Birthday party ideas for 12 yo? Thoughts on paintball?

[Anonymous]

Soon to be 12 yo has been asking for a paintball birthday party. He and his friends love playing nerf guns and have been to laser tag parties. I’m nervous about all the bruises and welts from paintball play. Thoughts? Other ideas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Soon to be 12 yo has been asking for a paintball birthday party. He and his friends love playing nerf guns and have been to laser tag parties. I’m nervous about all the bruises and welts from paintball play. Thoughts? Other ideas?

PEV’s paintball has places in MD and VA. They rent all the protective gear; nothing to worry about.

[Anonymous]

Do all of your child’s friends’ parents allow gun play? Because that might limit who comes.

[Anonymous]

Ultimate archery is softer and doesn’t hurt. The people who run the parties at Sterling do a great job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do all of your child’s friends’ parents allow gun play? Because that might limit who comes.

I would not love this invitation but I'd probably allow it if my kid really wanted to go. Used to be okay with shooting games like lazer tag but less comfortable after so many recent shootings.

[genxjen]

I would not be happy with this. I might allow it but with frustration that you picked it. Many kids are scared right now - they are having nightmares. There are so many other things that dont involve gun play that are cool and fun -- top golf, sandy spring adventure park, escape room, pinstripes, Skyzone/dodgeball

[Anonymous]

OP here. This is super helpful. I’m reluctant for the reasons mentioned above. I’ve convinced him to have a sleepover and Marvel movie marathon and table paintball for now.

[Anonymous]

Depends where you are located, the drive could be quite long. For a party like this, I would invite only friends who tried it before. My DS was asking to go paintball for years. We finally went, he got shot in the back, and didn’t want to play anymore. We did the “light” one but even the light version is quite painful if it hits you. So, in general, pretty bad idea, unless you’re inviting 3-4 friends who’ve done it before.

[Anonymous]

As PP noted, paintballs hurt/bruise when they hit.

[genxjen]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is super helpful. I’m reluctant for the reasons mentioned above. I’ve convinced him to have a sleepover and Marvel movie marathon and table paintball for now.

Good job, Mom!

[Anonymous]

My son would have loved it. I think he went to his first paintball party at 13. The hardest part was the family arranged rides, since it was far away. Know the friends and if they would be okay with it. I wouldn’t send out invites to kids you didn’t know, but even the most liberal families we know were fine with paintball these past few years. It was one of the best socially distant, outdoor parties during covid. It’s paint!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a blast, have fun!

[Anonymous]

Have the party you and your family want to have, don’t worry about who comes or who doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Not a lot of families allow sleepovers anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of families allow sleepovers anymore.

I’d much rather have my kids attend a paintball party instead of a sleepover. At best, they are miserable for two days after at sleepover. At worst, all sorts of trouble happens. That was the age my oldest son and friends and nephew started sneaking out at sleepovers.