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Winter Break Activities: New Year's Eve Party
Honesty time: I have never really understood a holiday where you wait all night for 1 second. So New Year’s Eve is not a holiday that meant that much to me. That, coupled with the fact that I spent many of them working in a restaurant made it even more uneventful.
Once I had kids who understood what a party was, that all changed. I realized that New Year’s Eve did not need to be just about a countdown to midnight. So, we made it about celebrating the past year. Now my kids look forward to it and get excited when it rolls around. We put together a little family party and let the kids stay up a little later than normal. They definitely are not awake when the clock strikes midnight. But I don’t think they care.
Here’s a sample of what we do on New Year’s Eve with two kids under ten.
Party Food
We don't go crazy with the food because our kids don't really eat much. So, the food is pretty simple. We usually have a nice cheese platter with gourmet cheeses and cured meats and crackers. Some fruit, maybe some deviled eggs, spinach pinwheels and pita chips and onion dip are pretty much the whole spread. And of course, we have desserts. Cookies and cupcakes are usually on deck. This year we'll have the "Sparkly Pretzels" that the kids made with chocolate and sprinkles. They'll be excited when they see them on the table.
Cheers!
Decorations and favors
Since I love to decorate, I fill the family room and kitchen with as many balloons that will fit. I hang them from the ceiling, among streamers and swirls. Happy New Year signs and banners go up, a different tablecloth goes on the table. And I like to offer everyone noisemakers, top hats and tiaras, and the beaded necklaces that my kids love. This year, I found these horns that have a squeeze pump on the end instead of a spout to blow into. Much better as far as the spit factor goes!
I would say one of my kids' favorites is having sparkling drinks. I love Champagne, so we always have some bubbles for the grown-ups. My kids felt they should have the same! So, they get either a sparkling cider, or sparkling juice drink. Of course, they drink it out of a special glass!
Get fancy
Make sure everyone gets dressed up like they’re going to a fancy restaurant. Let your kids pick out their own outfits, even if they don’t match. The important part is that they feel fancy and dressed up. If you let your kids, make their hair fancy and let them wear a little make-up to add to the dressed-up feeling.
Family Game Time
After the food and drinks and party favors lose their luster, we start up the games. Here is a sample of some games to play with the kids.
New Year's Eve Bingo
Print up a Bingo game online. I found this one at thebestideasforkids.com. Use regular silver wrapped Hershey's Kisses as markers. We play it as whoever wins the game gets to eat two chocolate kisses.
Unicorn Oreo Stack
Use golden and traditional Oreos for the black and gold theme. See who can stack the most cookies on their forehead while their head is tilted back. The highest stack wins.
Ping Pong Ball Drop
Have the contestant stand on a chair with a bucket or bowl on the ground beneath their feet. The contestant must drop the ping pong ball into the bowl and the ball must stay in (bounced out balls do not count). If everyone plays simultaneously, the first one to have five balls in is the winner. If playing one at a time, give each contestant the same time limit and the one with the most balls in is the winner.
Cheers to the New Year!
And that is just a little sample of how you could throw a New Year’s Eve party for your kids. One year we tried to find a recording of the ball drop to show the kids and that was when we realized it was not about the countdown to midnight for the kids. They were happiest just feeling like they got treated to a special party with fun and fanciness.
Favorite Items Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of the kid's favorite items. Give them 60-90 seconds to find each item. The one who finds the most items on the list within the time limit is the winner. Make sure to take a picture of each child with their chosen favorites for that year. It will make a great memory for later.