Getting teen friends together over the holidays is a fun celebration no matter what the purpose. Including a gift exchange or "Secret Santa" doubles the fun and excitement at a teen holiday party.
How to Organize a Teen Gift Exchange
Send out invitations to the party well in advance and require RSVPs at least two weeks prior to the party date.
When you have a final list of all who will be attending the party, assign each party guest the name of another party guest. (Be sure no one gets himself!) Attendance is important to a party in which each person brings a gift and each person receives a gift. If someone doesn’t show, someone else won’t get a gift.
Set a budget or spending range for the gift exchange gifts. Be mindful that not all young people can afford expensive gifts for friends. Set a modest price limit or spending range.
Notify each guest who they’re buying for and what the budget is. Tell guests to wrap their gift and put the receiver’s name on it. If you choose to have a "Secret Santa" gift exchange, tell partygoers to keep their gift-exchange name a secret.
If the teens are all the same age and gender, with similar interests, you can forgo assigning names and do a “grab bag” to choose gifts. Or play the Balloon Prize Game to allow each person to choose a gift: Number the gifts. Fill helium balloons containing a slip of paper with a number inside. Each partygoer chooses a balloon, pops it, reads the number and chooses the corresponding gift.
Activities for a Teen Gift Exchange Party
Exchanging gifts should be the grand finale of the party. Plan some games and activities to fill the rest of the party time.
- Build mini gingerbread houses – Have each teen bring a different bag of candy to share to decorate the houses. To save time, have the houses pre-built out of graham crackers ahead of time, then let the teens do the decorating. Use frosting, candy, cookies and cereal to decorate the gingerbread house.
- Play a Christmas game - Choose a game from the Christmas World website, such as Christmas Carol Charades: Write down the names of Christmas carols on small slips of paper and put them into a bowl. Divide into two teams. Each team takes turns "miming" the name of a Christmas carol without speaking and using only motions
- Learn something new - Bring in a guest who can teach the teens how to make an artsy ornament, create a fancy bow or intricate gift wrap, or learn a new craft. Know someone who makes jewelry? Have the teens chip in to buy supplies and have them create a necklace or bracelet.
- Do a project for charity – Find a charitable organization that needs a task done and have your teens help. At the holidays, most non-profit organizations are doing something for the needy. Teens can fill stockings for needy children, put together gifts for nursing home residents, or other projects.
- Go caroling – Grab your boots and gloves, and lyrics to some old favorite Christmas carols, and fill the neighborhood with song. Have hot cider or cocoa ready for the carolers when they return.
Food and Snacks for a Teen Gift Exchange Party
Serve finger foods on a buffet so the kids can grab and gab. Because so many teens are vegetarians, offer a variety of vegetarian snacks. Some popular party foods for teen parties are:
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