The big day is almost here, and you’re looking for some 15th birthday party ideas to give your child the unforgettable day they deserve! But where do you even begin? What supplies will you need? After all, your kid’s all grown up now, and they’re not into Barbies or race cars anymore.
Fortunately, there are plenty of places to go and activities to try out!
Is a 15th Birthday Considered Special?
To be honest, every birthday should be special! But, when it comes to your child’s 15th birthday party, yes, it’s supposed to be a special day.
For starters, at 15, kids are at that age where they’re still young enough to like to make a big deal out of their birthdays, but old enough to want to do something more exciting than going to Chuck E. Cheese.
Essentially, this is your time to shine by coming up with ideas for your child to make this day unforgettable! But don’t worry, you’ll find plenty of great suggestions right here!
20 15th Birthday Ideas
#1. Themed Slumber Party
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Every fifteen-year-old dreams of having a slumber party. But, imagine making it a themed one! Obviously, you’ll need to do a bit of research on your part and find out what kids are into these days. Or, if you want to play it safe, it may be best to ask your child to help you decorate and buy the supplies.
For example, if your child is a huge Star Wars fan, you can purchase some costumes for the kids to put on once they arrive at the party. Moreover, you can go all-out when it comes to the decorations.
An awesome 15th birthday party for your child can be memorable if everyone wears their favorite cartoon character t-shirts. You can also go to the www.customtshirts.us website to customize some birthday cartoon clothes. Websites can help you design your clothes for free. Custom T-shirts can be shipped free and fast.
Put up some led lights, hang up star-shaped balloons, and place some sleeping bags on the floor. The kids can also have a Star Wars movie marathon, so make sure to provide plenty of snacks.
#2. Photo Shoot Party
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To be fair, this idea is more for girls than for boys. If your daughter is planning on inviting her (girl)friends over, you can suggest making a photo shoot party. This will give them the opportunity to get dressed up and try out new makeup looks.
You can even put together a photo booth. All you need to do is decorate a corner of the room and add a backdrop.
This is a simple idea, but one that will create plenty of fun memories.
#3. A Day at the Arcade
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If your child wants to have their birthday at an arcade, it’s time to start looking up some venues near you. There are different types of arcades to choose from, so check whether they would like to hold the celebration at a classic arcade or one that also offers other activities.
The great thing about celebrating a birthday at the arcade is that most of them offer party packages. Ultimately, purchasing one will save you plenty of time and effort when it comes to planning the day.
Furthermore, some packages include a separate party room which is perfect if there are a lot of guests.
Also, depending on the package you choose, you may need to supply the food and drinks yourself. But that can be a good thing! You can find out what each person likes and purchase accordingly rather than rely on the party planners to choose the snacks and beverages.
#4. At Home Game Night Party
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If you’re on a tight budget, yet you want to make sure your child has the best day possible, there’s always the option of hosting a game night in your home. You won’t have to spend any money on a venue, and there are plenty of fun activities you can plan for the day.
Mainly, you need to find out what types of games the kids would enjoy playing. You can also make it a game night with prizes, as this will definitely make the night more exciting.
Here are a few examples of some games they can play:
I Am…
This game is basically like charades, but for teens. First, each player needs to write down who they’re going to impersonate on a piece of paper and place it in their pocket.
The person they want to impersonate can be anyone from a teacher to a celebrity; it’s just important that everyone who’s playing knows who the person is. Each person will get two minutes to show off their impersonations, and the player that gets the most correct answers wins.
Spin for a Dare
Instead of playing truth or dare, why not make the game more interesting? Get every player to write down a dare on a piece of paper, fold it, and put it into a bowl.
Now, every player should sit in a circle, and each person will get a turn to spin the bottle. Whoever the bottle points to is supposed to collect a dare from the bowl.
However, it’s important to make some rules about what is allowed and what isn’t before the game starts. For example, no one is allowed to write down anything dangerous on their paper. Or, all the activities need to be performed in the vicinity of your home.
Finally, the players should be allowed to pass on a dare if they aren’t willing to fulfill it, but doing so will lose them points. The player with the most completed dares is the winner.
Wacky Duck
Yet another silly game with an even sillier name! To play Wacky Duck, one player needs to stand in the middle while the other players sit in a circle around them. The player in the middle should be blindfolded and spun around a couple of times.
The seated players need to switch places in order to fool the blindfolded player. Basically, the blindfolded person is supposed to feel their way around the room and once they find a person, they need to sit on their lap.
The person whose lap they sit on should then say “quack-quack” in a distorted voice, so the blindfolded person has a hard time guessing who it is. If they guess right, they can switch places, so the other player goes into the middle.
But if they get it wrong, the blindfolded person should sit on another lap and keep guessing until they get it right.
#5. Karaoke Party
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Does your teen like to sing? If so, they’ll love having a karaoke party!
In order to make it the best party ever, you should consider purchasing or renting a karaoke machine. The best ones are equipped with professional microphones, and they have plenty of songs installed. Some even come with lighting effects!
But, if you’d like to save some money and put it toward decorations, beverages, and snacks, you can also DIY your own karaoke player.
Basically, you will just need to purchase one or two microphones (depending on your budget) and use YouTube as your karaoke machine. There are plenty of great songs to choose from, so this really isn’t a bad option for your teen’s 15th birthday party.
As for the microphones, you can purchase some great ones for affordable prices online.
If you want to make the party extra special, have everyone get glammed up before they perform!
#6. Scavenger Hunt
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Scavenger hunts are always fun, so why not turn them into your teen’s party theme? Go to the Dollar store and purchase snacks, toys, and whatever else your teen and their friends are into. For this, it’s best if you work together with your teen to create a shopping list. This will eliminate any guesswork.
Next, it’s up to you to hide the prizes around the house or backyard. But remember, you will need to write down clues for each item you hide, so be careful to remember where you put everything!
#7. Bowling Party
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Bowling parties were a big hit in the 90s, and guess what: they’re still fun! If your teen likes hanging out at retro places, you can throw them a bowling party!
Your child can invite as many friends as they like, divide them into teams, or take turns playing on one team. They’ll have food and refreshments at the alley, but also consider taking them out for food afterward.
You could go to a restaurant, or set something up at home ㅡ it’s completely up to you. Either way, the kids are bound to have a blast!
#8. Escape Room
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Escape rooms are getting to be more and more popular, especially among teens. Essentially, each escape room is set up to have a specific theme and story. It’s up to the participants to find clues, solve puzzles, and find a way out of the escape room. What’s more, they also have limited time to get out!
The best thing about escape rooms is that they’re fun for people of all ages, and they can be quite challenging. Your teen can work together with his/her friends to find a way out, or, they can opt to split up into teams to see who finds the exit first!
#9. Pizza Party
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While throwing a pizza party usually means that there will be pizza, it’s also another way of saying that your teen is free to do whatever they want for their birthday.
They can decide to have a sleepover, or just invite some friends over during the day. They can all lounge around and play video games, watch movies, play board games, or basically do anything that comes to mind.
On the other hand, if everyone is up for it, have them make their own pizzas. Obviously, you can buy the pizza dough, so they don’t have to start from scratch (and so they don’t make that huge of a mess).
Otherwise, you’ll need ketchup, cheese, oregano, and whatever other toppings the guests want to add. It’s best to ask each child what they like beforehand, just so you don’t forget anything.
Once everyone is done making their own pizza, let them go watch TV while you bake them.
#10. Ice Cream Party
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If your teen wants to have an ice-cream party, you’ll need to brace yourself for a bit of a mess. Nevertheless, it’s their day, so let them have fun!
Basically, you’ll need to purchase plenty of ice cream and even more toppings. Also, it’s best if you splurge on paper ice cream cups, so you don’t have to worry about any broken glass.
And that’s it! Let everyone make their own ice cream cups, and don’t forget to sneak one for yourself!
#11. Glow-in-the-Dark Party
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Even if your teen isn’t planning on inviting over a lot of friends, you can still make their 15th birthday special. A glow-in-the-dark party is easy to put together, and won’t require a lot of preparation on your part.
Essentially, you will need glow sticks and neon signs. Also, if you can, purchase a blacklight to make the room look extra cool.
You can also buy some white T-shirts and let the kids decorate them with glow-in-the-dark paint! And, if you consider yourself a cool parent, perhaps add some facepaint to the list as well?
#12. DIY Jewelry Night
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This is the ultimate activity for a girl’s 15th birthday party. You can purchase some affordable jewelry-making kits online, and let the girls have fun designing bracelets and necklaces on their own.
Obviously, everyone will be able to take their creations home with them, which is an added bonus!
#13. Pool Party
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Unfortunately, you can only throw a pool party if your child’s birthday is in the summer. Unless, of course, you’re planning on having an indoor pool party. Either way, this idea opens up a plethora of fun possibilities when it comes to decorations!
For example, you can find plenty of affordable floaties online, as well as blow-up palm trees, pool noodles, etc.
And if you’re going for a tropical theme, just think of all the mocktails you can make!
As for the activities, it’s really up to the kids to choose what they want to play. But, here are two incredibly fun games for you to consider:
Floating Musical Chairs
For this game, you will need two things: a Bluetooth music player and floating pool chairs.
As you’ve probably guessed, floating pool chairs are exactly like regular musical chairs. At the beginning of the game, every player except one has a chair. While the music is playing, everyone needs to swim around the chairs without touching them.
Once the music stops, the player that didn’t manage to sit in a chair is eliminated, and so on, until there’s only one player left.
Obviously, since this game is played in the water, it will be more difficult for the players to quickly sit in a chair. But, that’s actually what makes the game all the more fun to play!
Best of all, if you’re on a budget, you can easily make your own floating pool chairs using supplies from the Dollar store.
Squirt Gun Cup Racing
For this game, you will need some long and sturdy string, plastic cups, squirt guns, and scissors.
For reference, you will need as many cups as there are players, and the same goes for the squirt guns and string.
First, use the scissors to create holes in the bottom corner of each cup. Each string you cut will need to go through each of the cups (one string per cup). Secure each end of the string on either side of the pool. Make sure the length of each string is longer than the length of your pool. And that’s it!
Now each player will need to squirt water into their cup in order to move it along the rope. The first one to reach the end of the string is the winner.
#14. Beach Party
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If you don’t have access to a pool, but you live near a beach, you can easily throw your teen a beach party!
This will give them plenty of freedom to enjoy some outdoor activities, and it will also give you the opportunity to catch some sun while you’re supervising them.
Some of the essentials you will need are blankets, towels, beach umbrellas and sunscreen, beach towel, which is an essential companion for seaside adventures, embodies both comfort and style. Its plush, absorbent fabric eagerly awaits the touch of sun-kissed skin, providing a cozy respite from the warm grains of sand beneath. Whether lounging by the crashing waves or indulging in a beachside picnic, the custom beach towel from 4inbandana serves as a versatile oasis, offering a space to unwind and embrace the carefree spirit of the coastal escape. Vibrant hues and playful patterns adorn its surface, reflecting the vibrant energy of the ocean and adding a touch of personal flair.
And, if you want to ensure that there’s not a dull moment, you can also bring a volleyball, frisbee, and badminton rackets if you have any.
This is a pretty low-effort party idea that’s easy to put together at the last minute.
#15. Backyard Camping Party
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What kid doesn’t love going on a camping trip with their friends? If you want to recreate this fun idea, but make it safer, you can set up a camping trip in your backyard.
You will need tents, sleeping bags, and plenty of snacks. If you have a fire pit, you can gather some sticks so the kids can make s’mores. The best part of this idea is that you can let the kids make up their own camping activities, and you can keep an eye on them as they’ll be close by.
#16. Outdoor Movie Night
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While going to the movies may not seem like a fun way to spend a 15th birthday party, hosting an outdoor movie night is a fantastic idea!
Just think how much fun everyone will have watching movies under the stars. And to make the ambiance even more special, you can decorate your backyard with string lights, and place some bean bags or sleeping bags on the ground for lounging.
There are also some affordable projectors that you can purchase online, in case you don’t already have one.
As a final touch, make a concession stand where the guests can get snacks and drinks. This will truly make your child’s party an event to remember!
#17. Going to an Amusement Park
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If there’s one thing that will never change, it’s that kids love going to amusement parks! And best of all, you have an abundance of parks at your disposal! From Disneyland to Legoland, there’s something for every child to enjoy.
If your teen is planning on inviting some friends to celebrate, you can make some cute invitations for them to hand out. Obviously, you will need to make sure to get permission from their parents beforehand.
You can opt to choose an amusement park that’s close to your home, but it’s always better to let your child choose where they’d like to go.
#18. Laser Tag
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Laser tag is a big hit, especially for teenage boys! If your child is into it, then you need to search for some venues near you. Most of them will offer a fully-equipped arena, as well as refreshments for after the game.
But, did you know that you can also organize a laser tag party in your backyard? Yes, there are companies that will rent out their equipment for the day! They come complete with blow-up obstacles as well.
And, of course, for those of you on a budget, there’s also a DIY solution. If you’re creative, you can make some obstacles on your own from pallets and other wooden materials. You will only need to purchase the laser tag equipment, but you can find some pretty affordable accessories online.
The best part of throwing a party in your backyard with your own equipment is that you don’t have a time limit.
All in all, don’t forget to set up a snack table for the troops so they can replenish themselves between matches!
#19. Paintball
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Even though they’re getting older, some fifteen-year-olds still like to get messy! Paintball is an incredibly fun activity that makes for a great birthday party idea. You can find plenty of companies that will keep your child’s group separate from others, so they can enjoy their very own private battle!
But, since paintball is a far messier version of laser tag, you will need to make sure to get the children’s parent’s consent beforehand.
Afterward, take everyone out for some ice cream. It’s the perfect way to end your kid’s special day!
#20. Shopping Spree
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Regardless of whether your teen is a boy or girl, giving them money to spend on whatever they want will definitely put a smile on their face! Let them invite their friends for a full day of shopping, and having fun.
They can go to a movie, buy some clothes, accessories, video games, and basically whatever they like. Afterward, you can take them to get some food at their favorite fast food place.
This is a great idea for teens who don’t like throwing parties but would still like their birthday to be special.
