• Hold 13-year-old's January birthday party at a skating rink.ice skates image by Maria Bell from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>
  
  A January birthday for a 13-year-old can be both a blessing and a curse. You don't have to worry about people being away for summer vacation, but you do have to worry about a possible snowstorm interfering with party plans, especially if you live in a cold climate. Although you probably can't throw a pool party unless it's indoors, you have the option of taking the birthday girl and her friends out to enjoy wintertime fun.
  
  

Ski Party

• One way to celebrate a 13th birthday in January is to take the birthday girl and a few of her closest friends skiing or snowboarding. If none of them have skied before, arrange for a lesson when you get to the slopes. Contact the ski lodge to see if it has any birthday party packages available or plan to bring your own decorations and cake to the lodge.
  
  

Ice Skating Party

• If you want to have a bigger guest list, hold your 13-year-old's birthday party at an ice skating rink or a nearby frozen-over pond. Exercise caution if you decide to take preteens or teenagers to a frozen pond, and heed any "thin ice" signs. If you have the party outdoors, serve hot foods that can be eaten with mittens on, such as chili, soups and hot chocolate. If the party's at a skating rink, offer classic party fare such as hot dogs, chips and ice cream.
  
  

New Year's Birthday Sleepover

• Combine a New Year's party with a birthday party if your daughter's birthday falls within the first few days of January. A New Year's birthday party is a great excuse for a sleepover since guests likely planned to stay up past midnight anyway. Serve ginger ale in champagne flutes at the stroke of midnight and wait until late to cut the cake and serve ice cream. Ask party guests to share their resolutions as the birthday girl opens her presents. Instead of singing "Aud Lang Syne," guests can sing "Happy Birthday" or try to combine the two into one song.
  
  

Souper Party

• In winter months, people often turn to warm, hearty fare to keep themselves warm. If your newly teenaged girl shows an affinity for cooking, turn her party into a cooking lesson or soup-tasting event. Hire a chef to teach the birthday girl and her guests how to make a simple soup or casserole. Invite the chef to stay for cake and ice cream after the lesson.