30 Things To Do With The Kids On New Year’s Eve

2024 balloons new years eve

So, Christmas has come and gone and the kids are either feeling a little deflated or on a New Year’s Eve high. Either way, you might be wondering how to make New Year’s Eve extra special. Here are some unique and fun activity ideas you can do for a New Year’s Eve with kids…

Whether you love getting creative or love the simpler things – we have it all.

2024 white and gold balloons

1. Noon Year's Eve Family Party & DIY Dance Hall

Family disco

Are the kids a bit too young to stay up all night? A great idea for New Year’s Eve with kids is bringing the party forward to the afternoon with a spectacular DIY dance hall! Dim the lights and transform your hallways, landings, and sheds into a dance party! Daytime activities can still be as fun!

All you need to pretend to countdown to midnight are some streamers, balloons, glow sticks, confetti poppers and a speaker! A great hack to jazz up your balloons is to put glow sticks inside them once they are blown up. Creating a cool glowy effect perfect for parties! Once you’ve done this, you can tie them together with ribbon or thread and use them as bunting along your hallways Or leave them scattered around on the floor!

Amazon and eBay are great for quick delivery on items like bunting and strobe lights, at very cheap prices too! All that’s left after decorations are some music, snacks and good vibes.

Don’t forget to sing Auld Lang Syne when the clock chimes at midnight!

2. Try out NYE Traditions from Around the World

Child with globe

All around the world, New Year’s Eve celebrations and rituals encourage luck, health and happiness for the coming year. Why not celebrate all the different fun cultural practices, activities and games from around the world?

From eating black-eyed peas like Southern Americans to chowing down 12 grapes on a skewer for each exact stroke of midnight like the Spanish. Or what about giving out coal and gold like the Scotts? In Germany, marzipan pigs are a symbol of good luck on New Year’s, and are often gifted to loved ones! I know what you are thinking, Percy Pigs anyone?

If you live near the coast then get jumping over those waves! In Brazil, people will dress in white for good luck and peace in the new year. They head to the beach, watch fireworks at midnight, and then jump over 7 waves.

It’s a great way to have fun over the New Year, whilst also trying something new and learning about the world around you!

3. New Year's Eve with Kids Scavenger Hunt

Child outdoors in winter

Play against your siblings, cousins and friends in the ultimate NYE scavenger hunt!

This one is perfect for daytime and nighttime fun, whether that be a family night in or a family party. What’s also great about this activity is how easy it is to make. With so many printable scavenger hunts online, just print, cut out and hide each part of the scavenger hunt around your house & garden.

You can also laminate them as well (if you have those facilities) so that you can reuse them! If a printer is not available to you, you can always make them together on bits of card or out-of-household items!

Pick a glitzy prize for the winner and some little consolation prizes, and that’s it!

4. New Year’s Eve with Kids Party Wishing Tree

Christmas wishing tree

Get crafty with a New Year’s Eve wishing tree! Use real twigs and smaller branches and place them in a vase to form a little tree. Print, paint or draw the outline of stars in different colours on white paper. Once it has dried, write your wish for the year in the centre.

Hole punch the top of the star; this can be done with a pencil and scissors (if you fold the section you want to hole punch and make a small snip) if you do not have a hole punch. Thread gold, silver, (or both) through the hole and attach it to the tree.

Before you know it, you’ll have a budding and blossoming tree of wishes!

5. New Year's Eve Time Square Playdough

Glitter play dough

This is a fun idea for the little ones! There is no child in the world who dislikes playdough! There are so many things to do with it and so many ways to make it more fun. So, for NYE why not add some glitter to your easy-to-make mix?

We’ll call this one the New Year’s Eve Time Square Playdough! A brilliant craft idea to celebrate the new year.

  • 2 cups plain flour (all-purpose)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (baby oil and coconut oil work too)
  • 1/2 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons cream of tartar
  • 1 to 1.5 cups boiling water (adding in increments until it feels just right) gel food colouring (optional)
  • A few drops of glycerine for stretch and shine!
  • Pack of glitter – you can get multiple packs for a cheap price at the £1 shop, supermarkets and Wilkinsons!

It’s a super easy recipe that doesn’t involve the oven, just lots of elbow grease when mixing!

6. Kiddie-cocktails for your New Year's Eve Party

Little Boy with mocktail

Can I get milk on the rocks with a twist? At Christmas parties, there are always dazzling cocktails from every colour under the sun. Served in the most glamorous of glasses with exceptional trimmings.

Get the kids excited and involved in a safe way by making their own colourful mocktails! Here are a few ideas…

  • Pina Colada substitute – Delicious frothy milkshake with a choc-chip cookie on the edge of a cocktail-flute glass.
  • New Year Sunrise Orange juice, sugar-free lemonade, grenadine, orange slices or other fruit to serve.
  • Candied Champagne – Lemonade, a dash of lime cordial or blackcurrant cordial (if you want pink champagne). Apple juice, colourful sweets like gummy bears, Sour Patch Kids, tangfastics, rainbow belts, strawberry bootlaces etc… Or you could put strawberries in if you don’t want too many sugary sweets for your kids.
  • Candy floss and raspberry ginger ale – Only two ingredients for this drink, candy floss and raspberry ginger ale! You can add extra trimmings like glace cherries, strawberries, and raspberries on a cocktail stick. Milk bottle glasses look good with this drink, or you could use plastic ones to be on the safe side!
  • Orange Creamsicle – 1 tablespoon orange sparkling sugar, ½ cup crushed ice, ½ cup orange soda, ½ cup cream soda, 1 tablespoon grenadine, 1 maraschino cherry with stem sliced oranges to garnish.

7. Balloon Countdown

Snowman balloons

This one is for the very excitable children who love to countdown the hours until midnight. All you need are some balloons, pins, a large piece of cardboard or paper (A2/A1) and a marker pen!

Draw 2 clock hands at the centre of your card. Lightly mark out where you plan to put 12 blown-up balloons, to replicate a clock face. Blow up your balloons and write the numbers from 1 – 12 on each balloon. Pin each balloon to the cardboard/paper in the correct order to create the clock face. Next, pin up your big countdown clock to the wall.

Now, your countdown balloon clock is done, all that’s left is the popping! Every hour of the countdown, your child can safely use a pin, pencil or scissors to pop each balloon!

If you dabble in a bit of balloon modelling, make it even more creative and make balloon animals your kids can pop every hour until the clock strikes midnight! It’s a brilliant and fun idea for kids to enjoy the last few hours until the ball drops.

8. Play the ‘Best Moment of the Year’ game (pssst it's FREE!)

family pj set

Reminisce about the most heart-warming, funniest and best moments of the year in The Best Moment of The Year game. It’s a great opportunity for some positive reflection over a difficult year.

This ‘printable’ game is particularly good for older children and teenagers but would be great for little ones too, as it encourages them to articulate their thoughts. Have a few giggles with the kids and get closer this NYE!

9. With A Long Walk

Family on winter walk

Get some fresh air! Start your New Year’s resolutions early and get that exercise in pronto! There is nothing better than a flow of feel-good endorphins in both your body and your kids. Go exploring on farms, in woods or play in parks. Venture out from the city, for a simple and scenic day out!

Here is a list of some great places to visit:

10. Go Stargazing

Stars in the Night Sky

The week of Christmas and New Year can be hectic. So, why not throw on your layers, hats and gloves and celebrate the New Year by taking in a magical sky view?

This doesn’t have to be in your garden, you can find your local park, woods, beach or wherever your favourite view is. Share your wishes and hopes for the New Year, for some quality time with your family.

11. Family Day Out

winter wonderland in hyde park

Have you eaten all the turkey leftovers and played enough party games with the kids? If you are all feeling the need to get out of the house then, why not head outside for some special family fun?

Many National Trust places, London Zoo and London Dungeon all have family-friendly activities and are open on New Year’s Eve.

Many city centres will have festive events such as a Hyde Park Winter Wonderland still open. So, why not go ice skating and enjoy the fairground rides? You could also book to go and see a fun Christmas pantomime show. There are many places across the UK with popular productions such as Jack and the Beanstalk and Sleeping Beauty.

12. Get Dressed Up!

kids dressed up for a party

Even though you might be at home with the kids, it doesn’t mean you can’t get dressed in your best gear! Whether it’s sparkly gowns, sequins, glitter, smartly dressed tux or your fanciest glasses.

Get stylish this New Year’s Eve and play fancy dress with the kids! Don’t forget the party hats and if you have the entire family around, it’ll make for a fantastic family affair!

13. Create a Time Capsule

a young girl making a time capsule

Want to remember 2023 in a special way? Each member of the family should write their best memories on a piece of paper and pop it into the capsule, ready to open at the end of 2024. Whether you write down your favourite family day out, or the best birthday celebration or go one step bigger and predict what you’ll think will happen in 2024!

Then on NYE the following year, open it up and reminisce 2023 and see whether you correctly predicted anything in 2024!

It’s the perfect time to start treasuring those special memories with the family.

14. Enjoy A Festive Feast

a festive feast of turkey and meat

To make this NYE celebration enjoyable for everyone, cook or bring everyone’s favourite foods for a get-together!

If your child loves popcorn, pop some fresh on the stove. If your other child loves mac and cheese, let’s make that too! Have something that everyone loves, whether it’s homemade or shop-bought.

Then everyone can dig in together while watching a family film or playing some family games! A relaxing and enjoyable evening with the family is the best way to finish the year.

15. Write A List of Resolutions

a new year's eve revolution list

A brilliant way to look forward to the new year and a festive family tradition is making a list of resolutions you intend on achieving next year.

Whether it’s starting to learn a new language, travelling to somewhere new with the family, finishing a new book series or starting a new hobby – like football or crafting!

16. Build A Blanket Fort

a blanket fort with fairy lights and pillows

Fancy a cosy and calming New Year’s Eve? A fun family-friendly thing to do with the kids is to build a blanket fort. And you’ll already have everything in the house to make it work! With a hoard of billows, and comfy blankets (maybe Squishmellows if you have them), you can make a soft and cosy blanket fort.

Add some fairy lights to the fort, grab your kid’s favourite snacks, like popcorn, chocolate bars, and Haribos and whack on a family favourite film.

17. Have a Family Sleepover

a family sleepover in a blanket fort

If you choose to build a blanket fort, the ultimate activity is then a family sleepover! Get in your cosiest jammies, and snuggle up on the sofa as you watch the fireworks around the world light up the skies.

You could also watch some of your favourite films or play on the games console! I’m a fan favourite of Mario Party of Mario Kart on the Nintendo Switch!

18. Play Party Games!

kids playing pull the rope in party hats

Make this day extra exciting with a whole host of games to play! Whether it’s charades, a memory guessing game with a pack of upturned cards, glow-in-the-dark ring toss or even with balloons!

Fancy a game of charades? Write down ideas on pieces of paper, place them in a bowl and each of you takes turns to pick one out and act it out! Maybe Pictionary? If you dabble in doodles, this game is for you, if not…you better just be good at guessing!

19. Decorate Party Hats

crafts and arts

Arts and crafts are super fun! They keep your kids busy and encourages them to channel their inner artist.

If you’re planning to have people around to celebrate the new year, have your kids hand-decorate all the party hats! They could also make bunting or placemats.

Use glitter, sequins, pom poms, coloured paper cut into shapes, stickers or gel pens! Let your kids use their imagination and go wild with creativity!

20. Make a New Year Bake

2024 cookies in a bowl

Baking is warming, a great family activity to get involved in and you’re left with something super tasty at the end of it…

Whether you bake cookies (maybe 12 to countdown each hour), a cake with the numbers of the clock drawn on in icing, or whatever you like!

21. Create A Family Bucket List

a bucket list

As a family pick 2 things each on what you wish/plan to do in the new year.

They could be absolutely anything! Whether it’s travelling to a new destination, ticking something off you’ve wanted to do for ages like indoor skydiving or enjoying a new thrilling theme park here or abroad!

Maybe you want to check out all the new attractions coming to the UK? It could be your next mission to learn how to cook something new every month or learn a new hobby! It can literally be anything you want.

22. Have A Games Night

scrabble letters. spelling out games night

Have you got a hoard of board games, a game console or a great imagination?

Get them all out and enjoy a whole evening full of laughter and friendly competition with games! Whether it’s a fast-talking game of Articulate, racing like Mario Kart or a funny game of Jack Box on the TV!

23. Have A Fairycake Fondue

fairy cake fondue with sprinkles, chocolate chips and frosting

A sweet treat, no kid can resist! End the year on a high…a sugar high. 

If you haven’t got a fondue kit, no worry – use a cupcake tray! All you need is a variety of toppings, like sprinkles, chocolate chips, mini smarties, chopped-up pieces of chocolate, cornflakes or whichever topping you’d like. Then have cupcake frosting in a bowl ready for dipping (or melted chocolate if you prefer).

Then stick the fairy cakes on forks and dip them into the frosting or chocolate and then the toppings! Enjoy the sweet goodness!

Here’s how to do it!

24. Make A 2023 Scrapbook

someone making a scrap book with different crafts

This is something you need to plan a little ahead of time! If you took a lot of photos this year, whether it was with the kids on family adventures, you and your partner having a laugh, playing with the family pet or anything you cherish as a memory.

Print them out using Snapfish or Photobox, purchase a scrapbook from just about anywhere, and stick them in time order.

Use all sorts of pens and colours to annotate, add funny jokes or just doodle around the pictures – get the kids involved and continue this tradition every year. It’s a thoughtful and sentimental activity that you can treasure for a very long time. 

25. Take Silly Pictures In A Photo Booth

photobooth props like sunglasses, lips and moustaches

We bet you’ll have a big box leftover from Christmas right? Like a big box, a present came in!

You can turn that into a homemade photo booth! Just leave a side open, so you can crawl in and out of there with the kids. And buy some props from Amazon, or make your own! Whether you get party props from the internet, use stuff around the house, like funny hats, and big sunglasses on the kids or print off giant lips, moustaches and funny jokes off the computer and stick them onto kebab sticks!

All you need now is to bring the laughter, and snap selfies on your phone!

26. Have A Bathtime Rave

glow sticks all different colours

If your kids are too young to stay up till midnight or don’t know the concept of time, then put them to bed early after a bath rave! So, they still get that fun with the family and you can enjoy a couple of hours to yourselves.

Fill the bath up with comfortable temperature water, and add a colourful bath bomb, confetti, bath toys and of course glow-in-the-dark sticks! Crack them all throw them in the bath and watch them glow! Add some bubbles, and balloons and put some music on!

If you want get some NYE hats or funny glasses and put them on and enjoy a bath boogie with your kids.

27. NYE Colouring!

kids colouring in with crayons

Print out some New Year’s Eve colouring sheets and have your kids colour them in – it’ll keep them busy for an hour or so!

Just enough time for you to prep some stuff if you’re having a party or staying in.

28. Put Together A Disney Treat Board

Disney Board and turtle sandwiches

If you’d like to make NYE cute, creative and tasty, this is one to add to your list. It’s essentially a charcuterie board for kids! All you need is your kid’s favourite snacks and Disneyfy them! Check out this fabulous example.

Using regular and mini-sized Oreos you can make Mickey Mouse! Or you could make Rice Krispie treats and mould them into the Mickey Mouse shape and dip them into chocolate. To make a reindeer for Sven, add some pretzels to the board and add chocolate chips as eyes. Using grapes, add some white and black icing (to make eyes) and you have the 3 eyed aliens from Toy Story!

For the savoury treats, add mini pieces of pepperoni to mini pizzas to make the shape of Micky Mouse. And you can do the same for crackers too. Have a regular-sized cracker and 2 mini crackers on either side, then add some heart-shaped sprinkles (turned to their side) to make Minnie Mouse bows! Make turkey sandwiches with pickles or cucumber to make Crush and Squirtle from Finding Nemo! Using brown bread, add some turkey or ham and place the pickle/cucumber pieces just outside of the bread rolls to make the heads and flippers!

Then to finish off the board, add colourful snacks to fill it up – whether it’s mini eggs, jelly beans, pink wafers, strawberries, popcorn or whatever else!

29. Hunt for Festive Lights

a house with christmas lighs

To kick off your magical evening, wrap up warm and head out around your neighbourhood to catch all the festive lights that are still up! It’s a great way to get out before a night of excitement and joy, it also may be the last day of the festive light season!

A simple and easy activity to finish the year off. Catch them before they’re all packed away!

30. Make A Balloon Drop

coloured balloons falling down

Blow up a bunch of balloons and place them high above in a thin blanket or clingfilm/foil that you can stick to the ceiling. When the clock strikes 12, remove the blanket let the balloons float down onto your children and watch their happy faces light up!

Don’t forget to play some music and have a family disco too!

We hope we’ve given you some inspiration for a fun New Year’s Eve with the kids. It doesn’t have to be boring or quiet, it can be excitingly fun and it’s always the best to make life-long happy memories with the kids. One’s they’ll cherish forever and appreciate when they’re older.

If you are looking for more New Year’s inspiration or last-minute Christmas ideas, check out our other blogs for the latest events like NYE family parties! From what to do between Christmas and NYE, where to enjoy some dazzling NYE fireworks, NYE in London, or what crafts your kids can get stuck into!

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