New Year's Eve Family Fun

Fun family traditions for New Year’s Eve

Celebrating New Year’s Eve with your kids can become a super fun, family affair everyone looks forward to. With just a little planning, this big party night can turn into a huge stay-at-home tradition everyone loves. Here are just a few home-grown ideas to build on for your very own ideal New Year’s eve, family style.

Choose a favorite movie and serve up popcorn and movie-style foods. Maybe it’s not a traditional holiday movie. After all, by Christmas, most of us are “movied out” by all the sappy (but happy) Christmas movies. My brother and I watched the 1954 black-and-white version of “The Day the Earth Stood Still” every year. Quirky? Yes. But we loved it. It became our tradition.

Take a family New Year’s Eve picture. Choose a color theme, or pajama theme, or whatever theme so everyone gets into it. Serious or funky, you’ll look back on it with lots of good memories. To add to the festivities, make some fun props … maybe hats and glasses or a banner for the background. You could even have matching t-shirts made if you plan ahead.

Make up some New Year’s goals / resolutions. Then update them through the year to check your progress.

Bang pots and pans at midnight. Really old school but tons of fun! Who needs store-bought noisemakers when you have all you need right in your kitchen? Head outside and go up and down the street banging pots and pans with wooden spoons. Both children and adults love this tradition.

Everyone stays up late. It’s not an absolute must, but most folks are able to sleep in on New Year’s Day. Staying up late is a real treat for your kids. Or if your kids must stick to an earlier bedtime, have a faux midnight countdown. That way, they still get to have the fun of the clock striking 12 in their minds.

Gifts for your neighbors. Instead of your homemade treats or goodies getting lost in the frantic Christmas shuffle, why not wait until New Year’s Eve to deliver a neighbor’s gift? Best idea ever.

Game night. Choose your favorite board games or card games everyone can enjoy. Growing up in our house, there was always a game of dominos or Monopoly going on somewhere. With lots of good snacks to go around.

New Year’s Eve countdown bags. Celebrate the evening with fun countdown bags for each hour. Make it extra fun for the kiddos by having a special treat, snack, or game for them to open each hour. The evening will pass all too quickly.

Appetizers. What’s a party without appetizers? Dips and chips, slider sandwiches, roll-ups, fondue, guacamole, and salsa … the list is endless. And delicious!

New Year’s Eve toast. Grab some non-alcoholic sparkling drinks or whip up some fun Italian sodas, or even floats, for a fun way to ring in the new year with your kids.

It doesn't matter how you choose to party, (or not), this New Year’s, be happy and safe. Enjoy the ideal life and share your blessings with those around you! Happy New Year!