10 Halloween Decor, Games, and Activities for Teenagers
Ah, your little preschool darlings have blossomed into not so darling teenagers. Sigh. At least a few times a year, you'll still get some of those old time, good vibes with birthdays and holidays. Halloween is our favorite time of the year. Rarely have we lived in a place where trick or treating door to door was a possibility, so we've always gotten creative. Throw your teens a Halloween Party with these cool ideas and activities for Halloween! Oriental Trading generously sent us the supplies for this post. We hope you enjoy our tips for Halloween decor, games, and activities for teenagers!
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Teens won't admit it, but they love to play funny games and win prizes. Sure, they'll groan how uncool you are, but inside they'll feel all giddy and look forward to the fun! This Halloween, tone it down, be cool, and have fun!
10 Cool Halloween Activities for Teens
Dragons guard the Halloween candy dish.
These Cheesy Ghost Chicken Nuggets taste delicious and make a spooky appetizer for a Halloween Party. Be prepared to work quickly, the cheese gets solid fast.
Use a paint marker to write 'Boo' on the bottom of one mini popcorn bucket. Have everyone check their buckets. Whoever gets the 'boo' wins a special prize. Be sure to tell everyone else to boo the winner! Teens like that stuff, you know.
The REAL story of the Jack-o-Lantern started with a turnip.
Oriental Trading has tons of cool decorations for Halloween parties. Our teens chose to go with a dragon theme for their Halloween party. We ordered dragon skeletons, swords, gloves for knights in shining armor, and more.
For the Halloween party tablescape below, we used a black light up bat wreath as a centerpiece decoration for our candy dish. If you're having a sleepover party, build memories by making a Halloween wreath as a favor to take home.
The black light up bat wreath is perfect for various themes. In fact, it can be used as a centerpiece decoration for a Medieval-themed Halloween party. Be sure to include other Medieval decorations. For starters, give your walls an ancient look by covering them with stone wallpapers and hanging shields. Also, provide minimal natural light using chandeliers and torches. Equally important, don't forget to dress appropriately for the event. Men can sport a "noblemen" look by wearing tunics, leggings, and breeches. Meanwhile, medieval costume ideas for women include long gowns and ankle-length tunics belted at the waist.
Play ring toss with the candy filled milk jugs and some Halloween bracelets. When the kids toss a bracelet over a jug, they win the jug and the bracelet!
Halloween Party Candy Theme Table Decorations.
Creature Pizza Biscuits are easy and fun to make as a Teen Halloween Party Activity. Just dip them in marinara sauce for a tasty appetizer. Learn how to make them here: Pumpkin Face Pizza Biscuits.
Edible Art: Pumpkin Biscuits.
The large Dragon Skeleton is perfect for posing for pictures for teens to share on their social media! #HalloweenGames After they've posed, blindfold them, tape a paper flame (with tape on both sides) to the end of the sword, and play PIN THE FLAME ON THE DRAGON.
Pin the Flame on the Dragon Party Game.
Make your own Halloween Pumpkin and Ghost lights with plastic cups and cheap string lights. Learn how here: Pumpkin and Ghost Lights for Party. When teens arrive, give them each a cup and some markers. Let their creative juices flow and then collect the cups and pop them on a strand of lights. Hang it on your entry way, so they can see their art work as they head home.
Don't forget the worms! For a cool teen HALLOWEEN party the best ideas are the grossest (is that even a word) ones. Our world famous SLURPIN' FOR WORMS game is a necessity! Especially, when you use the realistic gummy earthworms from OTC.
Realistic Earthworm Gummy Candy from Oriental Trading.
On Halloween, a house party full of teensneeds haunting! Hang sheets to make mazes throughout the rooms, turn out the lights and light the way with strobe lights or flickering string lights. Add creepy creatures at every corner, and make the final exit a 'dead' end.
Turn Your Teens into Readers: 5 Handy Tips to Encourage Teenage Reading
Most parents want their teens to become avid readers.One poll found that three-fourths of parents with kids between the ages of 6-17 agreed with the statement, "I wish my child would read more books for fun." Getting a teenager to read is often more challenging than getting a 10-year-old to read. By the time your child is a teenager, they're more interested in screen time than book time. Not every kid is going to stay up late reading books, and that's okay. You can encourage teenage reading by choosing the right book for your kid, read on for five of the best tips to get your teen to read more.
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How to get your Teen to Read.
5 Tips to Get TEENS to Read More
1. Take Teens to Bookstores and Libraries
Bookstores are far less common now than 20 years ago. The bookstore shortage is even affecting highly cultured cities like New York. Many people who buy books do it online.
Buying online isn't the same as having a world of books that you can reach out and touch with your fingertips. Bookstores and libraries are great places to discover new authors and get recommendations while fulfilling those bibliophile needs. Smell the pages, caress the covers, see the beauty of the illustrations as they were meant to be seen.
2. Encourage Fun Reading
Sure, you may wish that your teens would read Jane Austen or Charles Dickens.These days, if they're doing that, it's probably for a class. Reading a book for a grade can suck the joy out of reading a good book.
What does that mean for parents? It means that you should encourage your teens to read for fun, even if "fun" looks different for you than it does for them. They should read what they want, even if it's just a magazine or a comic book. A few years ago, some parents freaked out at the idea of teens reading the Twilight novels. But vampire romance novels, no doubt, made some kids into lifelong pleasure readers. Raising our hands here! When a kid that never reads gets addicted to a book series, you jump for joy!
These days, both adults and teens are constantly on their smartphones. One way to fight the technology craze is to create zones where screens aren't permitted. For instance, let's say dinner starts at 6 pm. Want to eat? Have everyone in your family, including the adults, drop their phones into a basket outside the dining room before sitting down to eat. The more you look at your phone, the harder it is to look away. Taking a break from screens can make it easier for kids to pick up a book and start reading.
A teen interested in writing is more likely to get interested in reading. That's because trying to write a book gives you a different perspective on the books that you read. If your kid has a story to tell, give them the time and space to write it down. It can be anything from short-form fan fiction to a full-blown novel. Grab some cool writing journals and encourage them to get creative. If you want, you can even customize your book cover.
5. Talk About Your Own Reading
Make reading a family priority. When you sit down with a book, you're sending your teen a message. Your teen may not think you're cool, but they're paying attention to what you're doing.
If they ask what you're reading, tell them. Encourage them ask questions. They may tease you, but you're still showing your teen what it looks like to enjoy reading, even when you have a job, kids, and other obligations.
Get Your Teenager Reading
The idea of trying to get your teenager reading can feel impossible. But it's possible, and you don't even have to nag. In fact, nagging is more likely to backfire. Remember that, you know how it felt.
Of course, reading is great, but we've also got plenty of other ways to keep your kid entertained at any age. Bookmark our site to stay up to date on the latest parenting teensarticles.
If there’s ateenager in your family, life can be very tumultuous, for the teenager and for everyone around them. When your child reaches the age of 12 or 13, a sudden change comes about, and they find themselves going through a series of emotional and physical changes. All of a sudden they start behaving in very unusual ways, some of which can be very worrying. It can be difficult for the inexperienced parent to know whether the behaviors of their teen are normal, or if it’s an indication there might be something seriously wrong. So, what are some unusual behaviors of your teens that may be of concern?
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Here are 5 Unusual TEEN Behaviors that should Concern Parents
Shunning Social Interaction
There are times when your teen wants nothing to do with you. It’s only natural for them to want some independence. It’s also perfectly normal for them to feel you and older generations don’t understand them. This type of behavior becomes abnormal when they start to shun all forms of social activity, even with their peers. If they won’t come out of their room, even when their friends come calling, this could be an indication of an underlying problem.
Extreme Sadness or Anxiety
It’s perfectly normal to feel sad or depressed from time to time. Even if these feelings last for a couple of days, you shouldn’t worry. If your teen's sadness lasts for more than a few weeks, it could be a sign of mental illness. Similarly, if their sadness seems to be getting progressively worse, they could be developing depression or social anxiety disorder. In which case they’ll need to be treated by a professional who knows what is the treatment for anxiety.
Risky Behavior
Teens are curious; they just can’t help it. It’s an age when they want to experiment with certain things, such as alcohol, drugs, and sex. If their experimentation becomes extreme, this is a time to worry. Professional help is available if your teen is struggling with an addiction. Research how to help your teenager who may have become depressed and developed and addiction.
Physical Changes
A teenagers body goes through a number of different changes as it grows and develops. There are also some very powerful hormone surges taking place. One thing that happens is that teens need a lot of sleep. There is, however, a fine line between normal and excessive sleeping. If they seem to be doing nothing but sleeping, there might be a problem. Changes in eating habits are also a common result of all the changes that teens are going through, but you should seek professional advice if your teen's appetite is reduced, they’re not eating at all, or they're experiencing extreme fluctuations in weight.
Harming Themselves
If your teen is feeling particularly angry or depressed, they could start self-harming. It might not just be themselves that they’re harming either. If your teen is suffering from a mental illness, it might lead to them harming others. This could be their pets, parents, or peers. Be aware of any usual anger or new cuts on their arms.
Nobody has ever said raising kids is easy. There are times, particularly during kids' teenage years, that you’ll think they’re from another planet and you can’t believe they’re the same adorable toddler you once knew. Your child’s teen years can be very traumatic for everyone concerned, but don't worry, they don’t last very long, and you can all come out happy together on the other side if you are mindful of these five unusual teen behaviors.
Homeschool Videos for Teens Homeschooling? If you're looking for educational videos for teenagers YouTube, we recommend the following 10 Educational YouTube Videos for teens. We've rounded up teen friendly homeschool videos in science, history, health and wellness, and internet safety. Many of them are filmed or acted out by real teenagers. Enjoy!
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10 Amazing Science Tricks Using Liquid
Teenagers are fascinated by unusual and different tricks and/or oddities. This is a great way to teach science while keeping their attention.
A Glimpse Of Teenage Life In Ancient Rome This animated video shows how teenagers had different lives in ancient times. It's a good way to learn social history and the hard times teenagers went through on a completely different level than today.
Teenage Anxiety
These days, teenage anxiety is common. This video helps teens realize they aren't alone.
Self Control Video
This video on self-control shows teens how not to give into impulses and how to do the right thing. It's filmed in a funny way that will keep their attention.
Managing Anger & Fears
Teaches teens how to manage their emotions and shows teens they aren't alone
Communication Skills For Teens
This is a good video to help teens prepare for future job interviews.
"What Would You Do" An informative drug & alcohol awareness PSA. This YouTube video was made to educate students on the dangers of teen alcohol and drug abuse.
Harmful Effects Of Tobacco On The Human Body
Perfect for teens feeling peer pressure to smoke.
Top 5 Food Mistakes Teenagers Make
Teen interviews- an educational video on the importance of food for health and well-being.
Dangers Of Social Media For Teens
This video is an educational experiment on what someone can find about you online in only 6 clicks. Learn tips on how to guard yourself on social media and use it safely.
Are you planning a slumber party for your New Year's Eve celebration? The winter months are a great time to stay indoors and plan a teen sleepover. We've found 9 new ideas for a sleepover that will make you the coolest party host ever! If you're planning a slumber party for 13, 14, 15, or 16 yr. olds, you'll find fun activities and themes to keep everyone happy and having a good time. Whether your 13 or 31, these New Year's Eve Sleepover Ideas will make your sleepover party the best one ever!
This post contains affiliate links.
New Year's Sleepover Ideas
Spend the Night in a Theme Hotel
All you need is you and some cash. No prep needed. Want something super special to do to celebrate the New Year? Pack your bags and gather the gang to spend the night at an Indoor Water Park like Big Splash in French Lick, Indiana pictured above. They offer rooms for up to 9 guests. In addition to the water activities, there's also a game room with a Gyroball ride and a cafe.
Wear cool pajamas and pack your bags for a night full of fun activities!
Blindfold Makeup Challenge
No matter your age, the blindfold makeup challenge is a lot of fun. There are tons of videos out there. Join the fun and post yours to Instagram, #blindfoldmakeupchallenge. All you need are some blindfolds, a makeup kit, and willing participants. Snap a selfie of the gang after everyone's makeup is done. How fun is that?
Shaving Cream Twister
Got a basement or a big kitchen? A game of shaving cream Twister is a hoot. Roll out your official Twister Board or Make your own with a tarp. Just spray circles of shaving cream in the Twister pattern and add a drop of food coloring (mix it up to get the color) and then use the official spinner. No game, no spinner? That's okay, put all of the colors on cards and draw one on each turn to see what color to go to next.
Game of Phones
This is a cool game to play with cell phones. It can work with tablets too. Get the official version on Amazon, but you could easily make your own with some index cards and a Sharpie.
Make your own Photo Props for Selfies
While we're on the subject of mobile phones, CMCraftStudios sells these adorable photo props for selfies. You can purchase a set for $60 or you can hop over to a hobby store or Walmart and get some cardstock and make your own. Grab you phones and take fun selfies of each other to memorialize the New Year, New You!
Poop! Theme Sleepover Party Ideas
Make it a poop theme! Before the party, bake some chocolate cupcakes and then give everyone a baggie of poop (plastic bag with chocolate icing) so they can poop on their cupcakes. Gross, but fun! Click here to make your own icing tubes.
Get crafty and make a game of Pin the Poop as seen below.
Pin the Poop, uploaded to Pinterest by Heather Buller.
Glow Stick Pool Party
Live in a warm climate? Try a Glow Stick Pool Party! If not, grab an inflatable pool or use your indoor hot tub to create a glowing experience perfect to highlight the New Year. Just fill your pool with activated glow sticks!
Sleepover Tents
Tents are a fun addition to any party. Add some twinkle lights to make it magical. Better yet, prep the tent forms and get Butcher paper or white sheets and have your guests decorate their own tents before pitching them for the night!
Have you tried any of these ideas for a New Year's Sleepover? Tell us about it in the comments. Keep up with all of our ideas, join thousands of others and follow Kids Creative Chaos on Instagram.
Planning a unique birthday party for a tween (soon to be teen) or teenager is difficult. When they're younger, there are so many options- plus they don't even remember most of them! By the time they become teenagers, you're running on empty. Here's a list of Teenage Birthday Party Ideas in Indianapolis, your tween will love them too. Enjoy!
Planning a pool party for a sweet 16? A beach themed pool party is a lot of fun! It can be difficult to plan a birthday party theme for teens and tweens. Even if you don't have a "real" pool you can have a pool party for a sweet 16 birthday party. Just get an inflatable pool (or two) and add lots of fun decorations and beach themed food. We love planning parties with The Oriental Trading; they are our go to spot for summer fun. They have the most fun decorations at the best prices. So, have the best pool party ever for teens or tweens with these pool party activities, food, and fun decorating ideas with a pink and green flamingo theme. Enjoy! The Oriental Trading compensated for this post by allowing us to choose our favorite merchandise for an upcoming birthday party.* This post may contain other affiliate links.
Beach Theme Pool Party Ideas for Teens and Tweens.
Every beach party (especially one for girl's or my son whose favorite color in hot pink) needs some pink beach theme party supplies like flamingos. OT has the perfect beach themed pool decor: flamingo straws, inflatable flamingo cup holders for the pool, flamingo lights, flamingo pinwheels, and flamingos for the yard!
Stick these in the yard and make a flamingo obstacle course!
Stick these in the food display or line a walkway with them.
Pool Party Ideas for Teens and Tweens
For your beach party theme, you will need a pool. If you don't already have one, get an inflatable pool. Once you have a pool, (or three) you'll need to get beach theme pool party decorations and games. We like to purchase tons of inflatable beach balls and cover the pool with them. They make great party favors to take home, and the guests will enjoy playing with them throwing them at each other's heads.As we see, perfectly designed pool floatsserve as both entertainment and decoration for your pool party. You can have a wide variety of inflatables to choose from and with so many options available make sure to find the perfect inflatable to suit your needs. Inflatables are also very easy to set up and take down, so you can easily take them with you for other occasions. Best of all, they are very affordable, so you can get a lot of use out of them without breaking the bank.
These beach balls are a fun activity for kids of all ages. Grab some Glam Sharpie Markers and color your own beach ball! These would be fun for a Dory and Nemo theme party too! Another fun pool activity is to get a bunch of swim goggles and play underwater games for the pool.
You'll wantto get super fun party favors for teens and tweens. Along with the take home beach balls, get these pre-prepped beach theme party favors on the Oriental Trading website. They pair nicely with your beach theme pool decor from above.
Beach theme party favors.
Beach Theme Party Food
Whatever beach theme party foodyou serve, serve it up in colorful beach pails like the ones below.
How Gaming Helps Your Kids Boost Intelligence Intelligence is the capacity for learning and reasoning, the ability to understand and pr...
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for health and well-being.
and use it safely.
or Make your own with a tarp. Just spray circles of shaving cream in the Twister pattern and add a drop of food coloring (mix it up to get the color) and then use the official spinner. No game, no spinner? That's okay, put all of the colors on cards and draw one on each turn to see what color to go to next.
.
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to make it magical. Better yet, prep the tent forms and get 
or white sheets and have your guests decorate their own tents before pitching them for the night!
