Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Party Ideas

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Family-Friendly New Year's Eve Party Ideas | We all have our own family Christmas traditions, but what about NYE? While the night may look a different once kids enter the picture, there are tons of things you can do to make it special and memorable. Whether you keep it small or invite friends and family, you can go all in with a specific theme and special foods and activities, or you can keep it simple with a family game night. Click for our best tips and ideas to inspire you!

New Years Eve is such a special night. It’s when you say goodbye to the past year and hello to the next, welcoming all your goals and dreams. It’s a night to be celebrated, and what could be more fun than a party with your family? Whether you keep it small or invite friends and family, there are so many family-friendly things you can do on NYE. Check out these fun and easy New Years Eve party ideas for families!

How to Plan a Family New Years Eve Party

1. Plan with Your Kids
Ask your kids what they would like to do at your NYE party. They could have some fun ideas you may not have thought of. Getting them involved in the planning process will make them feel extra excited for the night. You can also consider having a list of ideas and asking them to vote on their favourite one!

2. Get Kids to Help Make Decorations
Since your kids are off for winter break, get them involved in making the NYE decorations! Make DIY confetti from leftover wrapping paper, bake colourful sparkle cookies, and decorate DIY party hats with stickers, markers, and confetti. Your kids will love it and it will give you something fun to do over the holiday break!

3. Create a Menu
One of the best parts of any party is the food! Come up with a menu your whole family will enjoy, and make sure to include your kids’ favourites. Depending on their age, you can also ask them what they want included on the menu and they can help you with the prep for easier dishes. Perhaps your family loves loaded nachos, or maybe your homemade mac and cheese is a must. Get your menu prepped ahead of time to ensure you’re set for the night.

4. Start the Party Early
If your kids are young, consider doing the party earlier in the evening so you can celebrate together before they go to bed. Get the party started right after you eat dinner and do a fake countdown and celebration before bedtime.

5. Include Other Families
Do you have friends or family members with kids? Include them in your festivities! You can make it a potluck so you don’t have to do all the cooking, and ask everyone to dress in their NYE party best. Have separate kid and adult drink stations, play some games, and ring in the new year with a fun dance party!

8 New Years Eve Party Ideas for Families

1. Pizza Making Station
A pizza making station is a great way to get the kids involved in this fun night! Have small personal pizzas for everyone (you can make or buy the dough) and allow the little ones to add their own toppings. Have different sauces, cheeses, and plenty of toppings to choose from so everyone can make an individual pizza they love.

2. Party Piñata
Piñatas are always a hit with kids, and are great if you have a bunch of little ones coming over for NYE. They bring the excitement and energy up, and your kids can help you pick out a piñata design they love! Fill the piñata with candies, along with fun extras like stickers, toys, temporary tattoos, hair clips, and healthier snack options like Goldfish, fruit snacks, and granola bars. If you’re in a pinch, this party stuffer pack is perfect!

3. DIY Hot Chocolate Bar
Everyone loves hot chocolate, and it’s sure to hit the spot on a cold New Years Eve night. Create a DIY hot chocolate bar by making a large batch of hot cocoa, and assemble a station with mugs, spoons, and assorted toppings. Think: marshmallows, whipped cream, nuts, candy, sprinkles, and berries. The kids can create their own hot cocoa, and the adults can get in on the fun by adding some Baileys or peppermint schnapps to theirs.

4. Pyjama Party
Instead of dressing up, consider having a pyjama party with your family! Put on your coziest matching PJs, make a fort with pillows and blankets, and watch your favourite movies until the ball drops. You can order in or make dinner together, and don’t forget about the popcorn and candy for your movie watching marathon!

5. Resolution Balloons
Have everyone write down their New Years resolutions on small pieces of paper and place them into deflated balloons before your blow them up. You can also put confetti in the balloons to make them more festive. Once everything is inside, blow up the balloons with a balloon pump, and tape them up on the wall. Celebrate by popping one every hour until midnight and read your resolutions out loud.

6. Family-Friendly Party Games
Whether you’re having family and friends over, or are celebrating with your own little family, party games always add to the night. Think: charades, JengaPictionary, and Twister. If your kids are a little older, a game of trivia could be lots of fun too! Make sure to include trivia categories everyone in your family will enjoy.

7. Cookie Decorating Contest
Whether your kids love gingerbread or sugar cookies, whip up a batch of to decorate on New Years Eve. Have your little ones help you bake the cookies the day before, and you can all use your favourite cookie cutters to create your cookie designs. For the NYE contest, use buttercream or icing, as well as sprinkles and candies to decorate your cookies! Everyone can vote on their favourite cookie (other than their own) and the winner gets a special prize.

8. Create a Year-in-Review Slide Show
New Years Eve is the perfect time to look back on your favourite memories from the year. We don’t always have time to do this, so making a point of it on NYE will create a special tradition. Gather photos of special moments from throughout the year, from gymnastics competitions to middle school graduation to Halloween costumes. It will be so much fun to look back on these memories and talk about your wishes for the new year.

Ready to plan a fun New Years Eve party for your family? Steal these ideas to make it memorable!

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