some ideas for 12's

How low is your budget? How sophisticated does your daughter think she is?

If you daughter is still a little girl at heart, a simple home party is all that you'll need. Pizza and cake. A few games from the Web (lots of good sites for kids' games). That's all my friends and I needed when we were 13.

Ah, but today's 12-year-olds think they are teenagers. If you keep the guest list small--no more than a half dozen best friends--you can do a teen-like outing for cheap. How about a movie matinee, with cake at a local ice cream shop afterwards. A local beauty parlor here will do hair and nail parties.

Or do something really grown-up, like tickets to the ballet or live theater (again, do a matinee--cheaper and safer for children). Do the cake and presents at home afterwards, while waiting for the other parents to retrieve their kids.

Have fun!