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Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Activities for Family Celebrations

Once upon a time, New Year’s Eve was an event planned months in ahead – as a couple my husband and I would head out to visit friends, family or even take a trip away. Since having kids it’s changed a lot. We have been out but it was for a very laid back New Year’s Eve with close friends where we shared the cooking and played simple board games once the kids were in bed seeing in the near year together.

Countdown to the New Year with your kids with these activities that are kid-friendly and a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family.

Whether you are low key like us or whether you still party then finding something for the kids to do can be difficult these kid-friendly New Year’s Eve Activities are perfect whatever the circumstance and ideal for families to celebrate the start of a new year together.

Kid Friendly New Year’s Eve Activities

Why not sit down with the kids and Set New Year’s Resolutions with this free printable from Modern Parents Messy Kids. It’s a great way to look back at the previous year and look to the future and something that in a year’s time you can look back on again and again.

As you celebrate ditch the store brought noisemakers and instead create your own Homemade Noise Makers from Kids Activities Blog you could have a huge selection of different colours to share with the kids.

Countdown to the New Year with our fun Balloon Game – the year we spent with friends this was something that we did with the kids.

The end of a year and the start of a new year isn’t just for setting resolutions and goals why not sit down as a family and make some wishes and then display them for the family to look back on over the next year with this Wishing Wall Activity from Buggy and Buddy.

It’s not all looking for the future you can have lots of fun too and these Easy Minute to Win it Games from Kid Friendly Things To Do will go down a storm with everyone that you celebrate with.

Not as messy as they sound these easy to Make Confetti Eggs from Radmegan made from real eggs will be smashing fun as you countdown to midnight and celebrate the start of the new year.

Whether you are 1 or 99 there is something really good about sitting playing with playdough and this Celebration Playdough Recipe from Buggy and Buddy is full of glitter and sparkles perfect for a party and ideal to keep kids occupied at their own table during a meal.

Countdown to the New Year with your kids with these activities that are kid-friendly and a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family.

As the hours go by until midnight this Kid’s Countdown Chain from the OT Toolbox is a fun way to tick them off with ideas like “have a dance party” the kids and you will be having fun seeing the old year out and the new year in.

Speaking of seeing the old year out this Year in Review Printable from Wondermom Wannabe is great to sit down and do together to help you as a family to sit down and remember all of the great things that happened in the past year.

No New Year’s Eve party is complete without some DIY Confetti Party Hats from Oh Happy Days are great – makes me want to get out a bag of glitter confetti that I know I must have lying around somewhere.

Confetti is always a favourite at New Year’s – whether it’s on a hat, in an egg or how about creating your own Confetti Poppers like these from Little Bins for Little Hands that will spread the happiness around.

At midnight where we are the fireworks go off and our dog hides these Fireworks in a Jar from I can Teach My Child are a good, quiet, none-frightening alternatives and great science experiment to boot.

Countdown to the New Year with your kids with these activities that are kid-friendly and a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family.

As the kids will probably be up way pass their bedtime it’s time to celebrate the night and have a go at this Glow in the Dark Ring Toss over on Pinning with Purpose (scroll down too over 2/3rds of the way to find the instructions but check out all of the other ideas on the post too)!

One of my kids favourite simple science experiments is to make Volcanoes and I love this twist on the traditional with a New Year’s Erupting Volcanos from Frogs Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.

As the fireworks fill the air why not share these Fireworks Rings from Fantastic Fun and Learning. A simple gift to bring in the new year/.

Add a little learning to your celebrations with this New Year’s Eve Ball Drop STEM Challenge from JDaniel 4’s Mom – can you find the best string for the ball drop at midnight to time it perfectly!

Why not create some Sparkler Firework Crafts from Kids Craft Room they would be perfect to place around the house as party decorations as you celebrate the New Year with Kids.

I love this Countdown Clock Printable from Red Ted Art and have downloaded and printed mine off to add some activities that we have planned with the kids to celebrate this year.

Countdown to the New Year with your kids with these activities that are kid-friendly and a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family.

Stock Up with Your Party Essentials to Celebrate with Kids

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Capture your party selfies with a little extra with this selection of New Year’s Eve Photo Booth Props that are perfect for families and friends to use.


Having read The Night Before Halloween and The Night Before Preschool whilst preparing the kids when they were toddlers this version The Night Before New Year’s is a lot of fun as well. Following the rhythm of the classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, it is a fun and silly read aloud for New Year’s Eve.

Switch out the plastic drinking straws with these Gold Polka Dot and Striped Paper Straws and save the environment whilst also providing people with their drink with a straw.

Pour your cocktails, bubbly and mocktails into these Glitter Champagne Flutes and then wash and reuse for your next party too.

Countdown to the New Year with your kids with these activities that are kid-friendly and a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family.
Countdown to the New Year with your kids with these activities that are kid-friendly and a perfect way to celebrate New Year's Eve together as a family.
Author
Cerys Parker

Cerys is a marine biologist, environmental educator, teacher, mum, and home educator from the UK. She loves getting creative, whether it is with simple and easy crafts and ideas, activities to make learning fun, or delicious recipes that you and your kids can cook together you'll find them all shared here on Rainy Day Mum.

3 Comments

    1. It’s a really fun idea – I’ve got plans for it 🙂

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