New Year’s Eve is an immense global celebration — one that might especially fill kids with festive energy as they blow noisemakers at home and perhaps stay up way past their bedtimes. As part of the buildup to the big night, kids can also take part in the preparation, which might include crafting DIY hats, confetti poppers and bubble wands that sparkle. Other New Year’s crafts may encourage kids (and grown-ups!) to think about where they’ve been and where they are going in the new year — and remind them to have hopes and dreams for the new year.
Whether children are asleep hours before the ball drops (perhaps after a faux early countdown … shhh!) or bouncing off the walls in the living room at midnight, these 13 New Year’s crafts for kids can help get the celebration started early, occupy the excited kiddos who insist on staying awake — or both. And no matter when you decide to break out the craft supplies, these projects will provide loads of artsy entertainment, joy and togetherness in the days between now and December 31 — and into the new year.
1. Ring in the year with a popsicle stick noisemaker
Children will think you are the belle of the New Year’s ball when you allow them to shake it up with these easy-to-make, yet adorably sparkly noisemakers from Happy Toddler Playtime. Follow these step-by-step instructions to help everyone transition from “Jingle Bells” to the new year’s sounds that will usher in the start of 2024. (In other words, you might be hearing these bells chime for days before — and after — the ball drops.)
2. Create a shooting star banner
Artfully encourage children to say “Happy New Year” with this star-studded accordion banner craft from Hello, Wonderful. All you need are some basic art supplies, dowels or straws (depending upon the size of the stars you cut out and decorate), a hot glue gun (best left in grown-up hands!), creativity and a bit of glitter to fill your new year greetings with color and shine. It is the perfect celebratory message to hand to a loved one.
3. Paint fireworks with recyclable rolls
This firework craft from Best Ideas for Kids packs a colorful punch — and ensures that you keep your recycling resolutions. The simple how-to starts with helping littles cut slits in those used toilet paper or paper towel rolls — and then letting them dip and dive into paint and glitter (which is perfect even for preschoolers). Perhaps you can swap out the red, white and blue theme for more colors (sparkles included!), and then hang their creations up for the perfect New Year’s backdrop.
4. String together dream-worthy flags
Make the end of one year and the start of a new one meaningful with a heartfelt banner craft from The Artful Parent, which encourages the kids (and you!) to think about goals and wishes for the new year. (Little ones might find it easiest to think about who they love and activities they want to do with them. More sleepovers at Grandma’s, please!) Each person decorates a triangle to represent that thought, and then you string them together (following the instructions found on The Artful Parent’s Instagram) to create an aspirational keepsake to admire.
5. Personalize your New Year’s party hats
Take a page out of Artsy-Fartsy Mama’s New Year’s style by fashioning these fun party hats that are the perfect accessory for a New Year’s Eve (or Day) celebration. Start with one of three (or all three!) designs from the site’s downloadable party hat printable, and then follow the instructions to color, assemble with grown-up help (as a scoring tool is suggested) and embellish with pompoms, glitter, sequins — or anything the kids want to make their party hats pop.
6. Shape pipe cleaners into bubble wands
No, not that kind of bubbly! These DIY pipe cleaner bubble wands from Red Ted Art — shaped by brilliantly wrapping a pipe cleaner around a cookie cutter — are for actual bubble-blowing. It’s another craft that is fun to make — and, for children, absolute magic to use — as the instructions include a recipe for at-home bubbles. (Just make these well before the sun sets — or save them for New Year’s Day — if you’d prefer children to keep the bubbles outside.)
7. Design your own disco ball
No need to wait until New Year’s Eve for a dance party (or to see the ball drop) when you can make your own disco ball to groove with at any time. To turn an ordinary 12-inch circular piece of cardboard into one that shimmers, Rachelle of little creative makers tells Care that you’ll need to draw a grid on the cardboard and then cut out shapes from aluminum foil and holographic cardstock that matches the grid shapes on the circle. Arrange the cutouts in an alternating pattern, affix with a (no mess!) glue stick and turn up the tunes for the last dance (or one of many) before the new year.
8. Make paper fireworks that pop
Who needs to see fireworks at midnight when you can make kid-friendly ones at home?! Kids Craft Room uses a wooden spoon and ribbons to create a pop-up firework craft that is joyful — and safe — for both kids and grown-ups to try. Of course, half the fun is in making the craft, and the other half is in making it work. Try creating the display while singing along to “Firework” or make some popping noises — and you’ll soon be starting the countdown before the sun goes down.
9. (Finger)print on a winter wonderland
Celebrate the season (new year, same winter!) with this tree painting craft from Projects With Kids. It not only asks children to use cotton balls (instead of a paintbrush) to make fluffy snow, but it allows them to dip their fingers in red paint to create an adorable red bird. The bird not only adds a personal touch — but some believe that red cardinals are associated with hope, luck and a connection to the past. Talk about New Year’s symbolism!
10. Count down with a DIY confetti popper
Save some extra toilet paper rolls and head over to Happiness is Homemade for directions on how to use a balloon to easily make a confetti popper. And if confetti is not your (rather messy!) thing, then this craft also works with pompoms. It’s the perfect project to break out before the ball drops or during a Noon Year’s Eve fete.
11. Get silly with a paper mask and horn
Add some humor to your New Year’s snaps with these homemade party horn photo booth props created by Leslie Manlapig for DIY Candy. Have kids start by drawing giant mouths (remember to think big — and funny!) on the back of paper plates, and then help them cut and insert party horns through the center. Smiles will certainly ensue as you ring in the new year with laughter!
12. Craft a midnight countdown clock
For more paper plate fun, help kiddos make cool countdown clocks, courtesy of Buggy and Buddy. Littles will need assistance creating and fastening the hands (and perhaps even knowing where to position the numbers on the face), but they can keep the decorating options easily doable in order to make each clock their own. This craft can also be used as a learning tool well into the new year.
13. Wish upon a homemade nature wand
Anna Knight, the creator behind the Instagram account earth_and_sky_play, suggests taking all those loose parts from other winter crafts and putting them together to create a star-shaped wand you’ll want to carry with you into the new year. Gather some cardboard (littles will definitely need help cutting and shaping) and clear sticky back paper, as well as sticks, twine and other accouterments (her kids used orange peels!), and check out her lovely little how-to reel. Of course, this craft definitely isn’t just for littles, as we all could use a reminder to cast our wishes and hope for a little magic to help us as we enter into 2024.
