Turning 18 is a momentous occasion that marks the transition between childhood and adulthood. When your kid reaches this landmark birthday, celebrate with a party to remember. By gathering their friends and family and planning an array of festive activities, you can allow your newly minted adult offspring to bask in the glory of reaching the age of maturity.
Importance
Because of the important nature of an 18th birthday, many moms go above and beyond when planning this celebration. After passing this milestone, your once-so-tiny tot will officially be an adult, ready to stand on his own two feet and take his first timid steps into the real world. Make this event one to remember, as it may well be the last birthday party you organize for your kid.
Memories
An 18th birthday is a wonderful time for a look back on the life of the birthday boy. Promote retrospection by sending out blank scrapbook pages with your party invitations. Invite guests to fill out their provided pages with memories involving the birthday boy and to bring them to the party. Collect these mementos, and place them in a book for your new adult to keep. Or, make memories central to your decorating scheme by creating a photo time line.
The 18 Game
Keep the number 18 in the mind of party goers by playing the 18 Game during your event. Prior to your party, gather an assortment of 18-count sets of items. Place these items inconspicuously around the party area. For example, if you have a fruit bowl, you could place 18 apples resting inside. As party guests arrive, tell them to keep their eyes out for items in sets of 18. Encourage them to make mental notes of 18 sets they observe. Near the party’s end, pass out slips of paper and allow guests to write down the sets they noticed, giving a prize to the observant individual who discovered the most.
18 Years of Hits
Make the music count at your party by planning an 18 years of hits play list. Gather the top two or three hits from each year of your child’s life. Set up a chronological play list, moving closer to the present as the list moves on. Burn these tunes onto a CD, and give the CD to your guests as a useful party favor.
Childish Play
Remind your birthday boy that he is never too old to have some fun by encouraging youthful exuberance at his party. Prepare a water gun fight, fill some water balloons, or organize a game of tag. As your birthday boy and his guests engage in these activities, you may just be able to see a glimmer of the child that you raised peeking through his now mature eyes.
Photo Credit
- birthday dog image by Susan Rae Tannenbaum from Fotolia.com
