How to Have a Fun Teenage Pool Party

Having teenagers over to your home can be a fun experience. As the parent of 5, and with our youngest entering college this fall, my husband and I are taking full advantage of enjoying this special time with our son and his friends.

We are fortunate to have our own in ground swimming pool. We love entertaining with pool parties. Of course, teens love to swim making this a perfect setting for a middle of the summer get together. For the party tonight, we bought 2 liter bottles of pop in orange, root beer, Coca Cola and the ever popular Mountain Dew. If you know the kids from previous parties or other contact, then you know what kind of pop to buy. If you are not familiar with what they like, be sure to have at least one bottle of diet coke and a bottle of something that is caffeine free. Limit your drinks to 4 choices, it is much easier. Have some water bottles just in case someone doesn't like the pop. I buy ruffled potato chips and only have one kind. That way there is no problem having plastic bowls setting on the tables and, no problem with someone wanting the chips that are on a different table. You want to keep things simple for both you and your guests. Swimming always makes people hungry, so be prepared with hotdogs and buns. More than once we have grilled hotdogs without planning on it. Again keep it simple, hotdogs, buns, mustard and ketchup is all you'll need. You already have the drinks and chips.

Tonight we are having a fire in the fire pit and making smores. The best advice is be sure you have plenty. These are the kinds of supplies you can always use later. Get an extra bag of marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey chocolate.

Early in the day we made sure the pool water was clear and tested the chemicals. It is very important to have your pool clean and sparkling. Have ring floats, a couple of balls and squirt guns for play in the pool. Even though some of the teens like to think they are 'grownup', they still like to use the same pool toys they used as little ones.

Have your outdoor furniture arranged in group sittings. Usually 5 chairs in a sitting is a good number, that way anyone without a boyfriend or girlfriend will not feel out of place. They will move the chairs around as they get more comfortable and the evening moves on. Have the party start around 7, that way the pool can be enjoyed while it is still daylight, after about an hour of pool time have your teen start a log in the fire pit. They can then get out of the pool and fix a smore or roast a marshmallow as they want. We use a tub with ice and have the 2 liters in it with plastic cups sitting beside it. The potato chips are sitting on the tables. Everything is casual and inviting. When it starts getting dark, turn on your pool lights and your mosquito lights and light your tiki torches.

Depending on the age of your teen you should make appearances outside. Our teen is older and we know all his friends well, so we go out and roast marshmallows with them and have even went swimming with them. When they were younger we would sit outside at a table and talk while they and their guests would swim. Always be available and keep checking on things, you can always use the excuse of refilling the chip bowls to get you in the middle of things without intruding.