Party for a 11 year old

[dehayco]

Hi there,
Just after a bit of advice, i usually do parties for 13 upwards but am doing one for a 11 year old soon. Now i have asked the Child what they want and they said they just want latest chart music, for some reason though i think that the Children want to be grown up and have a disco but are actually going to be bored. I have expressed this concern to the parent but she's just said as long as they enjoyed it then she doesn't care what i do.

So my plan of action is to do a disco but have a fair few songs with routines such as Cha Cha Slide, Big Fish Little Fish ect. Does this sound like a good idea ? What do other people do for 11/12 year olds ?

Dan

[lazersounds]

Depends on how grown up they like to think they are, I find 10-12 years olds are really hard work, They don't want to look like a kid doing silly dance routines and just want to listen to chart stuff. You should'nt have much problems getting the girls up to dance but don't expect much from the boys! They will just huddle in a corner in a pack. I usually play Run-DMC It's Like That and get them to show off their dance moves to each other, split the girls and the boys into 2 lines etc, this usually breaks the ice.

[dehayco]

This is the situation I'm facing you see, i don't want to make it too childish as kids that age like to think they are older and not a child but at the same time i don't think a "Normal" disco would keep them entertained. I could be totally wrong which is why I'm going to do some ice breakers then do a normal disco, just want a plan b incase my fears are correct and they actually want some sort of games.

[DJ Jules]

I've had the same mixed experience with 10-11yr olds. I've been asked to run Dance off style competitions with them before, but I've found the girls really quite spiteful (lots of boo'ing at the boys, no matter how good they are) so I set some very clear rules before I do it now.

Generally you'll find that despite them waiting to be grown up, the biggest reactions you'll get will be the action songs (Cha Cha, Macarena, Big fish to a lesser extent, etc) and the sing a longs of the moment (Firework, Forget you, etc) and they will join in games if prompted, but stick to more "mature" games.

Julian

[AndyC]

I did a junior school disco a few months ago and found tha the action songs are just what is needed infact the teachers had got the kids to make a list of the songs they wanted and while I had a few chart hits to play the biggest part of their list comprised of songs with set dances that they all seemed to know biggest song of the afternoon was the macarana, 120 kids in the hall and they all danced with no prompting from me, it was very impressive wish i could have taken a picture.
The head teacher was so impressed I got the bookings till the end of the year.

Andy

[dehayco]

Thanks for that Andy, seems my idea is the way to go then. Chart hits as the girl said but with the backup of some simple dancing songs should it go as i expect it will. It's a 2 hour party with dinner in the middle as well so should it go not to good with the chart stuff i won't need loads and loads of the dancing songs.

[Sarah]

If one lad dances to action songs you'll find the rest will too.
You could try Michael Jackson stuff as well.

If they're really up for it you could arrange to separate lads from lasses either side of the floor and do a who can sing the loudest to Grease Summer Nights. I've done that.

Maybe incorporate some footy songs too, as it's the Euros. 3 Lions, Vindaloo, Chmbawamba etc.

Also easy games like take a pole they can limbo under, making it go lower and getting them out etc.
I've taken a small goal and ball and arranged penalty shoot outs too.

Hope this helps

Sarah x

[Gary (GDK)]

LIke the others have said just don't do games!

Worst age is between the age of 10 and 13 :)

[thex-faders]

We have done a fair amount of 11 year old birthdays over the past couple of months. Do the whole night on chart stuff, dropping in a few action songs in as you mentioned cha cha slide etc.

A bit of glee perhaps, I would ask the young man about the justin beiber dilemna... some hate it (like me) others love it. Got a boo before for playing it, even though it was requested...

Tom

[axeman]

they start off "to cool for school" but usually end up with cha cha slide and macerena etc being the biggies!

If you play he latest popular charts to start the kids willl settle down and after a spell relax - plenty of interaction, youll be fine!

[teenypops]

I have found the same with this age group and so I take a few props.

I find a very simple hula hoop competition with them all in a circle works a treat to get them over their initial inhabitions.

I definitely agree that the action songs work well, the favs for me at the moment are...
Cha Cha Slide
Mamma do the Hump
Sexy & I Know it
Party Rock
Macarena
Y.M.C.A.
and a huge surprise one for me a couple of weeks back I was requested to play "the birdie song" - I was reluctant, but it went down a storm, I was so surprised.

[HeartandSoul]

The birdie song!!!!

Woah, didn't think that would go down well!

[teenypops]

The birdie song!!!!

Woah, didn't think that would go down well!

Neither did I, but it was a "floorfiller".

I haven't been brave enough to use it since though!

[dehayco]

they start off "to cool for school" but usually end up with cha cha slide and macerena etc being the biggies!

If you play he latest popular charts to start the kids willl settle down and after a spell relax - plenty of interaction, youll be fine!

Well the party happened the weekend just gone and i think the post above sums up what happened. Started off with just a few on the floor but then after a blast of the Cha Cha slide the floor filled and carried on playing a mix of chart hits and the children relaxed and floor was full pretty much all of the party.

Did a bit of interaction here and there but overall it didn't really require it, only point it died off a little was a couple of songs before Dinner but i think that was because most of them were hungry.

[teenypops]

Good work, glad it went well - and you made it through without any hassles.

[WWDJ]

I do quite a few 11-15's and it's mainly chart. Cha Cha slide always works but apart from that they just want to run around in a fairly annoying fashion.

Occasionally some will want 'bumps' or 'statues' but to be honest many are too old for that and just do their own thing.

So it sounds like you handled it like I would.