Need ideas...macho birthday for 11yo boy?

[claddaghmom]

My brother is turning 11 and is very sensitive about "not being a little kid"

I am trying to brainstorm for ideas on a birthday party with these bullets:

*10 kids, boys and girls, ranging in age from 4 to teens

*inexpensive ($5 or less per kid, not counting food as I am making lunch, cake and snacks)

*appealing to an 11yo boy and his two 11yo friends

*indoors

He has already nixed the Science center (too babyish) the ice skating and roller skating rinks (too girlyish) and a home party (too boring)

He said he wants to go fishing. In surburbia land, in the middle of winter. Not gonna happen little, er, big guy.

[Momily]

Where I live "laser tag" is the hot birthday party at that age (well at 10 which is how old DS's friends are turning) but I think it's way of $5.

Could you invite fewer kids? The things I think of as 11 appropriate are rarely 4 appropriate.

[claddaghmom]

Originally Posted by Momily

Where I live "laser tag" is the hot birthday party at that age (well at 10 which is how old DS's friends are turning) but I think it's way of $5.

Could you invite fewer kids? The things I think of as 11 appropriate are rarely 4 appropriate.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But it is a whole-family event and he was allowed to invite two friends.

It's been a long-standing policy in our family that birthdays are family celebrations.

[kolleen9]

Originally Posted by claddaghmom

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But it is a whole-family event and he was allowed to invite two friends.

It's been a long-standing policy in our family that birthdays are family celebrations.

My son had a laser tag party and the other moms and dads joined in. Those that didn't sat in the lounge and chatted. Maybe your family would consider it?

What about ice or roller skating? archery? a fencing lesson as a family? bowling? batting cage? multi-sportsplex? a house party but the boys get to have a slime fight outside?

good luck!
Kolleen

[iamama]

Dance party?

[Momily]

Originally Posted by claddaghmom

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But it is a whole-family event and he was allowed to invite two friends.

It's been a long-standing policy in our family that birthdays are family celebrations.

Could you do a family celebration (e.g. an early dinner at your house) and then just keep the 3 11 year olds for something fun like a movie and sleepover?

That way you'd have the best of both worlds.

[Cherie2]

does your city offer recreational activities? I was thinking of something like this
maybe there is a city community center that offers outdoor activates and you could book a group price and they might even do it at a time you request?

here they have rafting, rock climbing and snow shoeing, lots of stuff

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by claddaghmom

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. But it is a whole-family event and he was allowed to invite two friends.

It's been a long-standing policy in our family that birthdays are family celebrations.

I'm wondering if maybe it's time to change the policy. Or maybe have a family dinner one day and let him have his "big kid celebration" with 2 or 3 friends completely separate from the family party.

Would he go for a sleepover, with a movie or two (that he gets to pick out) and popcorn and pizza? Or how about taking 2 friends to the movies in the theater? Then you're spending for 3 kids, not 10, and you can spend more per child.

[smillerhouse]

For my son's number 11 I rented a pavillion at the springs. We did kayaking, water balloons, etc. If it is winter, sledding/tobaggoning. Rockclimbing? My son is 18and still loves paintball and airsoft guns. For indoor, pool, airhockey, gaming. Sallie

[mommy68]

bowling
paintball
batting center (if he likes baseball)

YMCA? Our area YMCAs offer the pool and gym areas for birthday parties. The child can choose to do half swimming half of a sport in the gym (usually basketball) or they can do one thing the whole time and have gifts and cake at the end.

[2mama]

I second swimming at the YMCA.. or doing a sleepover and sledding..

[claddaghmom]

mommy68, thx! Paintball it is. I completely forgot we had an indoor/outdoor center near here. We love paintball