Party ideas for a 9-year-old?

[Tallyman 10]

My daughter's 9th birthday is coming up in September. Does anyone have any suggestions for a party venue/activity?

 

We've done indoor bowling, ice skating is booked up, soft-play centres are one option, but I'm wondering whether 9 year-olds think they're too old for them (but please correct me if I'm wrong!)

 

Any thoughts?

[Halibut 12]

If the weather is anything like reasonable how about something outdoors? A picnic in the peaks (or your local park) or a sleepover in tents?

I get thoroughly brassed off with the ongoing commercialisation of birthdays for kids - when I was your daughters age I'd have been happy if a party guest gave me a matchbox car - these days it seems a gift costing a fiver or more is the standard offering....bowling, lazerzone etc are all well and good but you're going to be spending a shedload.

So, perhaps the park, taking a well made picnic and some outdoor games, or the overnight camping trip? A surprising number of kids have never spent the night in a tent and if you can get daughter and a small bunch of mates in a tent that'll accomodate them all, I reckon they'd have a grand time. (Another advantage of this is that a bunch of girls in a tent will find their own amusement, thus minimising the degree to which you'll have to wear your 'entertainer' hat).

[landi 10]

what about roller blading at the old Sheffield ice rink on Queens Road they do parties

[lyndix 10]

What I have done with my 10 yr old for the past 3 or 4 yrs is take him to pics(he takes a friend as well), then instead of a party, he has a sleepover(he`s has around 5 friends). We usually throw some pizza and chicken in the oven, tub of ice cream, and they spend the evening playing games and watching films!

They love it, got to say though I`m knackered afterwards.

I like halibuts idea of camping as well. My kids han`t camped yet, so we may use that idea!

If you`re wanting to pay for a party outdoors somewhere, I think they do kids parties at Chatsworth. We had a day out there yesterday, brilliant adventure playground for the kids, and there is a party hut there, so i assume you can hire it out.

whatver you do, have a good time!!

[ukstudent 10]

Why not ask her!!!

[convert 10]

My daughters birthday is new years eve so we thought we'd try something different to the usual McD's, Paintball, Disco, Cinema , etc; so we did an 'i'm a celebrity' kind of party for my 10 year old last year.

 

Now the more squeamish among you might think this is child abuse, but we didn't force the kids to do anything. It was hilarious.

 

We set up 2 teams, and set them each individual challenges. Each kid got a random challenge to do, but we let them swap with other team members / be helped by other team members.

 

The wife made some sloppy jellies (on shallow platters), and hid raisins and jelly worms in them. We then got one kid from each team to pick the things out, using just their mouths. 1 point per worm, lose 2 points for a raisin.

 

We also dyed some spaggetti red and black, and left it quite slimy. Transferred it to 2 buckets, then we then hid some cardboard stars in it, again 1 minute to get as many as they could.

 

Third challenge was a chocolate eating challenge. Sort of a Russian roulette. Some choc's were salt flavour, some were Chilli ! (most were normal choccy though) Again 1 point per choccy scoffed.

 

Fourth challenge was a 'bushtucker' feast kind of challenge. We got some baby squid and cooked them, some large unpeeled prawns, mussels, physalis, passion fruit (taken out of skin and called frog spawn) and some cooked whitebait. 1 point per thing tried.

 

Fifth challenge was pretty similar to the fourth, but done with blindfolds for the kids doing the eating (rest of the kids sworn to secrecy) We had a peeled grape (Told the kids it was a baby croc's eyeball), two kiwi fruits (one whole for them to touch, and a peeled one to eat), some blue cheese (Vomit fruit), and some other bits I can't remember now.

 

Sixth challenge was a catch the stars challenge. Two boxes tied to the ceiling, with streamers and slimy spagetti. The boxes were tied with string, which the kids had to undo with their teeth from underneath (safety specs for the kids of course), their team mates sat on the floor catching the stars.

 

 

We had a dozen 9/10/11 year old girls at the party, and they screamed the house down; not in fear, but in cheering each other on.

 

We of course supplied Pizza, etc after the games, and put on a disco / karaoke in the conservatory, with lights / smoke / bubble machine etc.

 

 

Cheapest party we ever did, but without a doubt the best. The kids still talk about it nearly 11 months on.

[heavenlyarts 10]

You can do a Climbing party at the Forge indoor climbing centre

[Rachylou 10]

my daughters birthday is in 2 weeks, she will be 11. She is having a sleepover the night before her birthday just 3 friends then we will be going to flamingo land on her birthday. Last year i hired a small room from a local pub and threw her a surprise birthday party. All the food was done and we hired a dj, it was great and she wasn't expecting it at all. Didn't have the mess to clear up afterwards either which was an added bonus. Lets us know what you decided in the end...good luck!

[casey19650 10]

Cinema is a good idea. The one at centertainment - now Cineworld - was excellent for my son's birthday. See a film, the birthday girl/boy gets to stand at the front and "start" the film while the whole theatre sings happy Birthday. The kids are then looked after by two members of staff who, after the film, take them to the party room for games and food. My son and his friends were given loads of film stuff - posters, giveaways and discount tickets for a future visit. Well worth the £10 per head - though it may cost a little more now as it was a couple of years ago.

[therapyman 10]

Have a look at http://www.sweetgreetings.co.uk for a different sort of "present" for the "guests". Went down well with my lot:hihi:

[squeakyclean 11]

My daughter had her party at the skating ring on Queens Road, and really enjoyed it.

[soulgirlie 10]

My daughter is also 9 in September she's having 6 friends to sleepover then the following day we're off to Wok Mania on West Street £2.99 for kids with a chocolate fountain