Age characteristics
After 9 years of going to birthday parties and having hosted them, children know exactly what they want at this point, so consult with your child about what party theme they would like and what they would like to do. As they get older, they begin to feel very grown up about parties. They like to show off and compete and have a desire to win in games that involve active participation.
Guest list
Invite schoolmates and friends. Some children prefer to only have children of their own sex at their party. Since as they get older, children typically tend to have one intimate group of friends, the guest list might not even be that large. And parents need not be at the party.
Length of party
2 -2 ½ hours
Entertainment for age
Girly things such as spa, manicure, dress-up for girls parties are great since the girls love to feel grown up at this age. You don’t even have to hire a professional, buy a couple of nail polishes, mud masks, and clean out your closet full of old clothes you don’t even wear and tell them it’s vintage clothing. They’ll have a blast trying things on!
For boy parties, physical activities, including attending a sporting event with friends are great. Create your own little league in the back yard, or make dad take the boys to a basketball game.
Good music, fun pickup foods and a DJ Emcee helps to insure the success of a party at this age. Dance games with lots of prizes help to keep the dance floor filled. A strolling entertainer, such as a sleight of hand magician, works well to entertain those kids that shy away from the dance floor.
Games & Activities
Relay Races
Scavenger Hunt Relay Races
Sack Race
Lip Sinc Contest
Karaoke
Safety for age
Make sure to have all the phone numbers of the guests’ parents.
Miniature Golf Party
Apple Green Stripe Paper Plates
Birthday Child’s Starring Role
Your child calls the shots as the head sportscaster of his own Birthday Open. Before the party, practice narrating the action in a stage whisper just like the professionals on his favorite sports channel. As you film the action, the birthday child plays.
Party Settings
Send out your party invitations well ahead of time and make sure the children bring sun protective gear.
Contact your local miniature golf course to book time on the green. If you have a large yard and the desire for a more private location, create your own course with tacked down paper cups and felt flags.
Use mini grass mats on the floor or even as placemats on the table.
Don’t forget the golf balls, but make them sweeter with these chocolate golf balls.
Party Fun & Games
Invite children to come dressed entirely in their favorite primary color. Once each guest arrives, let him choose a colored golf ball to match his outfit. Encourage the birthday child to interview his friends as a warm-up to the tournament.
Party Leader
Score giggles while party guests wait for turns putting with the slapdash humor of a professional clown. Balloon sculptures, magic tricks, or just general goofball golf behavior will keep kids active and engaged throughout the party.
Party Tunes
Most mini-golf courses play top hits over their own sound systems. If you’ve designed a backyard course, choose hits which will keep your party pros swinging.
Party Refreshments
Set up your own nineteenth hole with snacks that will satisfy even the fiercest competitor. Mix together hole-in-one cereals like Cheerios, Fruit Loops, and Apple Jacks and flag donuts with toothpicks topped with snips of felt. Or meatballs which have a high resemblance to golfballs. Ferrero Rocher chocolates and other circle shaped candies are also appropriate but beware of nut allergies!
Party Finale
Once your golf pros have completed the course, show video highlights and award trophies to every player in categories like “Silliest Swing”, “Luckiest Shot” and “Sand trap Regular”.
Birthday Presents & Favors
Personalized trophies will be treasured reminders of the party, long after your pros have retired. Sun visors and water bottles would also be welcome on any course on a sunny day.
Personalized Birthday Golf Ball
Party Tips
Your young party guests will be too energetic to need the help of caddies, but make sure they drink plenty of fluids and wear sunscreen if your party takes place on a particularly bright day.
