New Year’s Eve Fun for Kids

Host Bee on Sunday, December 27th, 2009

New Year’s Eve Fun for Kids!

New Year’s Eve evokes thoughts of men in tuxedos and women in evening gowns clinking champagne glasses, while the reality is usually a lot more ordinary! If comfy clothes, kids underfoot and TV coverage of Times Square better describes your evening, here are some fun ideas to make December 31 a terrific family celebration!

Make Party Hats

The Out of the Box Party Company offers kits to create fun party hats from brightly colored fringed crepe paper! These cute kits will keep the kids busy, at least for a little while! (Out of the Box Party Company, $8.95/4 hat kit)

Make the Hours Until Midnight Fly By

Gather colorful, lunch sized paper bags – one for each hour between the start of your evening celebration and midnight. Draw a clock face on each bag and then mark each clock face with the time that the bag is to be opened. (E.g. 7:00, 8:00 and so on.)

Some Ideas for Filling the Bags:

a camera for a year end photo shoot
a small game or puzzle
a new DVD
a note that says “It’s Time for Dessert”
and in the final bag, opened a few minutes early – party crackers and horns!

Make Some Noise

Bubble Wrap – Roll out some bubble wrap onto a hard surface floor to welcome in the new year! Even better, recycle some of the bubble wrap from holiday packages. Either way, the bigger the bubbles, the louder the pop!
Confetti Horns – this clever product combines the classic noise maker with a burst of confetti! (www.cheapparty.com, $3.84/2)

Make a Delicious Dessert – Traditional or Fun!

Traditional St. Basil’s Cake

Serving a St. Basil’s Cake is a Greek tradition at New Year’s. The cake is named for a famous bishop and contains a coin that promises to bring the recipient good luck all year! (St. Basil’s Cake Recipe , Cookie Magazine)

Fun Bubbly Jello-Parfaits

Bubbly Jell-o Parfaits look a lot like a grown up flute of champagne, but are really a delicious and kid friendly dessert!

On the day of the party, prepare bubbly Sparkling White Grape Jell-o according to the package using club soda, seltzer or ginger ale. Tips on the box will ensure great sparkle!
Pour into tall flutes or parfait glasses and chill.
Trim the stems of the glasses with metallic, multicolored star garland. (Family Fun, 2000)

Make a Midnight Toast with Festive Ice Cream Sodas

Chill champagne for your adult guests and concoct some festive ice cream sodas for the children:

Fill tall, clear glasses with your choice of a chilled, colorful soda like grape, raspberry ginger ale or lime.
Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, allowing the soda to foam up to the rim. Garnish with bright sprinkles and colorful plastic straws. (Family Fun Magazine)