Instead of venturing out on “amateur night” to take in the sights and the sounds of New Year’s Eve festivities, you might just want to spend the evening at home as a family. There are various televised activities that you and your kids can enjoy together, and you can certainly create your own fun.
Have a little party, complete with hors d’oeuvres and some bubbly beverages like ginger ale, sparkling cider, or sparkling grape juice for toasting. Pick up some New Year’s Eve party favors, hats, noisemakers, and decorations, or create your own.
If you feel your children can handle it, let them stay up until midnight to bring in the New Year. This is a big deal for many kids. Some children may need a nap in order to be able to stay up that long or to avoid becoming irritable. Make a deal with your kids that as long as they are well behaved and ready for bed ahead of time, you will allow them to stay up for this special occasion.
Let the kids help plan the menu and assist with the decorations. They will enjoy being a part of the planning process and having some input. Have everyone sit down together to make decisions. Select a color scheme or a theme so you have a place to start. Black and white look sophisticated and can be made more festive when you add some sparkly touches or punches of bright color as accents. You can also let the kiddos pick out some games to play throughout the evening.
Here’s a simple adaptation of an old favorite:
Instead of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, you can make a game where each person attempts to pin the 7 on the 2007. Give your children a piece of poster board to decorate and put a large 2 0 0 in the center. Cut out enough sevens for each member of the family to play along. Blindfolded, each person will attempt to place his or her seven in the appropriate spot.
Entertaining on New Year’s Eve
What are You Doing for New Year’s Eve?
Stay Up Late, Make Silly Hats and Eat Onion Dip