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.
Star Wars
Child’s Starring Role
If your child would like to dress up for this party it would make it that much more fun. He can be a Jedi in training, soon to be a Jedi master. If your child likes the idea, how about all his friends come dressed up?
Party Setting
Any wide open space will work well for this party. If you have a planetarium near you and would like to book the space (for older children 7+) that would be superb, but not at all necessary.
Dress the room with rich fabrics, silver tinsel, glow sticks to mimic light sabers, maybe some glow in the dark stars? Be as creative as you like. If your child has Star Wars toys, use them around the room too. For example, this candy stand is perfect for serving up some snacks for hungry Jedi.
Use silver and black paper lanterns hanging around the room for a death star effect.
Entertainment
Hire a Jedi costumed character (or ask a favor of a good friend) to come and teach your guests how to become Jedi masters. Have them do obstacle courses, teach them a few light saber moves, anything that will get them excited and into it!
If you have a large enough space you can have a bouncy obstacle course for those Jedi Masters to get a good work out. If you can’t then set up some chairs, tubes, hula hoops, anything goes!
Have your guests create their own trading cards. They can have a keepsake of this super fun party and if you have two sets printed, your child can have their own trading card set of all their friends who attended his party.
Party Menu
Try to think of Star Wars themed food items for your hungry Jedi. They will be hungry after all that physical activity.
Yoda Soda to quench their thirst.
Light saber sticks- pretzels coated with a dip or candy melts on one end.
Death Star meatballs
Wookie cookies
Whatever food items you can think up of, try to add a little Star Wars spin. And custom labels go a long way in terms of presentation.
Party Favors
There is a tremendous amount of Star Wars goodies out there so find some that are age appropriate for your crowd. Coloring books and some mini or inflatable light sabers might work for little ones. Maybe some Darth Vader masks and a light saber for some older kids.
Custom cookies are also a great option if you have a wide range of ages at your party.