For the most part, we generally try to rein in their ambitious attempts to take the plunge into adulthood, but every now and again there’s no harm letting them feel that little bit more mature!
One of the easiest ways to do this without fearing for their safety is to allow them to throw a more grown-up party!
Young or old, there’s nothing nicer than getting done up for a special event, so why not let your teens throw a dinner party for their group of friends in their comfort of their own home?
As well as showing them that you know they’re capable of handling a grown up celebration, you’re also going to give them a sneak peek into how much effort goes in to these kind of events!
The guest list
Short and sweet is the name of the game here!
Even if you’ve a budding Nigella Lawson or an up-and-coming Jamie Oliver on your hands, very few of us could manage to cook for more than four people on our first attempt!
So keep your guest list small as possible and remember, they can always increase the size of their party in the future as they become more accustomed to it all.
The menu
Browse some recipe books with your teen or pass on your failsafe, foolproof dinner menu when you’re hoping to impress with as little effort as possible!
Italian dishes like lasagne or penne chorizo always go down a storm with teens and thankfully, don’t require too much effort on the cook’s part!
Tell your guest’s they’re invited to an Italian Night and bulk up the meal with garlic bread, side salad, small dishes of olives and non-alcoholic cocktails (of course!) to add authenticity!
Dessert
This is where things can get very creative and very competitive!
Why not suggest your guests provide one dessert each so the dinner party can treat themselves to five different desserts, while letting the cook off the hook for at least one course?!
People are generally very happy to bring a dessert if they know they’re being treated to a slap-up main meal!
And remember, extra points if they manage to stick to the theme of the evening!
The dress code
Dressing up for a sit-down meal with your friends is always incredibly fun, so why not let guests know that it’s a black-tie affair?
Shirts and slacks or stylish dresses can a bit of a novelty for our kids these days, so why not suggest they let their hair down and go glam for the event.
Make sure they get snap happy and capture the moment!
Decorations
Think elegance for this one!
Candles and flowers are the perfect way to glam up any dining room or kitchen, so make sure you have some floral arrangements or pretty nightlights dotted around the room.
The little things make all the difference!
Rules
Depending on how much help you give them with the cooking is how you measure who has to do the clear-up!
If your teen manages to cook and serve their dishes with limited help, then why not let them off the hook and do the tidy-up?
If, however, your teen spends more time slacking than slaving over a hot stove and you find yourself elbow deep in spaghetti, then make sure they know where to find the Marigolds at the end of the night!
You never know, your teen could start a trend with their glam event!
Why not suggest they begin a Come Dine With Me club where they can hone their cooking skills and treat each other to tasty meals every once in a while?!
