MyJewishParty guest author post
One tricky aspect to choosing a Bar or Bat Mitzvah theme, is that kids at this age tend to be entering a time of co-ed friend groups, but are still somewhat stuck in the toy store world of gender-stereotyped products. Of course, stereotypes and labels are becoming less and less of the stronghold they once were, but you still want to make sure your theme feels approachable for everyone.
Here are a few themes that are “gender-neutral” enough to include everyone, regardless of how your guests identify or what hobbies peak their interest.
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1) Beach Theme
Who doesn’t love a day at the beach? Whether you’re into watersports, Jimmy Buffet music, or just warm weather lounging, it’s nice to feel your toes in sand (literally or otherwise). A beach theme is one that can be done on any budget, too. Want to go big? You can rent large palm trees and a surfboard bar for decor. Hire a steel drum player or even a hula dancer for entertainment! Prefer low key? The local party supply store will have plenty of decorations to keep things beachy. Add games such as frisbee, cornhole, and horseshoes to entertain the gang for hours. -
2) Sports Theme
Not everyone loves sports, but everyone has something they love about sports. Whether you’re the one who hits the ballgame for the peanuts and cracker jacks, cheers on the cheerleaders more than the players, or just can crush the arcade version of an actual sports game, we all love to be surrounded by the spirit of friendly competition. -
3) Carnival Theme
Many people associate carnivals with really young kids, but carnivals are actually ideal for preteens. Not only are are older kids able to enjoy the games with minimal supervision (more grownup time!), but it’s often the age where winning someone a prize or initiating a small wager over a game is the sweetest form of flirtation. -
4) Hollywood Theme
Adolescence is a time of transitioning. Tweens often turn to movies and public figures to mimic behavior and get an idea of what the future holds. This creates a few years of obsession over certain celebrities and/or movies. To turn it back to make it about the guest of honor, though, you can showcase his or her favorites using table names of favorite stars, activities that mimic specific films, and a red carpet entrance that allows them to be the admired one. -
5) Decades Theme
Your kids may hate hearing you stories about the past, but they love time traveling there themselves. Just look at the old fashion trends and throwback movies that are circling around time and time again! Anything from a 1950s malt shoppe, to a flashy 70s disco, to a totally rad (brightly colored!) 90s bash will provide the added bonus of your chance to say “I remember when…” -
6) Upside Down/Backwards Theme
Turn teenage rebellion on its head by creating a theme that relies on things being against the rules! Serve a naked cake (perhaps before dinner?), “graffiti” or screen print shirts, and encourage outrageous or inside-out clothing. Should you and your family find it appropriate, you can even consider a trick candle for one of your candle-lighting ceremony honorees!
About this guest author
Karen Gordon is the VP of Growth at Goodshuffle. Goodshuffle is simplifying event rentals with their online marketplace which makes it easy to shop, compare prices, and book your rentals all with a few quick clicks. Their software product, Goodshuffle Pro, streamlines operations for event rental companies.