How to have the best New Years Eve as a family

My idea of a lovely New Years Eve is less partying into the early hours of the morning (to be fair that was never my idea of fun but it seems all parents of young children say this….) and more about quality family time with my little adventurers/family.  One important element of a good new years eve is being in bed at a reasonable hour as my little adventurers are little insomniacs!  However, as a parent sometimes I think it is a shame that all the events advertised only seem suitable for singletons or young couples so I decided to make my own list of things that you can do to ring in the new year with even the smallest of adventurers.  So here’s my ideas of how to have the best New Years Eve as a family.

Countdown to Midnight

New Years eve Family fun ideas

Having a 2 year old awake till midnight is most parents idea of a nightmare causing more tantrums and tears then putting them to bed.  I saw this fantastic idea, to move the clocks forward (if your children can tell the time) or making 7 or 8 pm midnight for the day (they wont know any better).  There are loads of ways that you can countdown to midnight and one of my favourite was countdown balloons.  Have them numbered and on the hour, the children get to pop the balloon and we had activities or games that you can play together.  If you kids aren’t fans of balloons popping, there is a great idea here from The Idea Room of countdown Bags.  in the link is also the updated 2016 labels.

Party

New Years Eve is never the same without a party.  Invite a few friends and their children, get out a karaoke machine (or singstar in our house) and let the children sing their little hearts out, hearing Let it Go one more time will definitely make 2015 complete.  A Photo Booth is also fab and so easy to create.  You can make a backdrop or just have a few props to hand.  Heres some fab printables from Red Ted Art.  We put together a real cheap photobooth for my nieces 18th birthday, old frame (charity shop was where we got ours), big glasses, a moustache or 2, it makes for fantastic pictures and memories.

DIY Photo Booth cheap ideasTime Capsule

I think this is a lovely idea and it can be a momento for future new years or to look back at a birthday in the future.  Ask all the children to write down their happiest memories of 2015 on a paper, print out photos or put things inside the capsule something that will forever be a happy memory of the year.  It makes for a lovely keepsake and would be a great walk down memory lane.  There loads of options for cheap capsules out there from mason jars to metal tins, making a capsule itself is a great craft activity to do together.  I think its nice for parents to add things the children did that really made them smile.

In 2014. for me, we were going to Southport and Maya misheard thinking we were heading off to the South Pole, and started packing all her winter things, it was only when she started asking about how many polar bears we would see that we realised her error!  Got to love the fact that she wants to go to the South Pole (one day Maya, one day!) In 2015, on our way to Dunoon, Doc told the children we would be catching a boat to Dunoon.  Maya turned to the boys and said dad’s fibbing as to get to the Da Moon we would need a rocket so not to get too excited!!

Wishes Tree

I LOVE this idea.  From your garden (or if you have a real Christmas tree), get a few tree branches and put them into a vase.  Get the children to decorate the branch with glitter and lots of things sparkly, that will be a great activity to do together  Then with the children write down the wishes on small pieces of card, that they have for 2016.   They can be serious ones like learning to write their name, reading skills etc, to funny ones like wearing a superhero outfit underneath their uniform to school or mix matched socks.  Once they are written, punch a hole in the card, attach some ribbon and hang them on your wishes tree.  I think it would be lovely to then do one of these activities every week / month!

wish tree

New Years Bath

My children love having baths and I thought this was a super cute idea to have a new years bath, perfect for toddlers who may not necessarily know much about new years eve.  I loved the fact that you could make something really fun by using inexpensive things like happy new years banners stuck on to the bath, have lots of messy fun from shaving cream paint.  I also saw some fab ideas of adding sparkles and coloured water in the bath which completes a lovely child orientated activity.  The kids will have an amazing time and you will be officially the coolest parents ever.  Heres the link to bath activities for kids.

To celebrate when the clock strikes 12.

Fireworks

Its customary to see some fireworks, and I think there is something lovely about wrapping up warm and watching some fireworks and then maybe some hot chocolate and biscuits to warm up before the kids go to bed

Celebration of Light - Italy

Celebration of Light – Italy by Colin Knowles.

Balloon Drop

I saw this idea on Red Ted Art and thought it was great, recreate the magic of Times Square with loads of falling balloons.  You can try and make your own balloon drop or buy a relatively inexpensive balloon drop, heres just one example but this one has no balloons.  I think the kids would love 70 balloons falling down at midnight.

Toasting in the new year

toddler New years Eve Family Fun Ideas

A fancy drink is always needed to mark the new year!  Whether it is some of these fabulous colourful cocktails suitable for children or even this gorgeous milk and cookie treat in plastic martini glasses (made extra special with the hundreds and thousands around the rim of the glasses), the children will definitely start the new year with a bang.

We hope you enjoyed the post and use some of our new years eve family fun ideas.  We would love to hear of any adventures you have had/planning to have this new years eve!

 

Nisbah

I am a traveller, mother and blogger. We love to go on adventures (big and small, near and far) and strive to show our children how amazing and beautiful the world is! I caught the travel bug many moons ago and despite having three little adventurers, I still suffer from "itchy" feet. We love the great outdoors and one another. Come and join the fun :)

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9 Responses

  1. Anna says:

    Some great ideas here. Will have to try to remember them for when my daughter is older. Love the milk with the hundreds and thousands!

    • nisbah says:

      Hi Anna

      Thanks for reading, glad you liked the post. Im going to do the bath idea, the kids will love it and the wishes tree x

  2. Wow such creative ideas! I really like the time capsule idea. I must admit though I really dislike new years eve, I would just rather go to bed! Love Christmas and look forward to the new start of a new year, but the actually ‘eve’ does nothing for me! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x

  3. What fun ideas! I like the idea of a festive bath. I am not such a big fan of New Year’s either – so much hype! I don’t mind having kids and an excuse to take it easy!

  4. Sara-Jayne says:

    I love, love, LOVE all of the ideas! I’m definitely doing these next year! Thank you for featuring on the Britmums Party Inspiration Round Up for January!

  5. nomipalony says:

    So many great ideas. Wish I had seen this post sooner to prepare but I think we just might have enough time to do the balloons!

  6. Family Makes says:

    Lovely ideas here. Hope you have a lovely New Year’s Eve, however late you manage to stay up!

  7. Kel says:

    Some really great ideas here, thanks for sharing!

  1. July 21, 2018

    […] Looking for ways to celebrate at home?  Five Adventurers have some fab ideas! […]

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