Foil Fashion Runway- each child receives a roll or two of aluminum foil. Get the cheap stuff from the dollar stores. They each make an entire outfit for themselves. Tape a red plastic tablecloth to the floor to use as a runway. When they are finished, have them walk down the runway to music while you snap pictures for them. Make sure to get a group photo. You can even hand out foil awards for the funniest, most elegant, craziest etc outfits and let them do acceptance speeches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 10 dd and friends watched Titanic and made Galaxy jars.

Jars, yes, that movie and length of movie, NO.

Yeah, steamy sex scenes and Kate’s boobies on full display. WTH?

Slime, really easy to make. Get the individual glue bottles in glitter colors and botox and water and done. (put plastic the floor and table).

Or, you can buy slime kids where the slime is made and kids just put the decorations in it that come in the kit.

Anonymous wrote:At 10 dd and friends watched Titanic and made Galaxy jars.

Jars, yes, that movie and length of movie, NO.

Anonymous wrote:At 10 dd and friends watched Titanic and made Galaxy jars.

At 10 dd and friends watched Titanic and made Galaxy jars.

OP here. Thanks for all great ideas!

Board games like Pictionary, Say Anything, Exploding Kittens, etc...

create slime, baking, minute to win it games, capture the flag in the neighborhood at night, bonfire with s’mores, doing each other’s hair, etc....

Take their iPod touches and phones away in a basket. They can use it if needed, but only by the basket and put it back in when done. You will be amazed how little they go to it when no one else has one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider a Home Depot kids craft kit. They can use real tools like screwdriver and (under careful supervision) a hammer, then paint them. Most girls don’t get chance to do this (sadly) so it’s a real novelty.

I would have hated this kind of party. Who wants to come and build something?!

Not the PP, but my 10 year old girl would love this.

Watch a movie and have intermission. Set up a make your own ice cream sundae station. Get whipped cream, chocolate and caramel sauces, sprinkles, gummie bears, m n m’s, crushed oreos, strawberry topping, fruit loops etc. let the kids make a mess of it.

Anonymous wrote:I would consider a Home Depot kids craft kit. They can use real tools like screwdriver and (under careful supervision) a hammer, then paint them. Most girls don’t get chance to do this (sadly) so it’s a real novelty.

I would have hated this kind of party. Who wants to come and build something?!

I would consider a Home Depot kids craft kit. They can use real tools like screwdriver and (under careful supervision) a hammer, then paint them. Most girls don’t get chance to do this (sadly) so it’s a real novelty.

We’ve done this kind of party lots of times. Sometimes we’ve had the kids make their own pizzas, decorate their own cupcakes, paint birdhouses.

My DD (turns 11 this year) has done this sort of party for several years now- usually a fun dinner & dessert, craft or activity, and a movie- like your are planning. Has always gone really well, and been so easy!

We did manicures one year (I bought a bunch of stuff and pretty much just supervised), made slime once (would not recommend- so messy!!), last year I bought large plain white wooden letters with each girls first initial (“S” for Sophie, for example) and a punch of paints etc and let them decorate them- that was a hit (something to display in their room). One of DDs friends did tie dyed shirts, another did Perler bead bowls (the ones you bake in the oven). Stuff like that. Also eliminates party favors.

We also tend to me an “activity” out of the food- make your own mini pizzas, sundae bar, etc. last year we did dessert fondue.

I have found they entertain themselves well otherwise so usually just plan one “thing” (other than dinner and a movie) do and let DD handle it from there.

DD would like to have a party for her 10th birthday at home. She’d like 7-8 girls to come over and watch a movie and “do something fun.” She then turned and asked me what fun craft or activity they could do. I froze. Kid rarely asks for anything so I don’t want to disappoint her. Movie is possibly The Parent Trap.

All ideas welcome!