Top 10 New Year's Eve Activities for Kids

Every year we take on the challenge of keeping our kids (this year ranging from 18 months to six years of age) awake and entertained until the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Some years the kids make it, and other years they haven't, but one thing is always certain - we all have a lot of fun trying. And a late nap helps. This year we're sharing our New Year's Eve itinerary with you in our Top 10 list of New Year's Eve Activities for Kids!

1. Countdown to Noon Year's Eve. Our day will kick off with our very own momstown Victoria Countdown to Noon Year's Eve Festive Tour! If you don't happen to be in Victoria or near another momstown on New Year's Eve, why not throw your own Noon Year's Eve party and countdown to 12 o'clock noon instead of midnight? This way you can celebrate New Year's Eve with the whole family and still get the kids to bed on time.

2. Make a "Year in Review" poster. Print pictures of the best moments of the previous year and glue them onto a posterboard with a description or along a timeline. Whether it's a first birthday or a last run through the sprinkler, it's a great way of remembering all the large and small things that mattered to each family member.

3. Eat appies for dinner. Most party food is perfect for little kids because it's bite-sized and appropriate to eat with your fingers! Kids can help prepare the food too, from skewering fruit pieces onto popsicle sticks to arranging veggies, crackers, cheese, pickles and pepperoni onto serving platters. It could be as simple as making a snack mix of nuts or seeds, dried fruit and pretzels in a bowl. For hot kid-friendly appetizers, make chicken fingers, nachos or mini pizzas, or try our own kids' party favourite: cocktail meatballs.

4. Break out the punch bowl. Forget plain ol' juice! Let the kids help you mix your favourite punch recipe in a punch bowl and add orange slices, frozen berries or an ice ring to make it look fancy. Serve it up in fancy plastic cups from the dollar store, and then toast to one another's good health!

5. Dance Party. Give the kids glowsticks and mini flashlights, turn all the lights out and then get the party music pumping! Our kids' favourites include "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black-Eyed Peas and "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz.

6. Blanket Fort. Sure, we do blanket forts throughout the year, but on New Year's Eve we make a whole blanket castle! Drag out all the pillows, blankets and sleeping bags from every room and make the floor extra comfy, because chances are this is where everyone crashes!

7. Watch a movie. After the excitement of food, dancing and fort building, it's time for a wind down. Our favourite movies to please all the family members are usually by Disney or Pixar, and anything directed by Hayao Miyazaki, such as "Spirited Away." 

8. Late night walk. When the kids are starting to fade (if they haven't already,) it's time to perk everyone up with a late night walk. Bundle them up warm and supply them with flashlights and glow sticks, then venture out with them into the dark night.

9. Do Do Fondue. We usually have hot chocolate or apple cider after the walk, but this year we're doing a chocolate fondue party! Let the kids dip marshmallows, cookies, cake and fruit into melted chocolate for an unforgettable New Year's Eve treat!

10. Make party hats and noisemakers. Buy party hats at the dollar store and let the kids decorate them with shiny stickers, pom poms, tinsel and more. Fill empty, clean yogurt containers with dried beans to make noise makers. Get ready to countdown together to midnight, and don't forget to teach them the words to Auld Lang Syne:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And days o’ lang syne!

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM MOMSTOWN VICTORIA!!!