In this article:
Whether you’re eager to kick 2020 to the curb or are sad another year is ending, New Year’s Eve will be very different this year. Some of us may miss dressing up and throwing (or attending) a traditional New Year’s Eve party surrounded by friends, families, and drinks. Others among us would still rather stay home than attend a party.
If you’re looking for fun things to do for New Year’s Eve at home with your kids this year — whether by choice, budget, or because of COVID-19 — you may be wishing to make it extra special. If so, check out these ideas for spending New Year’s Eve during the pandemic.
Please remember that because of the recent surge in COVID-19 numbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you only gather with people within your household — and that includes during the holidays.
Kids' New Year’s Eve activities
While we normally think of nighttime festivities for New Year’s Eve, when you have small children, it’s hard to schedule activities after dark. Here are some ways to mark the day during daylight hours:
Go outside
Take the kids outside for a walk in your neighborhood or run around at the park. Help your kids burn off some energy before the New Year and enjoy the fresh air.
Remember to keep your family safe when you leave the house. Dr. Steph Lee, spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), told Mom.com that everyone should “keep hand sanitizer and wipes handy and find good-fitting masks that fit snugly over the nose and the mouth.”
Kids' New Year’s Eve crafts
There are so many fun ideas online you can print out or do with your little ones during the day to make New Year’s Eve seem a little more special. Some of these crafts are ones even big kids might enjoy making and using, too! We especially like this Balloon Clock, which would be a fun way to count down to the New Year.
Play games
Dig up all the games you own in your house and go on a board game binge with your kids. They might not have touched Candyland since they were babies, but you can add twists or silly new rules to make the games interesting for teenagers. You can write all the games you own onto pieces of paper and put them in a fishbowl. On the top of every hour, people take turns to draw the next game everyone will play together.
Tips and suggestion for celebrating New Year’s Eve at home
If you’re throwing a party at home, here are some tips for celebrating New Year’s Eve at home in the time of COVID-19:
- Decorate using store-bought or, better yet, homemade decorations. Use materials you have around the house and turn it into an activity for the kids.
- Pass out party favors or light some sparklers (outside, please!) to make it seem like an official party.
- Set out party food. The Spruce Eats has ideas for NYE party food that adults as well as kids will love, like Chocolate Covered Strawberries or a Creamy Spinach Dip.
- Use technology to connect with family and friends safely — a Zoom call with grandparents to welcome in the New Year will spread cheer all around.
Kids' New Year’s Eve at-home party ideas
Thanks to the movies, we’ve grown to associate New Year’s Eve with parties and large social gatherings. This year, thanks to the coronavirus, we won’t be throwing those kinds of parties, but we can still throw a party at home for our kids to enjoy.
Dance, dance, dance!
Cue up your favorite party music and start an impromptu dance party in your family room. Get everyone into the mood — even if you have to bribe your older teens with letting them post your embarrassing moves on their TikTok account.
Movie night
There’s nothing wrong with a tried-and-true family movie night. Entrepreneur Jennifer Labit celebrates with her four kids the same way every year. “We stayed home to avoid being on the roads. Just us at home with snacks, movies, and pizza,” Labit told Mom.com. “Our kids will feel like nothing has changed. I’m good with that plan.”
Fancy dress-up dinner
Who says fancy dinners are just for grown-ups? Have your kids dress up in their best clothes — even if it’s a costume — and go all out. “It's tradition in our house to make steak, lobster, and asparagus for dinner,” shared Rachel Barry. “We also get sparkling apple cider for the kids along with noise makers and funny New Year’s glasses or hats… and toast to a new year.”
Early countdown
Little kids (and let’s face it, parents of little kids) usually can’t make it to midnight. “When my kids were little, we celebrated at 9 p.m. like it was midnight,” said Karen Brison Goodwin. “It was a blast!”
