New Years Eve With Kids: Fun Things To Do On New Years

Celebrating New Year’s Eve with kids can feel challenging—but it can also become one of your most memorable family traditions. Whether you’re staying home, hosting a new year’s eve party, or planning relaxed eve celebrations with little ones, there are countless fun and easy ways to celebrate without stress.

Families across the country are already planning how they’ll ring in the new year, say happy new year, and welcome 2025 together. The key is choosing kid friendly, safe, and exciting activities that make everyone feel included—from toddlers to your energetic 8 year old.

In this guide, you’ll find:

• Proven new year’s eve activities
• Creative countdown ideas
• Cozy family traditions
• Screen-free fun party games
• And meaningful ways to celebrate new year’s eve with kids

New Years Eve With Kids: Making the Night Special

Spending New Year’s Eve with kids is all about creating connection, not perfection. Children don’t need elaborate events—they want attention, excitement, and the feeling that they’re part of something special.

When you spend New Year’s Eve as a family, you’re setting the tone for the start of a new year built on togetherness. Whether you’re hosting a full new year’s eve celebration or enjoying a low-key night in the family room, there are endless fun ways to celebrate.

Why Families Love New Year’s Eve at Home

More parents are choosing new year’s eve at home over crowded events—and for good reason.

• No late-night travel with exhausted kiddos
• Full control over food, noise, and routines
• Safer alternative to public firework displays
• More meaningful family traditions

And best of all, it lets you truly celebrate the new year with your family.

Countdown Ideas for a Kid Friendly New Year’s Eve

The countdown is the heart of new year’s eve—but kids don’t always make it to midnight. Luckily, there are plenty of countdown ideas that help everyone enjoy the excitement without overtired meltdowns.

Watch the Ball Drop (The Early Version)

Watching the ball drop is one of the most popular new year’s eve traditions. Families don’t need to wait until midnight—many networks replay it earlier for kids.

You can:

• Watch the ball drop on TV as a replay
• Stream the official Times Square broadcast
• Celebrate with sparkling cider instead of champagne

Official Times Square information can be found here:
https://www.timessquarenyc.org

This keeps your new year’s eve ball experience authentic while still being age-appropriate.

Host a Noon or 8 PM Countdown Instead

This is one of the most friendly new family ideas for kids of all ages. Just move the celebration earlier.

• Noon countdown for toddlers and littles
• 8 PM countdown for grade-school kids
• Midnight for teens who can let the kids stay awake safely

No matter the time, it still feels like a true way to ring in the new year.

Firework Fun Without the Danger

Many kids associate New Year’s Eve celebrations with firework shows. While large fireworks are unsafe for home use, there are still safe ways to enjoy that excitement.

Safe Firework Alternatives

Instead of risking injuries, try:

• LED light shows
• Glow-stick countdowns
• Confetti poppers
• Virtual firework displays on TV or YouTube

The CDC strongly advises against home fireworks for children’s safety:
https://www.cdc.gov/fireworks/index.html

These safer options still give you a new year with a bang—minus the emergency room visits.

Eve Party Games for Kids That Never Fail

No new year’s eve party with kids is complete without party games. These are ideal for burning energy before the countdown and work well for small families or larger gatherings.

Minute to Win It Party Games

Minute to win it games are perfect for fast-paced fun with littles and big kids.

Popular ideas include:

• Marshmallow stacking challenge
• Cookie relay race
• Balloon tap game
• Spoon-and-cracker race

These eve party games for kids are competitive without being overwhelming—and kids will love every second.

Classic Board Games for a Cozy Eve

Sometimes the simplest plans win. Few things beat a stack of board games, cozy pajamas, and snacks.

You can:

• Play board games as a family tournament
• Break out card games for older kids
• Set up a puzzle table for littles

If you want to slow down the night, this is one of the most fun and easy ways to celebrate a new year with kids.

Fun Activities That Keep Little Ones Engaged

Keeping little ones entertained through the evening requires variety. A mix of movement, creativity, and food works best for new year’s eve activities.

Here are fun activities that work for all energy levels:

• Indoor obstacle course
• DIY craft countdown clocks
• Dance party in the living room
• Scavenger hunt with party clues
• “Guess the New Year resolution” game

These are fun new year’s eve ideas that stretch attention spans and reduce screen fatigue.

Pizza Party Night: A Family Favorite

A pizza party is one of the most reliable dinner at home wins for new year’s eve with kids.

Instead of ordering out, try a make homemade pizza station:

• Individual dough rounds
• Sauce and cheese bar
• Kid-approved toppings
• Mini dessert pizzas

This keeps dinner interactive and turns food into one of the night’s fun things to do on New Year’s Eve.

The 12 Grapes Tradition for Families

The 12 grapes tradition is a fun way to incorporate cultural meaning into your new year’s eve celebration. Originating in Spain, it involves eating one grape at each stroke of midnight for good luck in the coming year.

For families:

• Use peeled grapes for young kiddos
• Count together as part of your countdown ideas
• Pair with sparkling cider for a toast

It’s a simple way to teach children about global ways to celebrate the start of a new year.

Sparkling Cider Toast for Kids

Letting kids make a toast helps them feel included in the celebration—without alcohol.

Set up:

• Plastic “champagne glasses”
• Sparkling cider
• Custom drink labels
• Fruit garnishes

This turns your living room into a fun party and reinforces that celebrating new year’s eve is about shared moments, not just staying up late.

Trusted family drink safety guidance can be found here:
https://www.healthychildren.org

Photo Booth Fun & DIY Photo Booth Setup

A photo booth is one of the most Instagram-worthy new year’s eve party ideas—and a guaranteed hit for kiddos.

DIY Photo Booth Essentials

A simple diy photo booth can include:

• Streamer backdrop
• Party props
• Year number signs
• Party hats and noisemakers
• Glow glasses and sparkly accessories

This gives families a creative way to remember their new year’s eve celebration long after the confetti settles.

Eve Celebrations That Kids Look Forward To All Year

The best eve celebrations don’t have to be expensive, crowded, or overwhelming. When you focus on meaningful eve activities for kids, you give your family something they’ll talk about long after new year’s day arrives.

The goal is simple:
Make New Year’s Eve feel magical without making it stressful.

Here are a few family-tested ways to do that:

• Let kids help decorate the family room
• Allow them to plan part of the evening’s party ideas
• Give each child a “job” like snack helper, DJ for the dance party, or photographer for the photo booth

This sense of ownership is one of the easiest ways to make kids feel excited and included.

Fun Things: Creative Things to Do on New Year’s Eve With Kids

If you’re searching for fun things and creative things to do on New Year’s Eve, rotating activities works better than one long event. Short bursts of excitement keep kids engaged and prevent boredom.

Here’s a flexible activity flow many families love:

• Pizza party dinner
• Play some board games
• DIY photo booth session
• Dance party
• Family movie
• Countdown celebration

This structure creates a fun new rhythm to the night that works for toddlers, big kids, and even teens.

Make New Memories With a Family Karaoke Party

A living room karaoke setup is one of the easiest ways to bring laughter into your new year’s eve party.

You don’t need fancy equipment:

• Use YouTube karaoke tracks
• Pair it with party hats and noisemakers
• Let every child choose their favorite new song

Why karaoke works so well for new year’s eve with kids:

• Builds confidence
• Encourages sibling bonding
• Burns off late-night energy
• Turns shy kids into superstars

This is a perfect party without screens that still feels exciting.

Party Hat Treats & Dessert Fun

Dessert doesn’t have to be boring. Turn treats into part of the celebration with party hat treats kids can help decorate.

Ideas include:

• Ice cream cones decorated as hats
• Cupcakes with cone toppers
• Cookies shaped like stars and clocks
• Edible glitter for a sparkly finish

This adds another layer of fun things kids get to enjoy before the countdown.

Go Ice Skating: A Dynamic New Year’s Eve Activity

If your local rink is open, go ice skating is one of the most memorable events on New Year’s Eve for families.

Why families love to go ice skating:

• Physical activity burns off excitement
• It feels festive and seasonal
• Works well for kids of all ages
• Makes the night feel extra special

You can often find rink schedules through your city parks department, such as:
https://www.usa.gov/state-parks

This is a perfect option for families who want to celebrate new year with a bang before heading home for cocoa and the countdown.

Watch a Movie: The Ultimate Family Movie Wind-Down

After high-energy games and skating, many families like to watch a movie as the night slows down. A family movie is one of the coziest ways to spend new year’s eve with kids.

Popular family-friendly choices include:

• Feel-good animated classics
• Movies about friendship and celebration
• Comedies kids and parents both enjoy

Set the scene with:

• Blanket forts in the family room
• Popcorn bar
• Pajama dress code

This helps the night feel calm while still being part of your new year’s eve celebration.

Printable New Year’s Activities for Kids

Adding printable New Year’s activities helps create screen-free fun throughout the evening.

Great printable ideas include:

• Countdown coloring sheets
• New Year resolution worksheets for kids
• “My favorite part of last year” journal pages
• Word searches and themed puzzles

You can find free education-grade printables from trusted sites like:
https://www.education.com
https://www.scholastic.com

These are perfect quiet activities that still support making new traditions during your new year’s eve with kids.

Pots and Pans Parade: Make Some Noise

If your kids are too young for real firework displays, a pots and pans parade is a safe, silly alternative.

Let kids:

• March through the house at the countdown
• Use wooden spoons and lids
• Wear hats and noisemakers

It’s loud, it’s messy, and it absolutely makes the moment feel like a true new year with a bang—without the risk.

New Year’s Day Traditions That Keep the Magic Going

The celebration doesn’t have to stop at midnight. Creating meaningful new year’s day traditions extends the joy and makes the holiday feel complete.

Here are simple new year’s day ideas families love:

• Pancake breakfast with last night’s sparkly decorations
• Family walk or hike
• Watching a favorite sports event on New Year’s Day
• Starting a gratitude journal together

This helps kids understand that new years day is just as important as the night before.

Ways to Make New Year’s Eve Special for Every Age

It’s important to tailor your eve activities for kids based on age. What excites toddlers isn’t always thrilling to tweens.

Littles (Ages 2–5)

• Bubble dance party
• Early countdown
• Watch a movie before bedtime
• Soft party without loud noises

Big Kids (Ages 6–10)

• Minute to win it games
• Play board games
• Karaoke
• DIY photo booth

Tweens & Teens

• Sleepover-style new year’s eve party
• Mocktail bar with sparkling cider
• Late-night family movie
• Let them help run the countdown

This is one of the smartest ways to make your celebration feel balanced and fair for everyone.

Let the New Year Start With Intention

As the clock strikes midnight, pause for a moment together. Ask each child:

• What was your favorite memory?
• What’s one thing you want to learn this year?
• What are you excited about for the future?

Helping kids reflect allows them to truly understand what it means to let the new year begin with hope and excitement.

Final Thoughts: Make It Special, Make It Yours

A successful new year’s eve with kids doesn’t depend on perfection. It depends on presence, laughter, and flexibility.

Whether you go big with:

• Go ice skating
• Full pizza party
• Karaoke showdown
• Or keep it simple with a cozy family movie

What matters most is that you make it special in a way that fits your family.

This is how you turn one night into a treasured tradition—and how you truly celebrate the new year with your family!