My daughter has been in love with the Nerf Rebelle line ever since it debuted, so when I was asked to host a launch party for the new Nerf Rebelle Secrets & Spies line that debuts this fall, I was over the moon! I knew my daughter would freak out, especially since the line featured a new product – Agent Bow, a bow and arrow with foam arrows instead of darts! I was right. She freaked.
I love the Nerf Rebelle line because it allows girls to be empowered and show they are just as strong and proud as boys. And a girl with a bow and arrow? Hello, Katniss Everdeen, or even Merida?! And the new line comes with special darts that have secret messages along with blank spots for you to write your own messages, which your friends then read with a special decoder, which is attached to your bow or blaster.
We invited five friends over to try the new line out, and they got to take home their own Nerf Rebelle product – which they thought was the best thing ever, and that’s probably justified. For the theme of the party, I really tried to bring out the feeling of being empowered, and instilling confidence in the young girls. That’s something that I struggled a lot with, and still do, and I really want to make sure my daughters and their friends grow up with a good self esteem and are confident in who they are.
I set up three station games – Target Practice (a ladder with action figures on it for the girls to shoot off), Shot Through the Heart (a heart shaped target – and I will admit, none of the girls got the title of the game. “Does the arrow go through the heart? How does that work?” Thanks for aging me, girls.), and Shoot Some Hoops (hanging hoops which the girls shot arrows and darts through). Target Practice was their favourite, they thought it was just hilarious shooting the little action figures off the ladder! I highly suggest arranging your games so that they are shooting at something which will stop their darts or arrows, like a fence or the side of your garage. Otherwise, these bad boys can go up to 85 ft, and let’s just say we had to shake a few trees and make several “dart hunt” stops to collect our ammo!
We had some pizza, cake pops, and veggies and dip for snacks after we were done “on the range”. I meant to make the sticks from the cake pops look like the end of arrows, but I ran out of time – #partyfail!! Either way, they still looked cute, and I carried the pink, purple, and aqua colors that are often found on the Nerf Rebelle toys throughout the party. I also made water bottle labels, and little framed signs that listed some positive attributes that they girls held.
For the backdrop, I used a vinyl tablecloth, and made a banner with the Nerf Rebelle slogan – Step Up, Stand Out. I added some tissue paper flowers as well. After we were done eating, we moved the table and the backdrop served as a photobooth. I created a chalkboard sign that said “I AM…” and the girls got to fill in one word that described them. It was so nice to see them all helping each other and throwing out positive words when it was their friends turns. “Intelligent! Use intelligent! No wait, funny. Or kind!” If I were a little girl, I know that would have definitely helped boost my self esteem, so I hope it had the same effect on them.
My favourite part of the party were these little mason jar cups that I created. They were a last minute thought – as I was putting straws in the jars for their lemonade, I thought they needed a little something else, and it was a great way to carry over the empowerment theme. I whipped up some vinyl decals on my Cricut, and added them to the mason jars. A hole punched muffin liner acted as a topper for the jars. The girls loved them – they even wanted to take them home. I totally hadn’t expected that, but it was great to see them so excited. They each took one home with a word that described them, and hopefully when they look at the jars, they will think about how that word makes them the person they are.
This Nerf Rebelle party was so much fun, and I have to give a huge thank you to Hasbro and the Nerf Rebelle team. You may think I was creating a party for you, to share your new line of toys, but it really became so much more than that, and I was so blessed to see these young girls helping each other and lifting each other up. I hope we are raising a strong, independent, and confident generation of girls who will think more about the words they heard than the messages they will soon see from the media.
And now, for the giveaway! One lucky reader will get to take home a little Nerf Rebelle package of their own – including a Nerf Rebelle Secrets and Spies Agent Bow and Messenger Blaster! Good luck!
Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Hasbro and I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Christine says
The party looked like soooo much fun Sarah!!!! WOW!!! I LOVE Nerf Rebelle!
Margarita says
My daughter feels most empowered when she’s winning at anything – especially against the boys 😉
Angela Mitchell says
What a great party! My 8 year old daughter feels most confident when she is doing karate. She has been taking karate since she was 4 so she is very comfortable and proud of what she can do!
Julia Wells says
When she is reading – she is (and I am too) so proud of how well her reading has come along.
Cindy B. says
I teach my Daughter to be herself. She is silly, intelligent, girly and loves to kick a soccer ball!
Cheryl Haver says
This is amazing. Makes me want to do this for my daughter’s birthday. She is an aspergers kid so she always feels empowered. She says it makes her unique.
Jo-Anne Pfoh says
playing baseball or any sport
Cody Pfoh says
playing soccer
Denise E says
My 5 year old daughter feels empowered most of the time … she hasn’t learned otherwise
Carla says
Great party! No daughter, but my niece is the most confident when she is playing sports and taking the lead (she is always number one in charge!)
Tammy says
My daughter feels most confident and empowered when she learns new things!
Tina Chakraborty says
My daughter feels most empowered when we appreciate her little victories and let her know how proud we are of the person she becoming. She smart and beautiful and kind and we could not have asked for a better child.
Kate Hearn says
When she gets an awesome mark or review in school
denise zaleski says
My daughter would love this, her brother keeps going to nerf parties, this is a perfect idea for her birthday.
sarah Jones says
My daughter feels empowered when she does things on her own first. She would love this thank you
Rachel @{i love} my disorganized life says
Where was all the girly Nerf stuff when I was a kid? lol Fun party!
Meredith @ Wait Til Your Father Gets Home says
This has got to be the cutest little party ever! It looks like the girls had a blast 🙂
Barbara says
You have the LUCKIEST little princesses ever! This party (and all your parties) is amazing! I love this party!!
Megan says
What a fun party activity!!
Randi - Dukes and Duchesses says
We love this line … I think it’s so fun they came out with something that appeals to girls!
Mary Beth @ Cupcakes and Crinoline says
This is such a great party idea!
Rachel (Lines Across) says
What a fun party! I would have loved these when I was a kid.