13 yo daughter’s bday party

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not one of the posters in the back and forth argument but chiming in to say that most 13 year olds, outside of DCUM of course, have TikTok. This isn’t exactly a crazy adult or teen thing to suggest at a hangout for 13 year old middle schoolers.

"Most"?

Yes, most 13 year olds have TikTok. All of the parents might not know about it, but the majority of 13 year olds have TikTok.

Yeah a majority of 13 year olds with “cool moms” have tik tok. Unlike those kids whose parents have boundaries and recognize age appropriate activities.

Oh sweetie you must be one of those clueless moms. I personally know of multiple teens that have TikTok and Instagram whose parents love to get on their high horse and say oh I don’t let my kids on social media. Those same
parents also say my child would never be devious and go behind my back and hide it on their phone. Meanwhile, my kid shows me those friends’ secret accounts. But sure, stay in your bubble have no idea what your kid is doing on social media.

How on earth could it be so hard to prevent kids from being on social media?

My 5th grader told me that two girls on her bus have phones with TikTok, and that everyone gathers around them and watches videos the whole ride, both to and from school. Tell me what I'm supposed to do about that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not one of the posters in the back and forth argument but chiming in to say that most 13 year olds, outside of DCUM of course, have TikTok. This isn’t exactly a crazy adult or teen thing to suggest at a hangout for 13 year old middle schoolers.

"Most"?

Yes, most 13 year olds have TikTok. All of the parents might not know about it, but the majority of 13 year olds have TikTok.

Yeah a majority of 13 year olds with “cool moms” have tik tok. Unlike those kids whose parents have boundaries and recognize age appropriate activities.

Oh sweetie you must be one of those clueless moms. I personally know of multiple teens that have TikTok and Instagram whose parents love to get on their high horse and say oh I don’t let my kids on social media. Those same
parents also say my child would never be devious and go behind my back and hide it on their phone. Meanwhile, my kid shows me those friends’ secret accounts. But sure, stay in your bubble have no idea what your kid is doing on social media.

How on earth could it be so hard to prevent kids from being on social media?

Once your kid is 13 and has a cell phone you should proceed as though they are on social media. The kids are very tech savvy, they know the tricks and hacks for hiding apps, getting around the blocks set up, etc. And even if your kids don’t have it, their friends do and they scroll with them (like a PPs bus story).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not one of the posters in the back and forth argument but chiming in to say that most 13 year olds, outside of DCUM of course, have TikTok. This isn’t exactly a crazy adult or teen thing to suggest at a hangout for 13 year old middle schoolers.

"Most"?

Yes, most 13 year olds have TikTok. All of the parents might not know about it, but the majority of 13 year olds have TikTok.

Yeah a majority of 13 year olds with “cool moms” have tik tok. Unlike those kids whose parents have boundaries and recognize age appropriate activities.

Oh sweetie you must be one of those clueless moms. I personally know of multiple teens that have TikTok and Instagram whose parents love to get on their high horse and say oh I don’t let my kids on social media. Those same
parents also say my child would never be devious and go behind my back and hide it on their phone. Meanwhile, my kid shows me those friends’ secret accounts. But sure, stay in your bubble have no idea what your kid is doing on social media.

How on earth could it be so hard to prevent kids from being on social media?

Once your kid is 13 and has a cell phone you should proceed as though they are on social media. The kids are very tech savvy, they know the tricks and hacks for hiding apps, getting around the blocks set up, etc. And even if your kids don’t have it, their friends do and they scroll with them (like a PPs bus story).

There is so much tech reliance these days, I feel bad for kids, it's getting harder and harder to give them a childhood without it.

[Anonymous]

When my dd was 14, we took a bunch of her friends to a photographer’s studio (low key studio based at the photographers home). They each brought a couple of shirts (one colorful and one all white) and did their makeup at the studio. Then came back to our house for dinner. We had the digital pictures within a couple hours and each kid could pick one picture that we had printed for them (and delivered later). It was a lot of fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Build a bear? Every girl loves a stuffed animal, no matter the age[/quote

WTF?

I think it’s a seeet and cute idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my dd was 14, we took a bunch of her friends to a photographer’s studio (low key studio based at the photographers home). They each brought a couple of shirts (one colorful and one all white) and did their makeup at the studio. Then came back to our house for dinner. We had the digital pictures within a couple hours and each kid could pick one picture that we had printed for them (and delivered later). It was a lot of fun!

Oh God, like Glamour shots?!

[Anonymous]

For my kid’s 11 yo bday party, a few older sibs walked their younger sisters over to our apartment (NYC). We said the older girls could stay if they wanted since we had extra supplies.

We had little plastic terrariums, dirt, glass beads, succulents, and little resin figurines, and the kids designed their own terrarium. We still see them in the guests’ houses a few years later, so I guess that was a hit. Also, painting rocks with acrylic paint pens.

The older kids were very into it all, so maybe they were relatively immature 13 year olds. Or maybe the older girls just leaned into a random bonus fun few hours with no need to look cool (since all of them “had” to be there with their younger sisters).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Build a bear? Every girl loves a stuffed animal, no matter the age[/quote

WTF?

I think it’s a seeet and cute idea.

Yeah, for preschoolers, not teens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For my kid’s 11 yo bday party, a few older sibs walked their younger sisters over to our apartment (NYC). We said the older girls could stay if they wanted since we had extra supplies.

We had little plastic terrariums, dirt, glass beads, succulents, and little resin figurines, and the kids designed their own terrarium. We still see them in the guests’ houses a few years later, so I guess that was a hit. Also, painting rocks with acrylic paint pens.

The older kids were very into it all, so maybe they were relatively immature 13 year olds. Or maybe the older girls just leaned into a random bonus fun few hours with no need to look cool (since all of them “had” to be there with their younger sisters).

So you did a craft like almost everyone is suggesting in here? Nobody said crafts were immature and there are many examples of crafts. What most people agree on is construction paper and glue sticks is not appropriate. You agree with that as well since that’s not what you did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my kid’s 11 yo bday party, a few older sibs walked their younger sisters over to our apartment (NYC). We said the older girls could stay if they wanted since we had extra supplies.

We had little plastic terrariums, dirt, glass beads, succulents, and little resin figurines, and the kids designed their own terrarium. We still see them in the guests’ houses a few years later, so I guess that was a hit. Also, painting rocks with acrylic paint pens.

The older kids were very into it all, so maybe they were relatively immature 13 year olds. Or maybe the older girls just leaned into a random bonus fun few hours with no need to look cool (since all of them “had” to be there with their younger sisters).

So you did a craft like almost everyone is suggesting in here? Nobody said crafts were immature and there are many examples of crafts. What most people agree on is construction paper and glue sticks is not appropriate. You agree with that as well since that’s not what you did.

PP here. The OP asked for ideas, so I provided a suggestion (terrariums/rocks) that had worked for us and I had not seen suggested in the first page or two of the thread.

It was for slightly younger kids, so I provided a justification that I think it might work for 13 year olds. I was not trying to argue with anyone or take sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my kid’s 11 yo bday party, a few older sibs walked their younger sisters over to our apartment (NYC). We said the older girls could stay if they wanted since we had extra supplies.

We had little plastic terrariums, dirt, glass beads, succulents, and little resin figurines, and the kids designed their own terrarium. We still see them in the guests’ houses a few years later, so I guess that was a hit. Also, painting rocks with acrylic paint pens.

The older kids were very into it all, so maybe they were relatively immature 13 year olds. Or maybe the older girls just leaned into a random bonus fun few hours with no need to look cool (since all of them “had” to be there with their younger sisters).

So you did a craft like almost everyone is suggesting in here? Nobody said crafts were immature and there are many examples of crafts. What most people agree on is construction paper and glue sticks is not appropriate. You agree with that as well since that’s not what you did.

PP here. The OP asked for ideas, so I provided a suggestion (terrariums/rocks) that had worked for us and I had not seen suggested in the first page or two of the thread.

It was for slightly younger kids, so I provided a justification that I think it might work for 13 year olds. I was not trying to argue with anyone or take sides.

Why would you call 13yr olds immature for liking a craft?

[Anonymous]

I think it's important to know your audience. I'd also be curious to know the reasoning for not wanting them to roam the neighborhood.

For one of my kids, she did do a craft at a party when she was around that age. They did yarn wrapped initials for their walls and they turned out cute. My younger daughter would not be into that at all, at least not in a big group setting--maybe a craft as an activity with one other friend but not at a party.

If you feel like you need an activity, how about cupcake wars? This can be as structured or not structured as you want it to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my kid’s 11 yo bday party, a few older sibs walked their younger sisters over to our apartment (NYC). We said the older girls could stay if they wanted since we had extra supplies.

We had little plastic terrariums, dirt, glass beads, succulents, and little resin figurines, and the kids designed their own terrarium. We still see them in the guests’ houses a few years later, so I guess that was a hit. Also, painting rocks with acrylic paint pens.

The older kids were very into it all, so maybe they were relatively immature 13 year olds. Or maybe the older girls just leaned into a random bonus fun few hours with no need to look cool (since all of them “had” to be there with their younger sisters).

So you did a craft like almost everyone is suggesting in here? Nobody said crafts were immature and there are many examples of crafts. What most people agree on is construction paper and glue sticks is not appropriate. You agree with that as well since that’s not what you did.

PP here. The OP asked for ideas, so I provided a suggestion (terrariums/rocks) that had worked for us and I had not seen suggested in the first page or two of the thread.

It was for slightly younger kids, so I provided a justification that I think it might work for 13 year olds. I was not trying to argue with anyone or take sides.

Why would you call 13yr olds immature for liking a craft?

Because this poster seems to think the second you turn 13, that's it childhood over, can't like kid stuff anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's important to know your audience. I'd also be curious to know the reasoning for not wanting them to roam the neighborhood.

For one of my kids, she did do a craft at a party when she was around that age. They did yarn wrapped initials for their walls and they turned out cute. My younger daughter would not be into that at all, at least not in a big group setting--maybe a craft as an activity with one other friend but not at a party.

If you feel like you need an activity, how about cupcake wars? This can be as structured or not structured as you want it to be.

Cupcake wars sound like a lot of fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my kid’s 11 yo bday party, a few older sibs walked their younger sisters over to our apartment (NYC). We said the older girls could stay if they wanted since we had extra supplies.

We had little plastic terrariums, dirt, glass beads, succulents, and little resin figurines, and the kids designed their own terrarium. We still see them in the guests’ houses a few years later, so I guess that was a hit. Also, painting rocks with acrylic paint pens.

The older kids were very into it all, so maybe they were relatively immature 13 year olds. Or maybe the older girls just leaned into a random bonus fun few hours with no need to look cool (since all of them “had” to be there with their younger sisters).

So you did a craft like almost everyone is suggesting in here? Nobody said crafts were immature and there are many examples of crafts. What most people agree on is construction paper and glue sticks is not appropriate. You agree with that as well since that’s not what you did.

PP here. The OP asked for ideas, so I provided a suggestion (terrariums/rocks) that had worked for us and I had not seen suggested in the first page or two of the thread.

It was for slightly younger kids, so I provided a justification that I think it might work for 13 year olds. I was not trying to argue with anyone or take sides.

Why would you call 13yr olds immature for liking a craft?

Because this poster seems to think the second you turn 13, that's it childhood over, can't like kid stuff anymore.

Weird since all I see is craft suggestions in here. Except for one dud most are pretty good. But that person can’t seem to get over the fact nobody liked it.