Hosting a Wii Party
A great idea for a kid’s birthday party or a way to keep teens in a controlled environment, while still allowing them to have fun without drugs or alcohol is to throw a Wii party. The main features of these parties, other than a Wii of course, include lots of junk food, soda, and other activities for people not playing the Wii to participate in.
Before you begin planning a Wii party, check out the Wii games you already own. The best types of games for parties are those that have a large number of players, so more than two people can play and participate at once. Also be sure that you have the required Wii accessories. Find out how many controllers, nunchuks, Wii guns, or other controller accessories will be needed for your party. If you have time before your party, use eBay or other internet sites to get good deals on purchasing some of these items in multiples. Also keep an eye out for sales at game or department stores. Another idea is to let everyone know that you will be having this party in advance. Many families already own a Wii and may be willing to lend their controllers for your party. Let them know that they will be labeled and returned at the end of the party. Be ready to replace any broken or damaged controllers out of your own pocket.
Determining the correct number of people to invite is also important. If all the games you have use four players and there are no other activities to play, you probably don’t want to invite more than eight people. This way only half the time is spent observing rather than participating. However, if you are lucky enough to have something like a pool table or air hockey table, guests may rotate through the activities while they are not playing Wii.
The day before or the day of the party, stock up on plenty of snacks. Things like pretzels, chips and dip, and cheese curls are always a crowd favorite. If the party will be near a meal-time, consider ordering a few pizzas to feed everyone. It is also important to have several beverage choices available. Most people will stick with two liter sodas, but you should also consider having water readily available for kids who already had too much sugar.
Finally, have fun. Let the kids run the party and determine which games to play and who should participate. Don’t try to schedule every minute. Keep an eye out for any children that are being excluded and try to work them into the game or another activity so they have a fun time too.
