Fun Games to Play at Teenage Birthday Parties

Party games are often the most entertaining part of a birthday celebration. Teenagers, however, might not want to participate in childish, "embarrassing" games in front of friends. By organizing well-supervised and engaging activities, you'll also avoid boredom that can lead to problematic teen party behaviors like drinking and substance abuse. Ensure the birthday party you're hosting is a success with games that use current teen favorites and pop-culture trends to keep guests interested.

Send Text Messages

Find the teen that has the fastest fingers with a party game that tests text-messaging skills. Give guests index cards with the same message and your cell phone number. On the count of three, the teens should begin text messaging the note to your phone. Award a prize to the first guest to send you the message without typographical errors, abbreviations or omissions. Also give guests messages riddled with common text-message abbreviations and ask them to send you the message with the words spelled out. If some guests don't have cell phones, play the game in rounds and ask guests with unlimited text plans to share their phones with others.

Hold a Junk-Food Taste Test

Let guests indulge in junk food with a teen party game that tests snack knowledge. Prepare 10 to 20 dishes with small samples of junk-food favorites like tortilla chips, chocolate doughnuts, assorted candy bars, ice cream, condiments and soft drinks. Ask teens to sit in one room before taking the test and another afterward so they don't inadvertently give away any answers. Blindfold the guest taking the test and allow 10 seconds per food before moving on to the next item. Award prizes like gift cards to local ice cream shops or fast food restaurants to the teens who get the most answers right.

Play Video Charades

Let guests test their knowledge of current music videos or personal videos that have become world famous through websites like YouTube. Give teams cards with song names or video titles that they must act out to help teammates determine the answer. Consider gathering an assortment of props like clothing, accessories, backdrops or household objects that the teens can use while completing the charades.

Organize a Relay Race

Divide the guests into teams of two to complete a race around your home and yard. Set up stations supervised by adults who must approve and send the team to the next section. Create tasks like getting 10 answers right on a trivia quiz with questions about pop culture and the birthday honoree, eating an entire bowl of popcorn and dressing in a jacket, rubber boots, snow pants and scarves while wearing bulky mittens, for example.

References

• NYU Child Study Center
• School Days
• Radical Parenting

Resources

• Party Game Central: Teen Party Games