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15 Ways to Have the Best New Year’s Eve Ever with Your Kids

15 Ways to Have the Best New Year’s Eve Ever with Your Kids
little girl

By Janine Clements, 21st Century Mama

Once upon a time, I used to spend New Year’s Eve partying the night away. That was a long time ago, before kids, or at least when we lived near the grandparents and they could babysit. It was often overrated, and by the time you have to pay double-time for a babysitter, get taxis, and event tickets, you’ll know how expensive it can end up being. These days, we usually celebrate New Year’s Eve with our kids. We usually throw a small party with a few other families and I love it. 

Whether or not you usually ring in the New Year with yourΒ kids, youΒ could end up being together this year because of COVID restrictions. However,Β I’mΒ sure everyone wants to celebrate the end of 2020 and it can still be a whole lot of fun with your kids. Check out ourΒ 15Β tips for the best New Year’s Eve with kids ever.Β 

1. Put onΒ Your Best ClothesΒ Β 

If you want to celebrate properly, New Year’s Eve is the perfect excuse to get dressed up,Β no matter whatΒ you’reΒ doing. Ditch jeans and sweaters in favor of your most sparklyΒ dressΒ andΒ heels. Your kids will love putting on their best partywear,Β too. Not only willΒ dressing upΒ leave you feelingΒ fab, but it will also make celebrating New Year’s Eve with your kids feel special.Β Β 

2. Have a Social-DistancingΒ Gathering

My favorite way to celebrate New Year’s Eve with my kids is to invite two or three other families over. That way,Β the grownups can enjoy themselves while the kids are entertained. But this year, things will be different because of the COVID epidemic. IfΒ you’reΒ in a bubble with another family, then you could do something together. IfΒ it’sΒ not too cold, have aΒ socially-distancedΒ firepit with s’mores, and this way everyone stays outside, which is considered a safer strategy.Β 

3. Arrange aΒ SleepoverΒ 

Sleepovers are a fun way to celebrate the New Year with kids. Set them up with sleeping bags,Β pillows, a good movie, and some popcorn, and they will thinkΒ it’sΒ the best night ever.Β 

4. PlayΒ Family GamesΒ 

If you want ideas for things to do with kids on New Year’s Eve, bring out some familyΒ games. It can be even more fun if you have other families joining you. Charades, the Accent Game, or Categories are all crowd-pleasing options. ToΒ livenΒ things up,Β enjoyΒ a game of TwisterΒ (make sure all participants are healthy and being safe). Another greatΒ optionΒ is to plan an indoor scavenger hunt, as this will keep your kiddos occupied for a while.Β 

5. Stock up withΒ PartyΒ SuppliesΒ 

Make the party go off with a bang and stock up on New Year’s Eve-themedΒ party gearΒ including party hats, glasses, party poppers, mini bottles of bubblesΒ and silly string (if you dare). Decorate the room with streamers and balloons. If you’re feeling creative, you can make hats and garlandsΒ β€”Β there’s plenty of tutorials you can watch online.Β 

6. Create aΒ Signature Mocktail

While the grown-ups might toast the incoming year with champagne, a fun thing to do with kids on New Year’s Eve is to make specialΒ fizzyΒ mocktails. You could even create a mocktail bar complete with sparkling apple cider, juicesΒ and berries. Use plastic champagne flutes ifΒ you’reΒ worried about yourΒ glassΒ ones getting broken.Β 

7. AddΒ SomeΒ AppsΒ 

You need some apps to go with theΒ fizz. Appetizers, that is. WhenΒ you’reΒ celebrating New Year’s Eve with kids, opt for a variety of simpleΒ savoryΒ and sweet appetizers andΒ snacksΒ Β includingΒ kid-approved options such as pigs in blankets, chips and dipsΒ and chocolate fondue.Β 

8. Throw aΒ Karaoke Party

If you need inspiration for New Year’s Eve activities for kids, create a playlist with a mix of all your family’s favorite tunes. Add aΒ microphoneΒ andΒ you’veΒ got yourselves a karaoke party. If youΒ don’tΒ have an actual microphone for belting out songs, a wooden spoonΒ or a hairbrush canΒ makeΒ a greatΒ stand-in. Singing contests with small prizesΒ will be a big hit.Β 

9. SetΒ Family New Year’s ResolutionsΒ andΒ GoalsΒ for theΒ Next YearΒ 

What’s New Year’s Eve without setting some resolutions for the following year? This is a great New Year’s activity to do with kids. Each person can write down two or three of their own, and you can all decide on some family ones, whether it’s scheduling a weekly games night, family meetings or going on vacation to a destination everyone is excited to travel to.  

10. Capture theΒ MomentΒ 

Another popular New Year’s Eve idea with kids is takingΒ photosΒ of the celebrations, which will make great additions to the family album. Snap some selfies or get creative and set up a homemade photo booth with props such as hats, sunglassesΒ andΒ costumeΒ jewelry. You could add a fun backdrop or a New Year’s Eve portrait frame to hold up as you snap.Β Set up yourΒ printerΒ or just review the images in a slideshow.Β 

11. Create aΒ Time CapsuleΒ 

An extra-special way to create memories whenΒ you’reΒ spending New Year’s Eve with kids is by filling aΒ masonΒ jarΒ with keepsakes from the previous year. You can download a template with questions to fill in andΒ includeΒ it in the jar.Β Don’tΒ forget to add a family photo to the time capsule before you seal it up.Β 

12. Countdown to theΒ New Year

When celebrating New Year’s Eve with kids, it’s exciting for them to be able to be part of the New Year countdown. It’s the ideal time to make lots of noise, so hand out whistles and party poppers. If you’re okay with your kids staying up until midnight, they’ll love watching the ball drop at Times Square on the television. But if you have toddlers or preschoolers, you’ll probably want to get them to bed early to avoid overtired youngsters the next day. Netflix offers fake New Year’s Eve countdowns with different characters from their favorite shows, so you can trick them into thinking 8 pm is midnight. When it’s over, put them in bed and let your hair down. 

13. Organize aΒ Balloon Drop

Whether your children areΒ youngΒ and you want them inΒ bedΒ beforeΒ midnight, or they are old enough to stay upΒ late, a balloon drop is the perfect way to make sure your New Year’s Eve with kids goes off with a bang. You can buy a balloon drop set with everything you need or go for a DIY option (there’sΒ plenty of ideas on the internet). When midnight strikes, the kids will be so excited to see all the balloons floating down (confetti optional).Β 

14. WatchΒ FireworksΒ 

There’sΒ nothing like fireworks to announce the start of the new year. IfΒ you’reΒ spending New Year’s Eve with your kids and the town is putting on aΒ fireworkΒ display,Β wrap upΒ warm and head out to watch them. Avoid the crowds and find a quietΒ spot to.Β Or, ifΒ it’sΒ not too cold, set up a display in your backyard. Check state laws first, as different states have different rules as to what is allowed.Β Β 

15. FamilyΒ Movie Night

Sometimes there’s no better way to spend New Year’s Eve with your kids than to put on yourΒ PJs, cozy up on the sofa with some hot chocolate, and watch a great family movie. Suggestions for what to watch for 2020 include Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Croods 2, and Peter Rabbit 2, as well as favorites such asΒ Elf, A Christmas Story,Β Ghostbusters or Home Alone.Β 

Whatever you decide,Β the memories of a fun New Year’s EveΒ even in challenging timesΒ will resonate with your kids for years to come.Β Β 

About The Author

Casey Christiansen

Casey supports the PR team at Zulily.

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