Kid Friendly NYE Activities

Family Fun on NYE! 

Adults and kids can celebrate together what the year has brought and what the new year will bring! Planning ahead will allow everyone to participate and keep the party festive and fun for all ages!

Ideas from Laura Jofre, AP

1. New Year’s Poster — Take an 18-by-24-inch poster board and label it, “What I want to do in 2013.” It can be simple, with a lot of room to write, or it can be decorated by kids who know their way around a poster board. Tape it up somewhere central — I like the refrigerator — and keep washable markers nearby. Write in an entry or two, whether resolution-like (“I want to take up jogging”) or wishful thinking (“I want to explore the Amazon”). The poster can be a family project or it can be opened up to guests as a less-formal guest book at this less-formal party.

2. Table Top — Table décor can be kid-constructed and reusable, and it does not have to look childlike or chaotic. A great idea from Sabrina James, style director at Parenting Magazine, is to paint inexpensive plastic chargers (the larger plates that go under dinner plates) with black chalkboard paint, then have the kids decorate the plates with white chalk. They can draw stars or write guests’ names or “2013” — even toddlers can scribble. “It all stays black and white, it still looks sophisticated, and the kids have a hand in decorating the table,” says James.

3. Making Some Noise — Of course there must be noisemakers. James suggests this fresh take: Paint small, empty raisin boxes with silver or gold paint — spray paint is easiest — and then decorate them with small gems or sequins. Fill the boxes with dry pasta or rice, and tape a Popsicle stick to the back. The noisemakers can sit in vases around the table. Kids will be proud of their contributions, and you’ll be happy to have them as attractive table decorations.

4. Food — To avoid holiday feast fatigue, a New Year’s feast should consist of foods the family actually likes. You’re not tied to tradition, so focus on old family favorites, or on foods that some cultures say bring good luck. According to Epicurious.com, cooked greens symbolize money and good fortune; pork means prosperity. Don’t eat anything that moves backwards, like lobster. My teen-age daughter likes to bake a holiday cake and get creative with frosting. Baking infuses the air with cheer and allows kids to participate. Limit how many sprinkles or frosting colors you offer; adult guests don’t always enjoy a crunchy inch-thick layer of purple sugar.

5. After-meal activity — Karaoke is a new tradition for our family; we learned it from the friends who held last year’s party. Systems range in price from less than $100 to more than $1,000, and can be rented, too. Whether you rock the oldies or attempt to rap, the kids are just as entertained as the adults. And they will want their turn, so make sure your song list includes some current hits or favorites they know.