Children love the idea of celebrating on New Year's Eve, but most are just too young to stay awake until midnight. Why not let them celebrate earlier in the day with a smaller version of the traditional party? Here’s our guide to a fun and easy Kids' New Year's Eve celebration. (If you are planning an adult party as well, find New Year's Eve party ideas from our partner, Celebrations.com.)
Planning & Invitations
New Years Eve Invitations
Creative invitations build excitement and can increase attendance at your child's New Year's Eve party. If you have time to make your own, be sure to involve your child in choosing the design and filling in the details. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Fold a square of black construction paper in half, and write "Let's ring in [year] together!" on the front using a silver marker or gel pen. Write the party details inside and decorate open areas with squiggles of glitter glue to look like streamers and confetti.
- Cut out a circle from card stock and cover it with metallic craft paper or foil. Cut out black numbers (or purchase pre-cut numbers from the craft store) to spell out the upcoming year and paste them on the front. Cut a circle of black construction paper the same size as your invitation and glue it to the back - you can write your party details on this.
- Cut a circle out of card stock and draw a clock on the front with its hands marking 12:00. Write your party details on the back.
- Punch a hole in the corner of a card-style invitation and use ribbon to tie on a party popper. Mail these in padded envelopes and sprinkle glitter inside before sealing.
If you would rather not make your own invitations, let us print personalized invitations for you, which include all the party details on a themed background of your choice. We offer blank invitations as well.
What Do I Need for the Party?
Basic party supplies include paper tableware (such as plates, napkins, cups, and cutlery), a tablecloth, streamers, and balloons. To help you get organized, we have created a Suggested Party Supply List that you can refer to while shopping.
If you would like to add something fun and unique to this party, consider renting or purchasing a bubble machine. Bubbles add great moving decorations to the party and provide safe and easy entertainment for children!
For additional party planning tips, our Party Planning 101 Guide includes cake ideas, party etiquette tips, a printable guest list, and more.
New Year's Eve Party Favors
Thank your guests for attending your child's New Year's Eve party by combining fun favors such as silver and gold star stickers, star-shaped cookie cutters, and star-shaped lollipops in a fun favor bag. For added fun, include a few noisemakers.
Our personalized party favors are also popular. Choose from stickers, magnets, bag tags, luggage tags, or buttons - all personalized with your guests' names or a personal message from you.
Whichever favors you choose, your guests are sure to enter the New Year smiling!
Countdown to the New Year!
Plan to start your party at 11:00 a.m. and have the children count down to noon instead of midnight! Here are some ideas for making the countdown just as memorable as the real thing:
- About ten minutes before noon, have all the kids choose a hat and noisemaker, and start a countdown timer.
- Lower a ball-shaped piñata painted silver to resemble the ball in New York City. Once you hit 12:00, break open the piñata, and divide the candy among your guests.
- Drop air-filled silver and gold balloons over the children as they shout “Happy New Year!”
- Play the song “Auld Lang Syne” as the children celebrate.
For additional New Year's Eve games, visit our partner, Celebrations.com.
Decorating & Food Ideas
New Year's Eve Decorations
- Gather all your clocks, and set them around the party area.
- If you still have a Christmas tree set up, hang party hats and noisemakers from the branches. If you don't have a tree, scatter them around a small table.
- Make or purchase a banner that says “Happy New Year!” and hang it prominently. Take a look are our banners for inspiration.
- Hang streamers from the middle of the ceiling and drape them out to the corners of the room. Attach three balloons in the center of your "canopy".
- Balloons galore are a must for this theme! Tie groups of helium-filled balloons together, and anchor them in place with balloon weights. Add star-shaped Mylar balloons as well. For added effect, add glitter to clear balloons before blowing them up.
New Year's Eve Food Ideas
- Offer a buffet of kid-friendly foods, such as chicken tenders, pizza slices or pizza bagels, veggies and dip, and sliced fruit.
- Serve juice or ginger ale in plastic champagne glasses.
- Make smores. If you don’t have a fireplace or outdoor fire pit to roast marshmallows in the traditional fashion, use the microwave. Place a graham cracker topped with a piece of chocolate and a marshmallow in the microwave. Heat for 8 seconds or until the marshmallow begins to puff up. Take it out, top it with another graham cracker and serve!
- Set out a plate of crackers and cheese squares cut into star shapes.
- Make a popcorn bar where your guests can add toppings to their popcorn. Popular toppings include chocolate sauce, cinnamon & sugar, sprinkles, cheddar cheese powder, and butter. Serve the popcorn in traditional popcorn bags.
- Serve a star-shaped cake and write "Happy New Year!" on top in decorator icing.
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