New Year's Eve is almost here. To celebrate New Year's Eve one things about a countdown, fireworks and noisemakers, as well as a toast and special food and activities to keep everyone awake and entertained until the ball drops. New Year's Day is full of rest, brunch, resolutions and visiting. How do you celebrate with your kids? Over the years we have found some fun age-appropriate ways to celebrate with Hazel. New Year's is a special holiday for us because of her birthday. But even without her birthday around New Year's, I feel the start of a new year as a special restart for everyone. There are so many different ways it is celebrated around the world and even some different times of the year. Between the many countries that celebrate the lunar new year (this year it begins February 17, 2026) and the Jewish culture that celebrates Rosh Hashanah and of course the teachers who "celebrate" with a new school year. For this New Year's Eve I pulled together old posts, features from Sharing Saturday and asked fellow bloggers for ideas for you!
Timing:
Hazel's first New Year's Eve celebration happened at twelve o'clock when she was five. Twelve o'clock p.m. that is. Our local library's children's department had a special celebration counting down to noon for the little ones. They decorated crowns and made noisemakers: egg shakers and kazoos. Then they counted down to noon and at noon jumped on bubble wrap shaking their noisemakers and watched fireworks videos.
This was the first time I thought about the fact that we could count down to a different time besides midnight. Noon was fun for the younger kids, or their bedtime would also work. We did this in following years.
The Countdown:
Hats:
Games, Crafts, and Activities
Games & Activities
1) Red Ted Art shares a free printable for photo booth props. There are more around that you can print as well.
Crafts
1) Red Ted Art shares a Paper Plate Star Twirler for Preschoolers (remember stars are often used to decorate for New Year's Eve)
Resolutions and Paper Activities
Noisemakers and Poppers
The countdown is over, and it is time to celebrate!! How are you going to bring in the new year? We have used noisemakers, balloon drops, and jumping on bubble wrap for a loud celebration. Don't want so much noise? Red Ted Art shares fun star shaped bubble wands to make with toddlers. There are also some great noisemakers and other popper tutorials around. Then finish the celebration with a toast of something sparkly in fun glasses. Consider the champagne flutes from Dollar Tree for the kids and they can toast with sparkling cider or grape juice or ginger ale (like I did when I was a child).
1) Messy Little Monster shares these fun Noisemaker Add-Ons that will have kids laughing and loving
2) An easy DIY kazoo
3) JDaniel4's Mom shares this fun New Year's Eve Shaker Craft
4) A DIY egg shaker perfect for little hands
5) Repeat Crafter Me shares a tutorial to make New Year's Crackers (kids of all ages will love these)
6) Teaching Mama shares these fun New Year's Eve Paper Plate Noisemaker
8) Red Ted Art shares these Easy Paper Cup Pom Pom Poppers (what a great idea to use pom poms instead of confetti)
Once the noise and fun is over, it is time for bed! Don't forget the goodnight kiss as you put them to bed! Oh, and want something fun for New Year's Day? Be sure to check out this New Year's Breakfast over at JDaniel4's Mom.
