How to plan a kid-friendly New Year's party

Dec 22, 2010 10:59 AM by Naomi de la Torre

Posted in Parenting / Family Fun / Family Activities

Shimmer, Sparkle
& Shine

You want to bring the New Year in with a bang and a sparkle. But now that you are a parent, it’s just not that easy. For one thing, you are lucky if you get to go out on a monthly date night that doesn’t include a midnight diaper run to Target. And certainly, spending hundreds of dollars to go out on the busiest and most overpriced night of the year is no longer on your radar, much less your Top 10 list of priorities. Use the creative tips below and plan a New Year’s celebration that will be big fun for everyone in the family.

Kids at New Year's Eve Party

Get Your Glitter On

Your New Year's party with your kids can start weeks before as you gather decorations and props for the party. Decorations don't have to cost an arm and a leg to be fun and festive. Balloons, confetti, crape paper, funny hats, tiaras, noisemakers and feather boas are just a few ideas to get you started. Be creative and let your inner sparkle shine!

Edible Crafts and Finger Foods

Spend time planning a festive menu with the kids. Finger foodsare always a hit with little ones. You might also choose some edible crafts to make things exciting. Try hot dogs in the shape of an octopus, a fruit flower bouquet, ants on a log, a gummy worm dirt cake, firework juice popsicles, snowmen cupcakes, fruit kebabs or edible veggie animals. The possibilities are endless!

Party Like It's 1999

Go old school and bust out some of that good, old-fashioned fun. Twister, Pictionary, Charades, Monopoly and Uno are a few all-time favorites. If it's snowy outside, head out into the backyard for a midnight snowball fight. Do karaoke! Have a silly dance contest. Later on, you can toss on a good family flick, pop a big bowl of popcorn, kick back and cuddle on the couch.

Celebrate in Style

As the witching hour approaches, do a fun family craft like making your own noisemakers. Old baby food containers or plastic spice jars can be filled with rice or beans and decorated with sequins, glitter, ribbons and sparkles. Watch the countdown on TV, pop open a bottle of sparkling grape juice, shake your homemade noise makers and bring in the New Year with the ones you love most -- your family.

Comments

Comments on "How to plan a kid-friendly New Year's party"

I think it all sounds fun in theory, but with my little ones what will be most fun is putting them to bed waaaaaay before midnight. In fact, I probably won't make it up to midnight either. I'm a parenting casualty!

All great ideas for the little ones. Can't wait to try some of the edible crafts. Great fun!

These are great ideas, Naomi! I especially love the idea of a midnight snowball fight. Of course I'd have to find snow first. ;)