Plan the Perfect Teenage new Years Party
Hosting a New Year's Eve party for your co-workers or other adults is a simple task. Put on some music, add your favorite wine, and you’re set. The task becomes a bit more difficult when you’re hosting a party for teenagers. You don’t want them bored, nor do you want to be known as the parents that let the neighborhood kids do “anything they want”. So, how do you find the balance between the two? How do you keep them entertained without making them feel like they are being chaperoned?
The key to a successful New Years Eve party with your teenage attendees is knowing your audience. Are they interested in theatre? Do they like to dance or sing? What about solving puzzles? If you know a little bit about your attendees, you can create an atmosphere where they will feel comfortable – that’s the key to having fun.
I will assume that you know at least one or two of the teenagers coming to the party; so it’s time to ask them about the other party goers. Make a list of what they like and what they don’t like, so you can plan accordingly. If your party goers are interested in dancing and singing, you don’t want to plan your party around video games; and vice versa.
So, you know what kind of teenagers are going to be at your party – now what? Get creative and keep it loose; give partiers a chance to do their own thing in their own time. Here are some suggestions for various activities you can do at a New Years Eve party for teenagers; just be sure to keep your audience in mind! If you set up several stations centralized around a theme, party goers will have choices on how to spend their time and give them a variety of things to do throughout the evening.
For the Creative Group
If the majority of your guests are the creative type (writers, singers, dancers, actors) consider setting up a few different stations and contests for them to get their creative juices flowing.
Karaoke: Karaoke is a great way to break the ice and get people to let loose and have fun. Set up a small karaoke area where party goers can sing their favorite songs. A computer and a microphone will take you far, let your singers practice for a while, and then host your own “New Years Idol” contest. Small prizes for the winners can help encourage people to participate and help each other win. If you have the technology and desire, you can record your guest’s song and give them a CD of it to take home with them.
Charades: As ‘old fashion’ as it sounds, charades is still a very popular game to play, especially for people who have a creative streak. Have cards pre-made and let partiers play when they feel like it. Keep some blank cards and pens nearby so everyone can contribute their own suggestions to the game; this gives them a chance to make the game “their own”. Post a time for the big “charades-off” game – where everyone can participate or watch and the final winner gets a small prize.
Improv: If you haven’t seen or heard of “Who’s Line Is It, Anyway?” do yourself a favor and watch an episode or two. You can use the games found in that program and set up a comedy improv station for your guests. Games like “60 second alphabet”, “questions only”, “world’s worst” and others are great fun. No experience is necessary if you have posters explaining the rules and pre-made cards with subjects and roles on them. Of course, as with charades, have some blank cards around for guests to contribute their own ideas. Suggest a few party guests get together to create a comedy skit to be performed later in the evening.
Dance Competition: Have an area for dancing, with random dance competitions. Dances like the Chicken Dance, the Mexican Hat Dance, and even Gangam Style can be used. Play an oldies song and see who can do the best sock hop. Does anyone know the “Watermelon Crawl” line dance? Have small prizes for contestants and announce a “dance off” for anyone who wants to participate.
For the Gamers
Video games are all the rage with teenagers lately. PS3, Xbox, and PC games are so common that just about everyone plays at least one video game. Borrow a few televisions and game systems and set up different video game and computer stations for your gamers. Racing games, sports games, and other “competitive” games are a great way to get audience participation and to keep the energy level up during your party.
When you send out your invitation, suggest party-goers bring a game with them, labeled with their name and phone number to share with others. Keep in mind that some games are not appropriate for all teenagers and not all games are “group” based playing games. With that being said, consider setting a time limit on games so everyone gets a chance to play.
Remember, video games aren’t the only kind of games out there. Table Top Role Playing Games (RPGs) are very popular and include subjects such as vampires, werewolves, and dragons. Card games (such as Magic) are also popular, so if it’s important to understand what kind of gamers are going to be at the party. When applicable, ask them to bring their own gaming gear (clearly marked so it doesn’t get mixed up with someone else’s) and set up several different stations for players to mingle and play.
For the Minglers
So, what happens if your party-goers don’t really have a “niche” they fit into and they just want to hang out and have fun? No problems at all; get some music (or ask guests to bring their favorites with them) set up a system and let the music take the lead. Party-goers can dance, sing along, or just visit with each other. Have several party games available for those who want to play: twister, charades, two truths and a lie, who am I, etc. There are many resources on the web that have excellent ice breakers and other team games that you can have handy to play.
Don’t forget the Countdown!
It’s New Year’s Eve…don’t forget about the countdown! Start gathering your party guests about 11:50pm around a television that’s showing the ball dropping and hand out some fun noise makers and party hats. Sing a couple songs or tell jokes to keep everyone’s attention until the ball starts to drop. Make your countdown last by shouting the seconds and yelling “Happy New Year” when the clock strikes 12:00. Pass out some sparkling cider and have party guests give toasts to the New Year, and share with each other their goals and ambitions.
Above all, have fun!
