Are you looking for ways to celebrate a family-friendly New Year’s Eve? Ringing in the New Year surrounded by your loved ones, big and small, can be so rewarding. The following are a few suggestions for ways to make this New Year’s Eve an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
1. Host a Movie Marathon
If you’re feeling run down from all of the holiday celebrations over the previous few weeks, this is the perfect option for a family-friendly New Year’s Eve. Have each of your children pick a favorite movie to watch, and then snuggle up on the sofa together, watching movie after movie until the clock strikes 12. You can make things a bit more interesting by requiring that movies stick to a certain theme. For instance, you could have each child pick a superhero movie or one that features a certain favorite actor.
2. Count Down With Memories of Years Gone By
This is another simple way to celebrate. As each half-hour passes, go around the room recalling memories from a certain year. For example, you could start at 8:00 and talk about memories from 2010. At 8:30, you could recall memories from 2011. Older kids will remember more than younger kids, of course, but even little ones will like hearing about the memories you have of them from years past. When midnight is approaching, start talking about your memories from this past year — 2019 — and remind your kids that 2020 will bring all new memories, too.
3. Play “Guess the Resolution”
You can easily incorporate this celebratory idea with others on this list. Have everyone write down a New Year’s resolution and put it in a hat. Then, pull out the resolutions, one by one, and guess who they belong to. This activity is a great way to learn about each other’s goals, teach younger kids what resolutions are, and support each other in reaching your goals.
4. Enjoy a Custom Hot Chocolate Toast
Set up a hot chocolate bar with plenty of toppings, such as marshmallows, chocolate chips, graham cracker crumbs, and chocolate sauce. When midnight is approaching, have everyone create their own custom mug of hot chocolate. Then, toast the New Year when the clock strikes 12! Make sure you keep a bottle of carpet cleaner on hand in case anyone spills.
5. Hold Your Own Ball Drop for a Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Party
Public ball drops can be fun, but they can also get pretty rowdy. Consider hosting your own ball drop for friends and family members. Early in the evening when the party is getting started, the kids can create a ball from craft foam, glued-on ornaments, ribbons, and other decorations. As midnight approaches, let them drop it out a window (after making sure there’s nobody below, of course.)
These family-friendly New Year’s Eve ideas are sure to help you create precious new memories. Let us know how you choose to celebrate!