Moms, it's that time of year again! New Year's Eve is just around the corner and if you're like most parents, you're probably wondering how to celebrate with your kids without staying up till midnight. Well, don't worry, we've got you covered! Check out these simple and fun ideas for celebrating NYE with your little ones.
Make a fun and festive snack like "New Year's Eve" popcorn or cupcakes that your kids can enjoy
We love the idea of celebrating well before bedtime by making some fun and festive snacks that your kids will love! You could surprise them with popcorn coated or drizzled in melted chocolate (we love this recipe for Sparkly NYE Party Popcorn!)-- or if you prefer something a bit more creative, why not make cupcakes topped with colorful confetti or topped with a gold sugar glitter. Get creative with it and let your children help out in the kitchen. Not only will they get to enjoy their special treats, but they'll also get to create memories with you while doing so!
Decorate the house with streamers, balloons, and confetti
Adding extra cheer and excitement to the house has never been easier with streamers, balloons, and confetti. (we like these confetti pieces that are a bit larger and easier to clean up) This is arguably the easiest way to create a festive atmosphere! These fun decorations will have everyone excited for your event and it's so easy — just tape, hang up, and spread. Streamers are perfect for wrapping around doorways or stretching across ceilings. Balloons can be both eye-catching and whimsical. And what celebration is complete without confetti? The more colorful the better! Get creative with these decorations and take your NYE to the next level.
If you're looking for a few easy picks from Amazon, here are a few to check out:
- Simple Black and Gold
- Glitter Star Garland Banner
- Disco Ball Balloons
- Happy New Year Hats, Glasses, and Necklaces
Have a dance party to your favorite songs for New Years eve
Starting off the New Year is always such a fun and exciting time but this year, why not make it extra special? Bring in the New Year with a little boogie and have some fun by creating your own joyous dance party. Gather your family for an epic night of foot stomping beats to your favorite songs - you pick the playlist (favorite songs of the year is always a good time!) Put on your groove shoes and dance ‘til bedtime, or as much as you can handle! There’s something magical about celebrating the sweet moments of life through music and dancing - it'll be sure to make 2022 even more memorable so bring on the tunes and let the good times roll!
Pretend to Stay Up Till Midnight by Doing and Epic "Countdown till Bedtime"
You don’t have to stay up ‘til midnight to feel the New Year’s spirit! Instead, try counting down the minutes just like you would for midnight, but for bedtime. Get your kiddos involved and have them choose their favorite activities to do in the last hour before bedtime – such as playing a game, watching an episode from their favorite show, reading everyone a story – and create a fun little agenda. Making up your own mini-festivities will bring in the new year with plenty of laughs and smiles that will last far beyond midnight. Plus, it’ll set the perfect tone for all your upcoming resolutions and goals for 2022!
Idea Schedule for 8pm bedtime:
- Set the expectation early in the day, making sure to mention multiple times that tonight is New Years Eve which means we do a fun countdown to bedtime! Get any bedtime rituals like taking a bath/shower out of the way early if you can.
- At 1 hour prior to bedtime, you can begin the countdown. Make things extra special by displaying a big timer on your TV like this one.
- 7:00 - 7:15 | Start things off with a dance party to celebrate the passing year! You can go the extra mile by making a playlist of all your favorite, or just listen to a dance party playlist! Just give yourself enough time to get all the wiggles out
- 7:15 - 7:45 | Celebrate leading up to bedtime with talking about favorite memories from the passing year, making sure to keep an eye on your countdown timer to build the excitement
- 7:45 - Normal bedtime rituals like brushing teeth and getting jammies on all while racing the clock to ensure you're all together to celebrate when the timer reaches zero
- At bedtime, celebrate with a big "Happy New Year!" and give lots of hugs, kisses, high fives, fist bumps.. whatever feels nice for your family.
- Finish the night as if it IS the New Year, and tuck little one's in bed with hopeful excitement for the year ahead.
Of course, if you're worried about the excitement pushing bedtime too late, you can always start your countdown earlier if needed :)
Make New Years Resolutions Together
New Year's resolutions provide a valuable opportunity for children to start the year with honest introspection and thoughtful self-reflection. It's a great time for kids to consider who they would like to be, what qualities they'd like to cultivate, and what goals they'd like to set for the upcoming year -- as well as celebrate all the amazing accomplishments they've made in the current year. The most important thing is that parents show support and help their children realistically identify achievable objectives. A few activities that can help include writing down ideas together, talking about successes from the past year, setting reminders or having a chart full of positive motivations - all of which will help reinforce feelings of accomplishment when achieved. With just a bit of creativity guiding them in the right direction, surely your family will start 2022 with exciting possibilities and powerful intentions!
Give each other "NYE hugs and kisses" at bedtime
New Year's Eve is a time for reflection, but also a time to create lasting memories with our loved ones. There is no better way to end the day than with hugs and kisses for each other before bedtime. This simple act can help you capture the spirit of New Year’s Eve in your home and gives everyone in your family an opportunity for some peace at this often hectic time. As night falls on New Year's Eve, take a few extra moments to hold each other close and let everyone know just how much they mean to you– starting with sending hearty hugs and sweet kisses that will wrap up the soon-to-be-past year.
These are just a few fun ideas to help you ring in the new year with your friends and loved ones. What are some of your favorite traditions? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year!