Good Ideas for a Boy's 16th Birthday

• Plan a teenage boy's birthday. Ben Bloom/Photodisc/Getty Images

  A 16th birthday is a milestone and cause for a celebration, but planning something special for a teenage boy can be difficult. Teenage boys may not be interested in cakes, balloons, fancy decorations and dressing up, but that doesn't mean they won't appreciate a party. Plan an event suited to his interests and personality for a 16th birthday to remember whatever your budget.

Outdoor Party

• If the 16th birthday falls in summer, celebrate outside with a special barbecue. Include all the birthday boy's favorite barbecue foods, snacks, chips and dips and make pitchers of non-alcoholic cocktails and punch. Hire an adult-sized inflatable castle if you've got the space, or set up a volleyball or basketball court for tournaments. Or rent a croquet set for something a little different. Decorate the garden or yard with paper lanterns, colored lights and tiki torches for ambiance when the sun goes down. Ask the birthday boy to supply his ideal music on his MP3 player, or create mix CDs of favorite tracks. Cool down with water fights or water balloon tosses at the end of the afternoon. In fall, celebrate the 16th with a backyard bonfire complete with marshmallows to roast, burgers, hot dogs and doughnuts.

Video Game Party

• If your boy is a big games fan, set up a video game party for him and his friends. You need several TVs or computer monitors so collect all of yours and ask friends or relatives to lend you theirs for the party. Hook all the televisions up in one room and provide plenty of chairs, beanbags, sofas and pillows to lounge on. Ask your boy's guests to bring their game consoles and games and add yours to the party -- mark them with names so everyone gets them back at the end of the evening. Set up fun tournaments and award prizes to the best gamers. Keep things simple -- just add music and serve chips and dips, or order in the birthday boy's favorite food. Pizza is an easy option and usually a hit with teens.

Sports Party

• If the birthday teen isn't keen on a party, plan a trip to his favorite sporting event with a group of his friends. Get the best seats you can and lay on all the extras -- hot dogs, sodas, programs -- to make it an afternoon to remember. End the day with a trip to a sports-themed restaurant where the teenagers can chow down on burgers and watch sports on the big screen. A surprise cake is a great touch at the end of the meal, provided the birthday boy isn't too embarrassed by attention.

Exclusive Party

• If the budget allows, rent a limo for the night and take a group of his friends out in style to a restaurant, a teen club, or the mall for video games and snacks. For teens who enjoy attention, glamour and dressing up, hold a casino night birthday party with roulette and blackjack games, chips to exchange for prizes, a cotton candy machine, a magician and a caricature painter. Ask all guests to dress in black tie and evening dress for extra exclusivity.