Ring in the New Year with these 15 Fun activities and make New Year’s Eve eventful for the whole family. NYE Fun for Kids & Parents alike!
Can you believe 2020 is almost gone?
I know many people are excited for a new year, a fresh start. Considering we’ve spent most of 2020 in a pandemic, I’d say the year went by really fast, wouldn’t you? That being said, most of our holiday plans look a little or a lot different depending on what you’re used to and New Year’s Eve is no exception.
Do you usually go out for New Years’? Or maybe you attend an event or a party? Or do you typically relax at home with a few family and friends?
Regardless of your ‘normal’, the new normal this year looks a little different. If you find yourself wondering what you’ll do this New Year’s with your family to still make it fun and eventful, then this blog post is for you!
15 ideas you can add to your plan to make NYE eventful for the whole family
1. Create your own countdown
If you’ll be at home with young kids on NYE, I’m sure you won’t want them waiting up to countdown to the new year. Sure there are some countdowns and fun things on Netflix and YouTube, but why not try your own! Make a day of it and every hour plan a small activity or game to countdown to bedtime. Now don’t feel overwhelmed, it doesn’t have to be a lot of work! Kids enjoy the simple things and don’t have huge expectations. One of your countdown items could be to make a paper snowflake and decorate it. Another could be to have a dance party to their favorite songs. Simple and easy is all you need to make this one fun for kids of all ages.
2. Look into the future with a vision board
As the new year approaches everyone begins to think about what they would like to do differently and any changes they want to make. NYE is a time for reflection and being mindful of your thoughts, beliefs, and goals (read how to set goals that you will crush). Vision boarding has been shown to help you reach your goals much more often than if you only talk about them, and I totally vouch for that! Vision boarding can be fun at any age and will teach your children a valuable life lesson that will stick with them. If your children are younger, the focus may be on goals such as learning to tie their shoes or learning to read books. Older kids may have the goal of saving for a car or obtaining a certain grade in school. Whatever the goal is, dig out old magazines, colored paper, stickers, and whatever other supplies you have and go to town. By sharing your goals with your loved ones, it can give you a built-in support system for reaching them too.
3. Think outside the box for dinner
Most days we are all so busy we fall into making the same meals over and over and with Christmas just passed most people are over the typical traditional dishes. Opt for something new and adventurous for NYE. Choose a specific food you’d like to try or develop a NYE cultural food theme and try multiple different dishes. Change is good as is pushing outside your comfort zone so start the new year off right by doing just that. By trying new things you’ll also set a great example for your children and encourage them to be open-minded too.
4. Set up a scavenger hunt
A scavenger hunt is a fun idea for younger kids. Creating a series of clues can keep little ones entertained for hours looking for the next clue and the final treasure. I love this one because it involves creative thinking by both the parents making the clues and the kids for solving them. Making your brain work keeps it healthy and strong so get out some paper and create a NYE hunt!
5. Host a game night
If game nights aren’t part of your regular routine, or if you just love them, make NYE a game night. Pull out your favorite board games, a deck of cards, and maybe even your favorite video games and get playing. Some family favourite games are Twister, Charades, Go Fish and Connect 4.
6. Take the party outdoors
Why celebrate only in the evening? Make the day great too! Get outdoors and enjoy the snow, of course, be cautious and follow COVID guidelines. Tobogganing, building forts, building snowmen, and snowshoeing are all activities that the whole family can enjoy. End the day off with a fire and some marshmallows too.
7. Create a memory jar
This is one of my favorite activities and it seems especially relevant this year. 2020 has been exceptionally challenging and there are times when it has been difficult to see the good. Sit down with your family with a mason jar and some popsicle sticks or pieces of paper. Take turns writing down good things that happened, memories that were made, and anything else positive from 2020. Add them to the jar and refer back to it throughout the year next year. It can be a great reminder that good things come from even the most impossible situations.
8. Enjoy some crafting fun
Crafts are always a fun activity to enjoy. There are tons of ideas out there that can be enjoyed by kids of all ages. Crafts are also great because they give you the opportunity to spend some quality time with your kids, and time to slow down and enjoy life. Here are some great NYE craft ideas from I Heart Arts and Crafts.
9. No movie theatre, no problem
By the time you reach NYE, many people are exhausted from the holidays. The excitement is great, but tiring. If you’re looking for a low key fun way to spend NYE, have a movie night at home. Gather blankets and pillows and create a space to relax. Prepare snacks, get in your cozy PJ’s, and enjoy. This is a great option for after the kids are in bed too!
10. DIY a photo booth
A DIY photo booth will give you tons of memories of your NYE at home. Setup a backdrop, gather props from around the house (think funny hats, glasses, oversized jewelry, etc), and charge up your phone. This activity is like a 2 for 1 since you can get creative creating the backdrop too!
11. Build an indoor fort
Kids love building forts and someday’s the last thing you want to do is clean up all the blankets. NYE is a great time to rearrange all your furniture and drag out all of your blankets to create an adult-sized fort where you can play and enjoy the day with your kids.
12. Host a traditional NYE party, at-home
Find typical party hats and noisemakers. Your kids will love it, it’s debatable if you (and I) will! HAHA
13. Create a slideshow and watch it
Ring in the new year with your very own home movie. Putting together a show of your favorite memories of the year is a great way to relive your memories. There’s a whole range of creative ideas to try at home.
14. Create a balloon pop game
All kids love balloons right? Gather supplies and blow up 1 balloon for each hour of the day. Add a message, activity, or a small treat inside each one and mark them with the time. At the given time, allow your kids to pop the balloon and receive what is inside. This is a super fun countdown and a neat way to keep your kids entertained and having fun all day!
15. Go with a classic-fireworks
Watching the fireworks is a classic NYE tradition for many people. The sky lit up with bright colors brings joy to so many and the look of awe on your children’s’ faces will make it so worth it! Check out local options that you can enjoy from the comfort of your car this year!
I’d love to hear what your favorite New Year’s Eve traditions are and how you plan to ring in the new year this year!
Given what 2020 has turned out to be, the new year is such a great opportunity to hit the reset button, so don’t let it slide without trying to make the most of it!
Wishing you and your loved ones an exceptional 2021, Happy New Year!
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words wait another voice.”
Namaste,
Kusum
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