Best Birthday Party Ideas for8 – 12-Year-Olds

Introduction

Keeping up with all of the latest trends and staying up to date with all of the things your kids like can be exhausting. One minute it is all about Pokémon, the next minute, it is about LOLs, then Roblox or Minecraft is all your kids talk about. We are here to help and to take the guesswork out of the way! Here are a few ideas for the best birthday party ideas for 8 – 12-year-olds. 

Spa Day 

If your daughter (or son) is anything like my sassy queen, an at-home spa party might just be what she needs. It does not take much to customize this party theme, and you can go as over-the-top as you choose. Start with a few bowls of water to soak their feet, throw in a bit of bath salt for scent and texture, and you are ready to start with manicures and pedicures. Play a spa playlist for soothing vibes and serve the girls some lemon water. Don’t forget the face masks, and your party is off to a great start. 

For added fun, let girls come in their pajamas and pair it with a movie night slumber party, complete with all their favorite snacks. Top the night off with a fancy cake or cupcakes. 

Science Convention 

Most kids love science experiments. Set up a few stations around your home or backyard and allow the kids to get creative. Some of the most popular experiments to do with the kids include making their own slime, excavating fossils, and creating volcanic eruptions. Serve their drinks in test tubes or beakers and dress them up in goggles and lab coats as they complete their experiments. 

For dinner, they can create their own pizzas and decorate their own ice cream sundaes. Make sure to give them each a pen and some paper to take their notes like real scientists. 

Superhero Bash

A classic birthday party theme for all ages is a superhero party. Encourage the kids to dress up as their favorite superheroes. Incorporate the superhero theme in the decorations and activities. Print off a comic book panel template and allow the kids to create their own superheroes or write their own comic books. There are all kinds of fun carnival-style games that can be adjusted to the superhero theme as well, such as the bean bag toss game. The kids can use the bean bags, and their superhero powers, to knock down the villain milk jugs. 

Get creative and allow your birthday kids to come up with a few of their own ideas to make the party extra special. End the night with the birthday kid’s favorite superhero movie. 

Sports Extravaganza 

Nothing is more exciting than playing a game of soccer or basketball with friends. Invite your kid’s friends over for a sports extravaganza. Set up an area where the kids can play all of their favorite sports, with a twist, of course. Just as any great sporting event, structure the party as a tournament. Separate the group into four teams and have them pick their own sports team name. Give each team a color to represent during the event. Then set up games for the groups to compete in throughout the party. These can be a one-on-one basketball toss or a group tag footfall game. 

You can also incorporate various Olympic sporting events such as running races or silly games like sock hockey. Use whatever you have around the house and let your creativity run wild! At the end of the party, award all the athletes with medals (golden chocolate coin glued to ribbon). After all, everyone was a winner at this tournament! 

Fashionista Fiesta 

Give your girls the chance to strut their stuff on the runway. Allow the kids to bring their own outfits to show off to their friends. Include fun themes so that everyone can get involved, such as expressing your inner animal or color. Don’t forget to add props like oversized sunglasses or feather boas. Let the girls mix and match to their heart’s content. 

If you have a larger budget, take the girls thrift shopping, where they each pick a piece to complete a look together. Make sure to add some flare with trendy music and flashing lights for the runway. End the night in pajamas and cookie decorating. 

Pool Party

For a summer classic, pool parties are always in style. Gather the kids together for some fun in the sun, splashing and making waves.  Add water toys like floats, pool noodles, diving toys, and the crowd-pleaser: water balloons. Make sure to add plenty of hydrating snacks, such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Apply plenty of sunscreen and find a shady spot for the kids to rest as needed. 

Many neighborhood pools have lifeguards on duty for added safety and offer more variety, such as a water slide, a diving board, and a splash pad. This is one of the easiest, self-generating fun party ideas. 

Video Game Party

It’s no secret that kids love video games. Whether it’s Pokémon, Minecraft, Fortnite, or Roblox, video games provide hours and hours of entertainment to our children. So, let’s celebrate with the game they are most fond of. Incorporate the game’s graphics and concepts into the party decorations, food, and activities. For Pokémon, you can print out images of all the Pokémon and hide them around the backyard. The kids then have to go out and ‘catch ‘em all.” Minecraft utilizes mobs as enemies. You can set up several carnival-style games or challenges for the kids to defeat the mobs in. 

The opportunities are endless, and I’m sure your birthday kid will have plenty of their own ideas to incorporate into the party. Don’t forget to let them spend some time playing their favorite video game at the end of the party.  

Rent a Venue 

With such a large variety of event venues to choose from, there is bound to be something for everyone! From ice skating to laser tag, to adventure parks, to paintballing, to art classes, the options are endless. 

One of the current trending party venues are nerf war battlefields. Join in the fun and shoot your best shots. Come check us out at The Battlefield in Denton, TX  to learn more about our party packages. Play a variety of family-friendly NERF games on our massive MEGA arena, and bring your friends for an amazing Nerf birthday party. We have private party rooms where you can book up to 8 tables to take a break from battling for your food and cake.

Final Thoughts

These are some of the best birthday party ideas for 8 – 12-year-olds. Planning birthday parties are incredibly exciting and allow our imaginations to run wild. Remember to check in with your birthday kid and make sure they like what you have planned for them. Better yet, involve them in the planning process and let them help you decide on decorations, activities, and food options. After all, it is their big day, and we are there to celebrate them!