Whether you’re a parent who’s celebrating the start of a new year with your family (you made it!) or a babysitter who’s hanging with some cool kiddos on December 31, New Year’s Eve looks different when you’re spending it at home with kids — and that’s not a bad thing.
Ditching the fancy cocktails and uninterrupted conversation this year? We guarantee you it’ll be fun — just don’t show up to the proverbial party without a few kid-friendly party ideas up your sleeve. From DIY New Year’s Eve gear and tasty treats to some creative kids New Year’s countdown ideas, here are 24 New Year’s Eve activities for kids.
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DIY New Year’s Eve party gear
1. Make fun NYE hats
A New Year’s Eve must-have? Hats, of course! These cute DIY NYE party hats from Meaningful Mama — with free printables! — are a fun way to make the evening feel more celebratory.
2. Decorate fancy cups
What’s a kids New Year’s Eve celebration without some ice-cold sparkling cider? And to take things up a notch, consider having the kids drink out of fancy cups they decorate themselves. This simple idea from Learning Through Playing is a great way to keep kids engaged and involved in some of the NYE setup.
3. Wrap up New Year’s Eve crackers
Christmas crackers, but make it NYE. Kids (and adults) will love putting together this ridiculously easy craft, which involves little more than stuffing candies or trinkets inside toilet paper rolls, wrapping them up in pretty tissue paper and tying them with string. Easy-peasy and fun to “pop!”
4. Craft some noisemakers
If there aren’t noisemakers, how will everyone know when to it’s time to yell “Happy New Year!”? Happy Crafty has a simple — and super-cute — noisemaker craft that’s great for both younger and older kids.
5. Make and share NYE fortune cookies
Whether you’re sharing motivating resolutions or just plain silly messages, these New Year’s paper fortune cookies from Crafts by Amanda will add a special touch to the night for kids.
6. Prepare to unleash the pom-poms
Not only are these DIY pom-pom poppers from Tantrums and Rainbows uber cheery and cute, they’re a fun, celebratory (and generally noise- and mess-free!) activity to do with little ones on NYE.
7. Hang the disco ball
Is it even a party without a disco ball — especially when you’re celebrating with kids? It’s essential. Kids can craft their own DIY disco ball or pick one up at your favorite party supply or retailer. Let the New Year’s Eve dance party commence!
Where to buy: Disco Mirror Light Ball ($11-$160, CalCastleCraft/Etsy)
Yummy New Year’s Eve food and snacks for kids
8. Stir up festive beverages
If you can get your hands on some cotton candy, this cotton candy drink recipe from Eating on a Dime only has a few ingredients and is perfect to help you teach kids the “pinky out” technique. For more ideas, check out Modern Parents Messy Kids for delicious kid-friendly mocktail recipes (kids will love the gummy bears in sparkling cider concoction!).
9. Make a kid-friendly NYE smorgasbord
Take party planning a step further and make an entire New Year’s Eve spread. Opt for easy-to-make appetizers, like this kid-friendly menu from More Momma that includes mac and cheese bites, chicken tenders and pigs in a blanket. Or if you want to include the kids, set them up to make their own pizzas or nachos.
10. Snack on party hat treats
If you think anyone — including you — can resist these adorable blonde brownie party hat treats from Kid Friendly Things to Do, you’re sorely mistaken. Fun to make. More fun to eat.
Engaging New Year’s activities for kids
11. Walk the nearby holiday lights
Start the evening by taking kids of all ages on a walking tour of the holiday lights in the neighborhood — babysitters should make sure parents are OK with you taking the kids out and about, of course. Once the sun sets, dress everyone warm and cozy, head out to take in the sparkling lights and some fresh air and — bonus! — burn some of that excess kid energy. Afterward, head back home for a warm cup of hot cocoa and fun activities.
12. Go on a scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts can be a lot of fun no matter what time of year it is. Just put together a themed list of clues for the kids — think “things that are red” or “things that sparkle.” Put together your own New Year’s Eve-themed scavenger hunt or buy one readymade.
Where to buy: New Years Eve Party Scavenger Hunt Printable ($3, The Wisteria Paperie/Etsy)
13. Make a time capsule
This tradition takes a bit of time to catch up with itself, but it can end up being very cool if the kids keep it up year after year.
Spend New Year’s Eve creating the year’s capsule. Find a sealable box of some sort (like a Tupperware or a lunchbox) and add photos, school assignments or whatever items will fit that remind the kids of their year. You can even find printable New Year’s time capsule questionnaires for kids online to help jog their memories. Next year, you can open the time capsule on New Year’s Day and reminisce!
14. Make resolutions
A little annual reflection never hurt anyone. For kids who are old enough, these free, printable New Year’s resolution worksheets from The Best Ideas for Kids are a nice way to think about the past year and what — hopefully! — lies ahead.
15. Create a 2025 goals list
Ask kids what they would most like to do in the next calendar year. Would they like to learn a new skill? Are they currently trying to perfect something and have a goal they’d like to hit by the end of 2025? Maybe they want to give back to their community. Help them develop these ideas and write them down in a list — or, even better, make a 2025 vision board!
16. Set up a photo booth
Looking for a slamdunk kids New Year’s Eve activity? Create a photo booth! Whether the kids are old enough for the ‘gram or not, they’ll definitely get a kick out of both creating their own photo backdrop and seeing the goofy photos everyone has taken together.
17. Teach them NYE traditions
Use the hours before midnight to teach kids a little bit about different New Year’s traditions. For example, Doce Uvas (or “12 grapes”) is a Spanish New Year’s Eve tradition for good luck — and what’s easier than gathering 12 grapes per person? Just make sure to cut them up if you’re watching littles. And don’t forget the midnight “kiss!” Use this New Year’s Eve printable to make labels for bags of candy kisses for the kids to unwrap and enjoy when the clock strikes 12.
Fun New Year’s Eve party games for kids
18. NYE Bingo
You can make your own NYE bingo game or download this one from The Wisteria Paperie on Etsy. Either way, you’re set in the fun department — and bonus points for being thematic!
Where to buy: NYE Bingo ($4, The Wisteria Paperie/Etsy)
19. Play the cotton ball game
A good game on New Year’s Eve can turn a regular night into, well, a party. Kids are sure to get a kick out of the cotton ball game, where one person tries to toss cotton balls into another’s bucket while they’re facing the opposite direction.
Creative kids New Year’s countdown ideas
20. Celebrate “noon” years
What’s better than New Year’s with kids? Noon year with kids. Avoid cranky children on January 1 by having a countdown and celebration at 12 p.m. instead of 12 a.m., a la Kaitlyn Palladino.
21. Ring in 2025 with a different time zone
For kid parties where staying up until actual midnight isn’t ideal, a quick Google search can provide options to stream the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and other celebrations in time zones around the world. Not only does that give you the option to celebrate early, but kids can also learn how different cities and countries ring in the new year.
22. Count down with goody bags
How clever is this idea from Organize & Decorate Everything? New Year’s countdown bags! And the best part? You can start your hourly countdown anytime, so small fries needn’t stay up too late past their bedtime.
23. Create your own balloon drop
Want to set up your own festive balloon drop to ring in the new year. Just follow the step-by-by step instructions in this video tutorial from Delia Randall of Delia Creates. How much fun is that?
24. Make a sleepy-time surprise
Did somebody say sleep?! Whether you’re letting little ones shack up in the same bedroom for the night (godspeed … ) or just want to add something special and cozy to the night, these festive sleep tents from Slumber Squad Party are a slam dunk.
