Happy "Noon" Year Eve!

Whether you couldn't find a sitter for New Year's Eve or you just don't feel like fighting holiday traffic, you can still have a fun, kid-friendly celebration. A “ Noon Year Eve” Party is the prefect solution for letting kids have time to celebrate without staying up past bedtime! The key is to keep the kids occupied as the clock counts down and celebrate a little earlier in the day at 12pm instead of 12am! Whatever you choose to do with your family on the eve of the New Year, you can make sure it's memorable with sure-fire party pleasers.

1. Have a fun countdown

There are so many fun ways to help kids mark time until the new year arrives. Pick the time you want to start (and end!) and count down the hours by opening a bag, package or even popping a balloon. Mark each bag with the time and include a fun activity for each hour. Here are some ideas of what to stuff in the bags:
Party hats and noisemakers
Party poppers
Candy
A deck of cards and game instructions
Pens and paper to write New Year's Resolutions
Craft projects
Glow sticks
Bubbles

2. Let Your Kids Pick Out Fun Outfits

Get your kids excited about their big day by allowing them to dress up however they want. Encourage sparkly, festive attire and explain to them the whole reason we celebrate the changing of our calendars. They will feel like rock stars with free creative reign over their looks and you won’t have to stress over someone throwing a fit.

3. Set up a Photo Booth

Put all that crafting to use by constructing a photo booth. Just hang a paper backdrop (festive New Year’s Eve wrapping paper will do the trick) and set up a camera on a tripod or have a designated phone photographer in place. Blast some music and have the kids dance around, posing with their new, festive props—they’ll have a blast and so will you. One day your kids will be off celebrating with their own friends. These photos will be a precious keepsake that’ll last a lifetime.


4.Craft a Blessing Jar or a Wishing Well

Grab a canning jar or something similar from the cupboard or get one from a dollar store. Cover it in construction paper and label it either Blessing Jar or Wishing Well.

Blessing Jar
If it's a Blessing Jar, you and your child write the blessings you notice in your life over the coming year on a piece of paper, fold it and drop in the jar. Next New Year's Eve, you dump it out, read it and get to feel that warm, fuzzy feeling. 

Wishing Well
The Wishing Well works essentially the same way. Except instead of putting blessings in your jar, you put your wishes. At the end of 2019, you get to see how many wishes came true, how many you get to carry into 2020 or how many you're willing to discard for new wishes.  


5. Play the photo timeline game 


Print out some photos – try for at least one from each month – from the last year. Create a challenge by hiding them around the house and asking children to find and arrange them in chronological order.  It's a win-win: Kids love to look at themselves and you get to marvel at how much they've grown over the past year. You both will enjoy the walk down memory lane and wonder at the adventures the new year will bring.   


Counting down to 12 p.m. instead of 12 a.m. allows your family to celebrate the new year together, and the little ones don’t get to miss out on all the fun! You don’t need to go above and beyond throwing a huge party! Little activities will ensure fun for all and a good way to ring in the new year, together!


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