Christmas Party Ideas for Tween Girls

If you are planning a Christmas party for a small group of tween girls, don't stress. Read through these Christmas party ideas and pick the activities that sound manageable for the time you will have on the party date. I've used many of these ideas for a small group of Girl Scouts when we've had several hours to devote to the Christmas party.

Decorations and Menu Planning
If you are having the Christmas party in your home, your house is probably already decorated for Christmas. If you are having the Christmas party at another facility, keep your decorations simple enough to clean up at the end of the festivities. Hang oversized, snowflake decorations. There are many inexpensive styles available at Dollar Tree Stores. Or, use a small decorated Christmas tree which can serve as a functional centerpiece on the main table. I have discovered that tweens tend to gravitate to finger foods at parties. Christmas-tree shaped finger sandwiches or simple deli spirals are easy to make and serve. Tweens will usually eat chips and dip, slices of cheese ball and crackers, and fruit with dip. Christmas cookies, fudge, or Oreo truffles are easy dessert ideas.

Gift Exchange
Ask each guest to bring a wrapped, five dollar gift to the party to exchange. It is helpful to have an extra, wrapped gift on hand just in case a guest forgets to bring her gift. Number each gift as they are placed beneath the tree. Fold up numbered pieces of paper with corresponding numbers written on them. Each guest can draw a numbered piece of paper and choose the gift that corresponds to the number on her paper. Alternately, the "grab back" or "steal the gift" game can be played. Think about the group you are working with and whether or not the tween girls are mature enough to enjoy the "grab back" or "steal the gift" game.

Game Ideas
A quick, fun game to play at a Christmas party is "Pass the Present". Select a prize, such as a Christmas CD or simple gift card and wrap the gift numerous times in layers of wrapping paper. Girls sit on the floor in a circle, while passing the present as Christmas music is playing. When you stop the music, the girl who is holding the present then unwraps a layer. Play continues until the present is fully unwrapped. Read Christmas Party Songs for Tweens for a playlist of song ideas that can be used during this game or anytime during the Christmas party. For other Christmas party game ideas for tweens, pick one of the games from Fun Christmas Party Games for Teens .

Activities and Crafts
There are so many Christmas activities and craft ideas available for girls. For Christmas parties for tweens, I have found that "make-and-take" activities and crafts are quite popular. Select from a couple of these ideas, keeping in mind the time and preparation needed for each.

Tween girls love to decorate with icing during the holiday season. Prebake shaped Christmas sugar cookies. Provide a pair of girls with a can of frosting and spreaders, along with small shakers full of colored sugar and sprinkles. Or, decorate gingerbread houses. Wilton makes a pre-assembled and ready to decorate gingerbread mini village of five small houses. This kit is available at Walmart stores or Michael's for around ten dollars. The girls will have fun eating a couple of cookies and pieces of candy while decorating. Just make sure all of the finished products are not eaten before the party is over!

Other Christmas party ideas for tween girls are winter crafts. Begin by decorating gift bags, so that crafts and wrapped cookies can be taken home in them. Choose a snow theme and select from craft ideas such as a glittered snowflake ornament, sock snowman decoration, or paint stick snowman. Check out Winter Craft Projects for Tweens for specific directions on making these crafts and a tied fleece pillow. You can also teach tween girls how to finger knit a scarf for themselves or as a gift. Read Learn to Fingerknit by contributor Tamara L. Waters for instructions.

With these Christmas party ideas and tips, planning your party for tween girls should be easy if you keep party foods simple and organize your materials ahead of time.

Source:
www.wilton.com