Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Party Ideas

I’m excited about closing out 2013 and ringing in a new year full of new adventures, new opportunities and lots of new memories!  New Year’s Eve events are often adult-only events, but the kids get excited about ringing in the New Year too!  And at a time when babysitters are scarce why not celebrate at home with the kids.  Whether you decide to invite friends over and make it a party or just cozy up with your family, you can make it a memorable New Year’s Eve with these tips for a kid-friendly celebration.

TIP #1: Prep Your Party

The key to any good party is planning.  Make a few simple decorations to set the festive mood of the party. I used glitter paper and cut out numbers on my Cricut.  I attached them to wire hangers and bamboo skewers and placed them in spray painted bottles for a festive countdown centerpiece.  I also downloaded the free black and white New Year’s Eve Party printable package from Paging SuperMom for some additional decor.

You also want to make sure you plan a few activities, crafts and festive party food ahead of time so everyone can enjoy the fun. Start the evening by letting the kids craft and create their own party supplies to help ring in the New Year.  These are a few of our favorites:

• Get dressed up with DIY Party Hats

• Let the confetti fly with DIY Confetti Poppers

• Make some noise with DIY Party Horns

 TIP #2: Hourly Entertainment

Get everyone in the celebratory mood with hourly entertainment that will keep the little ones busy (and awake) until the clock strikes midnight:

• Make Countdown Bags with hourly activities and special treats.  Let the kids open them each hour to reveal the task inside. Some ideas include: decorate Ice Cream Cone Party Hats, Take photos with disposable camera, make a craft, celebrate with traditions from around the world, ect…

• While you’re waiting for the ball to drop have the kids write up their New Year’s resolutions and record their favorite moments from 2013.  I love this version and free printable from Thirty Handmade Days

• Gather keepsakes, photos and memories from the year and create a family Time Capsule.  Open it up next year for a walk down memory lane.
• Make a Family Memory Jar and use it to record special memories, fun moments or accomplishments throughout the year.  Sit down on NYE the following year and reflect on the amazing year you’ve just had.

TIP #3: Drink Up

Serve kid friendly party drinks and let the younger crowd ring in the New Year with a toast and one of these festive drinks:

• Sprinkle Rimmed Milk Shooters

• Good Luck Grape-tini – Do like the Spaniards do and eat grapes at midnight for good luck.

• Milk and Cookies “Champagne Toast”

• Don’t forget the food. Make Ball Drop Cupcakes, New Year’s Eve POPcorn, Fruit Sparklers, and Confetti Pizzas.

TIP #4: Make Some Noise

New Year’s Eve isn’t complete without the requisite noise makers.  Let your little party guest make their own noise makers to bring the new year in with a bang!

• Bubble Jumping – Make colorful bubble packaging pop runners and let the kids create lots of noise by jumping up and down at the stroke of midnight.
• Make New Year’s Eve Paper Plate Noise Makers

• Give the kids custom made NYE crackers with trinkets and treats to celebrate the start of a new year.

With just a little bit of effort and a few simple touches you can celebrate the new year in style with a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party!  Here’s hoping that 2014 is a prosperous year full of blessings, adventures and of course lots of giggles galore!

For more ideas and DIY tips for hosting a kid-friendly New Year’s Eve party click on the videos below to see my TV segments with The Broadcast TV.