Give Your Tween the Party of Her Dreams

Your little girl is a tween now and she's feeling all grown up. That doesn't mean she won't enjoy a special day of food, fun and friends on her birthday. It just means you'll have to approach planning her party a little differently. Use these creative tween party ideas to raise the cool factor at your daughter's next birthday bash.

The first step to throwing an amazing tween birthday party is creating a lively space where fun isn't just encouraged, it's expected! Ask your daughter what her ideal party theme would be and then transform the party room with a fabulous room roll, eye-catching hanging decorations and festive balloons. The moment her friends walk through the door they'll know it's time to party!

Tweens love texting with their friends and chatting on Facebook, but they'll still be thrilled to get a party invitation in the mail. Make them extra-special by choosing a trendy pattern like Monster High – it's a fun mix of girly and ghoulish. Dress up your invites with some confetti in the envelope, save-the-date stickers, and other fun surprises.

Your party table shouldn't be just a place to sit down and eat; it can be another place to create a surprising and thrilling display of decorations and favors. Pick the tableware that matches your party theme, then take it to another level with a creative centerpiece and favors.

Even though they're not into cutesy costumes anymore, tweens still love to dress up and pretend to be someone else for the day. Make it easy by having great accessories like hats, headbands, glasses, jewelry and even bright hair extensions that can add flair to any outfit.

Photos are always a great way to capture memories from a party, but having a "photo shoot" can also be part of the excitement. Invite a life-size cutout of your daughter's favorite pop star and let the girls pose for pix. Setting out disposable cameras lets the girls get into the shutterbug action.

No matter what age they are, every birthday girl loves to see her name in big letters. Give her a thrill with a custom birthday banner showing a special message – she'll want to hang it up in her room after the party. Coordinate the banner with matching invitations and thank-you notes that are like her own personal stationery – so grown up!

Part of the fun of planning a birthday party is picking out colorful and sweet treats to delight the guests. Girls of any age will ooh and aah over a candy buffet, which is easy to set up when you start with a candy buffet kit. Fill it with bright and bold gumballs, chocolate and lollipops, then set out candy boxes and watch them make their sweet dreams come true. For the best selection of candy, visit your nearest Party City store.

Party guests of every age look forward to taking home a goodie bag filled with favors and candy, and tweens are no exception. Pack their favor bags or reusable buckets with trinkets they'll love like lip gloss, body glitter, sunglasses and pencils they can use at school. It's a great way to say thanks for coming to the party!

Be sure to have tween-friendly activities and games planned for those lulls in the excitement. Set up a simple jewelry-making craft activity where they can create beaded necklaces and bracelets to take home as party favors that feel a little more grown-up.

After they've glammed it up with fun wearable party favors and themed accessories, let tweens and teens dance the night away! Turn up the music so the girls can rock out to their hearts' content or rent a karaoke machine for the evening and let them belt out their favorite tunes.