them. Just try to keep the mushy stuff to a minimum in front of their friends, and use some of these simple tips.
Don’t “forget” her birthday
You might be tempted to act as if you’ve forgotten her birthday leading up to the big day. That way, she’ll be so much more surprised when she finds out you actually remembered. But the truth is, she’ll be expecting something and acting like you forgot will just make her suspicious. Do your best to keep the planning under wraps, but discuss things about her birthday just as you do every year. For example, ask her where she’d like to go for her birthday dinner or what kind of cake she’d like. Keep things as normal as possible.
Enlist the help of her friends
Sadly enough for most parents, teens tend to lean on their friends more than anyone else during this time of life. No matter how well you think you know your teen, her friends probably know her a lot better. That’s why it’s important to include her closest ones in the planning process. For one thing, they can probably tell you whether a surprise party is even a good idea for your teenager. Some will be mortified at the idea of having all the attention on them, while others will lavish it. For another thing, your teen’s friends can help you plan and invite guests. They know who she likes and who she’d want at the party. You can even get them to help with the shopping and decorating.
Add lots of personal touches
The party is a way to celebrate your teen, so find a way to make her stand out. Print out some photos of her and her friends from Facebook to scatter around the party areas. You can lay these randomly on the tables with the food, frame some to hang on the walls, or even make T-shirts with her picture on them. These ideas will, of course, depend on your own teen’s personality and how she responds to being the center of attention.
Record the memory
Don’t let the party go by without finding a way to capture the day. Check into photo booth rental NYC to set up an area where friends can pose together for fun keepsakes. Themed props are a great addition and make photos more memorable, and you can create keepsakes from the images once the party’s over. These could be photo books for the birthday girl and all her guests, framed prints, or just uploaded albums for everyone to share.
Don’t forget the gifts
No matter how well you plan your teen’s party, she’ll still expect a gift. Remind her of how special she is to your family and make your gifts personal. A good example is a piece of jewelry she can keep forever. This can be from you alone or from your entire family. You might even consider finding bracelets for sisters for your daughters with close birthdays. The point is to keep her personality and interests in mind to let her know how much you care.
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