Throw a kid friendly New Year's Eve party with these fun tips and a free printable party planner!
You've just survived Christmas and now it's time to party. I'll admit that New Year's Eve is my favorite night of the year... after all, it's my birthday. And since I was a little kid watching Dick Clark count down to the New Year (and thinking they were all celebrating for me), I've loved having friends and family together to watch the ball drop at midnight. But now with young kids, I'm much happier watching all the excitement from the comfort of my own living room while the kids are fast asleep.
But that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t join in on the fun. This is a big event for kids, too! Make it special by planning a kid friendly New Year’s Eve party they’ll be talking about all year.
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Planning Your Kid Friendly New Year's Eve Party
Start by sending out invitations - email is fine if you're running short on time. Invite your close friends or family members with kids to make it even more exciting. Be sure to include the time you want the party to begin and end.Ask for RSVPs to get a head count so you have an idea of how many people will be attending the party. You’ll need to know how much food and party favors to buy.
Decide what foods to serve. You can keep things simple by serving kid friendly foods like pizza, mini sandwiches, and snacks. Try these super cute New Year's Countdown Cookies too!
Pick up your party supplies. These include New Year’s Eve hats, party horns, glasses, paper confetti, glow sticks, balloons, streamers and toy prizes. Find lots of awesome choices at great prices from Oriental Trading - check it out here.
Keep track of all your party plans and your to do list with my free printable New Year's Eve Party Planner. It includes a sheet for invitations and RSVPs, a tracker for food and activities, plus super fun resolution cards too. Just click the button below to get yours.
FREE
Kid Friendly Party Activities
It wouldn’t be a party without a few fun and entertaining activities for the kids to enjoy. Have a list of games to play and an idea of when to play them throughout the night and it will make things go more smoothly. Use your planner to make notes on what activities you'd like to do.Grab our New Year's Activity printable pack for a fun countdown clock, party hats, glasses, and more! Get it here.
Here's a few fun ideas to try!
Sing karaoke. All the kids can take turns singing a song and at the end of the activity, give everyone a special prize.
Have the kids fill out their highlight of the past year and a goal for next year (get the cards in your planner above). Place them in a scrapbook or a memory jar and open them next year!
Do simple, New Year themed craft projects. I love these New Year Window Clings, this Sparkly New Year's Art, and these Water Bottle Noise Makers. You can also set up our New Year Party Sensory Bin for some hands on fun.
Have a photo shoot. Have the kids dress up in hats and New Year’s Eve glasses and designate one corner of the room as the photo booth. The kids can take turns having their pictures taken alone and together. You can even let the kids make their own props with this fun craft kit.
Be sure to have enough activities to keep the kids busy during the party but don’t overdo it. You need time to eat and get ready for the countdown.
New Year's Countdown with Kids
If you have small kids, they’ll probably fall asleep long before midnight arrives but that doesn’t mean they have to miss the countdown. End the party about an hour before bedtime. This will give the kids time to calm down and relax some before going to bed.Right before the party ends, do a countdown to the New Year just like the grownups do at midnight. Move the time forward on one of your clocks and have the alarm set to go off at midnight. Gather everyone together before the clock strikes 12 with your party hats on and your horns ready to blow.
You can even make your own miniature ball and have it ready to drop when the clock strikes 12. Or, set up a balloon drop - we've done this from our second floor foyer and the kids went crazy! Be sure to give the kids sparkling cider or ginger ale in plastic flutes and let them say a toast as the New Year arrives too. This way, they get the full effect of counting down to the New Year and you’ve thrown one amazing kid friendly New Year’s Eve party.
New Year's Eve Printable Pack
Ring in the new year with these super fun New Year's printables! Get the entire set for FREE here.
