Please suggest novel bday party ideas for 12 yo girls...

[Anonymous]

I'm looking to book at a place for about a dozen 6th grade girls in Jan. I'm having major foot surgery that won't allow me to do much/drive... so a party at our house in a non-starter. Last year, we had a a nice dinner/sleep over booked and she came down with the flu and we had to cancel everything and it never got rescheduled. So lots of pressure this year!

So far, my almost 12 yo has VETOED these places
- Kendra Scott Color Bar (only a handful could attend)
- perfume making place in Georgetown (only a handful could attend)
- Cat Lounge in Georgetown - no thanks, we're allergic
- Escape Room Georgetown - requires an adult = deal breaker
- Karaoke - feels too old for the places
- Pottery/painting - also feels too old for this
- Rock climbing gym - she excels at this, but her friends don't = uninterested
- No interest in Pinstripes (bowling), trampoline/laser tag/bounce places/movies, getting nails done/dinner...

Any novel ideas were missing in Arlington, NW DC, or Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

She’s old enough to get on the internet and look herself with a budget if she’s going to be picky. I have a picky daughter too and I’ve had to do that. We live in a different area and she went with Bowlero before but yours already said no to bowling.

[Anonymous]

OP here... we've previously done ice skating in Ballston where the Caps practice. Great party, but the then second graders were so young coming out of the pandemic that it was a disaster. (We did it with our older daughter pre-Covid and had no issues). So maybe we try that again?!

[Anonymous]

She could have a Karate birthday; did you even consider that? Girls can do marshal arts too you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She could have a Karate birthday; did you even consider that? Girls can do marshal arts too you know.

My God no. No 12 year old girl wants a karate bday! lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here... we've previously done ice skating in Ballston where the Caps practice. Great party, but the then second graders were so young coming out of the pandemic that it was a disaster. (We did it with our older daughter pre-Covid and had no issues). So maybe we try that again?!

Ice skating would be perfect for 12 year olds in January!

[Anonymous]

5 wits in Arlington doesn’t need an adult for 12 year olds I think. They do a great party.

[Anonymous]

Is there another adult who can help you? Sounds like that's what you need. And I agree she should get online and find her own ideas since she's veto-ing so many others.

[Anonymous]

Swingers Mini Golf in DuPont. They have packages for Youth on Sunday afternoons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there another adult who can help you? Sounds like that's what you need. And I agree she should get online and find her own ideas since she's veto-ing so many others.

Actually it sounds like DD is vetoing anything that requires an adult.

OP you need to tell her she can pic from one of these GREAT options or she has one month to find something herself.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused at why a parent wouldn't be at a party. This sounds bizarre. I would want to know as a parent that you or your spouse wouldn't be there if its a drop off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking to book at a place for about a dozen 6th grade girls in Jan. I'm having major foot surgery that won't allow me to do much/drive... so a party at our house in a non-starter. Last year, we had a a nice dinner/sleep over booked and she came down with the flu and we had to cancel everything and it never got rescheduled. So lots of pressure this year!

So far, my almost 12 yo has VETOED these places
- Kendra Scott Color Bar (only a handful could attend)
- perfume making place in Georgetown (only a handful could attend)
- Cat Lounge in Georgetown - no thanks, we're allergic
- Escape Room Georgetown - requires an adult = deal breaker
- Karaoke - feels too old for the places
- Pottery/painting - also feels too old for this
- Rock climbing gym - she excels at this, but her friends don't = uninterested
- No interest in Pinstripes (bowling), trampoline/laser tag/bounce places/movies, getting nails done/dinner...

Any novel ideas were missing in Arlington, NW DC, or Bethesda?

Sorry, you are taking your 12 year old to have perfume and/or jewelry made? Or are you saying you'd only invite a handful if you are spending $100/kid?

[Anonymous]

Lip Lab at the Wharf? DD enjoyed a friend’s party there and there are fun restaurant choices for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Mine is the same age with a January bday. We’ve done ice skating at pentagon row for a party a couple of years, and the kids enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

If my kid was vetoing every choice, I would tell her what the budget was and to come back with two or three choices for me to vet. And then I would drop it.