Celebrating New Year’s Eve at home with kids can be exciting, memorable, and full of fun! Here’s a detailed list of 24 kid-friendly activities to make the evening special. From creative crafts to countdown traditions, these ideas will ensure your family rings in the new year with joy and laughter.
1. Gratitude activity
Start the evening with a gratitude activity to reflect on the past year. Have each family member write or draw things they’re thankful for on slips of paper, then place them in a “gratitude jar.” Before midnight, gather around to read each other’s notes aloud. This activity fosters reflection and helps children focus on the positives from the year.
To take it a step further, encourage kids to create “gratitude posters” with pictures or drawings representing their favorite moments. Hang these posters around the house as festive decor for the night.
Pair this activity with the story “Hello! I’m Rudolph” by the Storybook App, an inspiring tale about celebrating differences and discovering the true value of Christmas. This story encourages kids to embrace kindness and gratitude as they prepare for the new year.
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2. New Year's resolutions
Encourage kids to set fun and achievable resolutions for the upcoming year.
Provide colorful paper, markers, and stickers for them to write or draw their goals. Make the activity interactive by sharing your own resolutions and explaining how you plan to stick to them.
To make it visual, create a “resolution tree” using a large poster board or branch where kids can hang their goals. Revisit the tree throughout the year to check progress and celebrate achievements. For more ideas, explore new year resolution ideas for kids to inspire meaningful and fun goals.
3. Photo booth
Set up a DIY photo booth to capture fun memories. Use streamers, fairy lights, or a large poster as a backdrop. Provide props like party hats, oversized glasses, feather boas, and signs with messages like “Hello, 2024!” or “Best Year Ever!”
Encourage kids to take turns being the “photographer” using a phone or camera. You could even turn the photos into a mini scrapbook as a keepsake for the night.
4. Balloon countdown
Prepare balloons with notes or small prizes inside for each hour leading up to midnight. Write the time on each balloon and let the kids pop one every hour to reveal a fun activity or treat, such as “play charades” or “dance to your favorite song.”
To add excitement, decorate the balloons with confetti or draw on funny faces. Make popping the balloons part of the countdown magic! For tips on managing excitement during the holidays, check out how to get kids to sleep on christmas eve for calming strategies.
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5. Time capsule
Create a family time capsule to be opened next New Year’s Eve. Include items like family photos, letters describing your hopes for the next year, kids’ drawings, and small keepsakes like ticket stubs or holiday cards.
Decorate a box or jar together, and write “Do Not Open Until December 31, 2024” on it. Seal it and decide on a special place to store it, like under the tree or in a family closet.
6. Countdown bags
Prepare “countdown bags” with surprises to open each hour. These can include small snacks, puzzles, crafts, or clues to the next activity. Label the bags with times, and let kids look forward to each new treat as the night progresses.
For an added twist, theme each bag. For example, one could contain glow sticks for a “glow dance party,” and another might include popcorn for a movie hour. Learn more about balancing fun and structure in How to keep kids on a sleep schedule during the holidays to maintain a healthy routine.
7. Dance party
Turn up the music and host a high-energy dance party in your living room. Create a playlist with your kids’ favorite songs and classic party hits. Add disco lights or glow-in-the-dark accessories to make it extra festive.
Encourage games like freeze dance or a family dance-off to keep everyone engaged. Award silly prizes for categories like “Most Creative Dance Move” or “Best Robot.”
8. Epic new year's countdown for kids
If midnight is too late for younger kids, host an earlier countdown designed just for them. Set the clock forward and celebrate at a kid-friendly time, like 8 PM. Include festive touches like noisemakers, confetti poppers, and a countdown on a screen or homemade poster.
Add to the excitement with a toast using sparkling cider in plastic champagne flutes for an extra special touch.
8. Kid-friendly new year's eve snacks
Set up a DIY snack station with simple treats kids can assemble themselves. Options could include fruit kabobs, build-your-own mini-pizzas, or decorate-your-own cookies.
Create a festive vibe by offering snacks shaped like stars, clocks, or the numbers “2024.” Add edible glitter or colorful sprinkles for a fun, celebratory touch. For additional tips, read Christmas with ADHD kids to create a stress-free and inclusive environment for everyone.
10. New year's eve bingo
Print out bingo cards featuring festive themes like fireworks, party hats, and balloons. Play throughout the night, and hand out small prizes for winners.
To make it even more fun, create custom cards with family traditions or inside jokes. For younger kids, use pictures instead of words for easier recognition.
11. Party hat headbands
Help kids craft their own party hats or headbands using supplies like construction paper, glitter, stickers, and pipe cleaners. Add “2024” cutouts or personalized names to make each one unique.
Let kids wear their creations for the countdown or use them as fun props for the photo booth.
12. Balloon drop
Recreate the magic of a balloon drop at home! Tape a plastic tablecloth or net filled with balloons to the ceiling. At midnight (or earlier), release the balloons for a dramatic and exciting celebration.
For extra fun, add small prizes, confetti, or glow sticks inside some of the balloons. Make the drop the grand finale of the evening!
13. Mocktail making station
Set up a station where kids can create their own festive mocktails. Provide kid-friendly ingredients like sparkling cider, fruit juices, sliced fruits, and fun garnishes like umbrellas or sugared rims.
Give the drinks creative names like “Sparkling Star” or “Midnight Fizz.” Let kids design their own drink menu and take turns “bartending” for the family.
14. Watch a live or virtual fireworks display
Stream a live fireworks show from a city known for its celebrations, like Sydney, London, or Dubai. If you have sparklers or safe fireworks at home, let kids join in the fun outdoors.
Prepare a cozy viewing area with blankets, pillows, and snacks to make it feel like an event.
15. Minute to win it games
Organize a series of quick and silly games that are perfect for kids. Examples include stacking cups, bouncing ping pong balls into cups, or balancing dice on popsicle sticks.
Make it a family tournament by keeping score and awarding prizes for each game. This activity will have everyone laughing and competing in good spirits.
16. Movie Marathon with Family-Friendly Films
Choose a lineup of family-favorite movies or New Year-themed films for a cozy marathon. Set up a popcorn bar with various toppings like cheese, chocolate drizzle, or candy mix-ins.
Dim the lights, grab blankets, and make your living room feel like a theater.
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17. Midnight snack buffet for kids
Lay out a spread of kid-approved snacks for a mini midnight feast. Include items like pretzels, cookies, mini sandwiches, and fresh fruit.
Make it interactive by letting kids assemble their snacks, like building sliders or decorating cupcakes.
18. Baking new year’s eve cookies
Bake and decorate cookies together as a family. Use cookie cutters shaped like stars, clocks, or the numbers “2024” for a festive touch. Let kids go wild with icing, sprinkles, and edible glitter.
Set the finished cookies aside for a special treat during the countdown.
19. Create a family memory collage
New Year’s Eve often marks the end of a holiday break, and transitioning back into a routine can be tough. While celebrating, try to maintain some structure, like sticking to a bedtime and incorporating calming activities.
For more tips, read children back into the routine after the holidays to make the shift easier while keeping the festivities joyful.
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20. Virtual celebration with friends and family
Host a virtual New Year’s Eve party to connect with loved ones who can’t join in person. Use platforms like Zoom or Google Meet to create a shared experience. Plan activities such as trivia games, charades, or a virtual countdown so everyone feels included.
Encourage kids to show off their crafts, such as party hats or decorations, during the call. For added fun, coordinate a “cheers” with sparkling cider or mocktails at the same time, making the distance feel smaller.
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21. DIY noise makers with recycled materials
Help kids create noise makers using items you already have at home. Fill empty jars, bottles, or toilet paper rolls with dried beans, rice, or small beads. Seal the containers with tape or paper, then let kids decorate them with paint, markers, stickers, or glitter.
Encourage creativity by making noise makers in fun shapes, like shakers, wands, or drums. Use the completed crafts during the countdown to ring in the new year with festive sounds and excitement!
22. Hourly goodie bags countdown
Keep kids entertained all night with hourly goodie bags filled with surprises. Each bag can include small treats, puzzles, or instructions for an activity. Label the bags with the time they’re meant to be opened, and let the excitement build as midnight approaches.
Ideas for bag contents:
This structured activity helps break up the evening and keeps kids engaged.
23. Themed pajama party
Turn your New Year’s Eve celebration into a cozy themed pajama party. Have everyone wear their favorite pajamas or choose a theme, like superheroes, animals, or favorite movies. Decorate the living room with blankets, pillows, and fairy lights to create a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Include activities like storytelling, pillow fort building, or karaoke for added entertainment. Wrap up the evening with a snack buffet or warm drinks like hot cocoa to make it extra special.
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24. Mini-game night with board games
Host a mini-game night featuring your family’s favorite board games or card games. Set up multiple stations with different games to rotate through, or focus on one game at a time.
For a New Year’s twist, add special rules or challenges that reflect the holiday. For example, in Monopoly, players could “buy” New Year’s Eve-themed properties like a fireworks display or countdown party. Award small prizes to winners, such as stickers, treats, or an extra countdown bag.
Written By
Entrepreneur mum. I created Storybook: Bedtime Stories the #1 app in over 90 countries. I have been able to help families with the app and through my social media influence. I also created a Facebook group with over 12,000 moms where we support each other.
Medically Reviewed by:
Dr. Lorena Koppel is a distinguished Child Clinical Psychologist based in Azuay, Ecuador, with over 26 years of experience at Monte Sinaí Hospital. She specializes in treating emotional disorders in children and adolescents, providing family counseling, and integrating theoretical and practical approaches in clinical psychology.
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