12 New Year’s Eve Celebration Ideas At Home With Kids
Looking for the best New Year’s Eve celebration ideas at home with kids?
Since our son was born, we decided to make New Year’s Eve a family night, filled with fun activities that everyone can enjoy.
For the past 12 years, we’ve had a blast ringing in the New Year together, either at home or with friends.
If you’re planning to keep things cozy and stay in this year, I’ll share some of our favorite traditions and New Year’s Eve printable activities that are sure to make the night memorable.
From countdown games to family-friendly crafts, you’ll find plenty of ways to create an unforgettable evening with your kids.
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New Year’s Eve countdown balloons
One of our favorite New Year’s Eve celebration ideas at home with kids is our balloon-popping countdown!
We started this tradition when my son was about four, and each year it’s become more fun.
The first few years, we simply popped balloons at regular intervals, counting down to his bedtime rather than midnight. He loved the excitement of each pop!
As he’s gotten older, we’ve added little surprises or activities inside each balloon to make the countdown even more special.
Here’s a sample of the activities we’ve enjoyed through the years:
- 5 pm – Play party games (see our favorites below)
- 6 pm – Set up photo props and capture some silly pictures
- 7 pm – Do a New Year’s-themed drawing
- 8 pm – Bake and decorate New Year’s Eve cookies
- 9 pm – Watch a favorite holiday movie
- 10 pm – Snack on popcorn together
- 11 pm – Have a karaoke session
With each balloon pop, the excitement builds until it’s time to say, ‘Happy New Year!’
New Year’s Eve countdown bags
Last year, when my son turned 11, we decided to switch things up with New Year’s Eve countdown bags.
Since we were celebrating at a friend’s house, the bags were easier to transport than balloons, and they turned out to be a big hit!
Inside each bag, we included a mix of treats and small surprises to keep the excitement going as we counted down to midnight. Here’s a look at what we added:
- Candy and popcorn for easy snacking
- Amazon gift vouchers for a fun little splurge
- Lottery scratch cards for a bit of excitement
- A tie dye kit for decorating plain t-shirts (I added a note in the bag suggesting to look ‘under the table’ for the kit since it didn’t fit in the bag)
- Kids against maturity expansion pack for more family laughs
- Escape room puzzles (more details on our escape room setup are further down in the post)
These countdown bags added a fun, creative twist to our New Year’s Eve celebration, and my son couldn’t wait to open each one as the night went on.
New Year’s Eve with kid’s photo props
Setting up a photo booth with fun props is a great way for the whole family to capture memories and adds a bit of festive flair to your New Year’s Eve celebration at home.
Kids love dressing up with goofy glasses, sparkly hats, and fun signs, and it creates hilarious moments you can look back on.
This year, we’re adding even more to our collection, from themed glasses to playful headbands and mustaches. Last year, we added some festive tiaras that everyone enjoyed, so we’re definitely bringing those back.
A photo booth not only keeps the kids entertained but also gives you keepsakes to remember the night. Plus, you’ll end up with a collection of photos that everyone will have fun looking back on, making this a New Year’s Eve tradition worth keeping!
Kid’s New Year’s Eve games
Playing games together as a family is one of the best ways to keep everyone entertained on New Year’s Eve.
Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly games that bring lots of laughs and friendly competition—perfect for ringing in the new year together.
- New Year’s Eve bingo printable – A festive twist on bingo, this printable game is fun for all ages and easy to set up. Print out the bingo cards, grab some markers or candy pieces, and see who can get bingo first!
- Kids against maturity – This family-friendly card game offers plenty of humor that both kids and adults can enjoy together. It’s packed with silly questions and answers that make for a lively night.
- Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition – While we love the original game for adults, this family edition is just as fun and appropriate for younger players. We’re trying it this year for the first time!
- New Years Games Bundle Printable – This bundle includes a mix of New Year’s-themed games and activities. Whether it’s a word search, crossword, or spot-the-difference, these printables provide easy, no-prep entertainment.
- Spot the difference printables – Our free printable includes a New Year’s Eve-themed spot-the-difference activity, which is perfect for younger kids who enjoy puzzles and observation games.
- New Years color by number free printables – This relaxing activity lets kids wind down and get creative with New Year’s designs while improving their number skills.
- Beat That! – The Bonkers Battle of Wacky Challenges – This hilarious game has players taking on outrageous challenges, like balancing cups or stacking objects. It’s great for kids over age 9 and keeps everyone laughing.
- Blank Slate – This word game has players trying to guess each other’s answers to fill-in-the-blank phrases. It’s quick to learn and perfect for families with kids who love creative games.
- Family Feud For Kids – Based on the popular TV game show, this version has kid-friendly questions, making it an entertaining choice for family gatherings. Kids love guessing answers, and it’s a great way to end the night with lots of laughter.
These games make the night feel special and keep the energy up until the countdown. Try rotating games every hour or so to keep things fresh, or let each family member pick a game to play!
New Year’s Eve reflection questions
New Year’s Eve is the perfect time to reflect on the past year and share hopes for the year ahead.
Print out our free New Year’s Eve reflection questions and take turns answering the 24 prompts as a family.
This activity can be a meaningful way to connect, share memories, and set intentions for the coming year.
Have an escape room party
This year, we’re hosting an at-home escape room party for our son and his friends, and it’s bound to be a hit! We’re creating our own escape room puzzles with fun themes and clues to keep everyone engaged and working together.
You can set up different ‘rooms’ or areas with puzzles, clues, and small prizes to make the experience even more immersive.
If you’re short on time, there are plenty of ready-to-play escape room kits available that include everything you need to set up quickly. These kits save time on prep and still deliver an exciting experience that kids will remember.
Escape rooms are a fantastic way to keep everyone entertained, encourage teamwork, and add a unique twist to your New Year’s Eve celebration.
Create and bury a family time capsule
Start a tradition that will spark joy for years to come by creating a family time capsule filled with special memories.
Gather items that represent this year—photos, small mementos, or notes from each family member about their favorite memories and hopes for the future.
To make it even more meaningful, print out our free questions for a time capsule for everyone to answer.
Once you’ve filled the capsule, choose a spot to bury it or tuck it away somewhere safe to open on a future New Year’s Eve.
Have a scavenger hunt
Add a dash of adventure to your celebration with a New Year’s Eve scavenger hunt!
Download our free printable New Year’s Eve scavenger hunt and hide the items around the house for an exciting game that both younger and older kids will enjoy.
If you prefer, you can even put the hunt on TV or set up clues in a favorite room.
This activity is an easy and fun way to keep everyone engaged as you count down to midnight.
Play scattergories
If you’re celebrating New Year’s Eve with older kids or teens, our free New Year’s scattergories is a fantastic choice!
Download the game with four different boards, and get everyone’s creativity flowing as they think up unique answers for each category.
It’s a fun, interactive way to keep everyone entertained and in the holiday spirit.
Play bingo
New Year’s Eve bingo is a game that everyone, from young kids to grandparents, can enjoy together.
Our free printable bingo game includes five unique boards, so up to five players can join in.
Grab some dot markers or small candies to use as markers, and enjoy a lively game that brings everyone together.
Dress up for New Year’s Eve
Just because you’re celebrating at home doesn’t mean you can’t dress up! Whether you go for fancy party attire or opt for playful costumes, dressing up makes the night feel special.
Choose a theme or go for sparkles and festive colors—it’s a fun way to elevate the evening and create lasting memories.
Decorate your house for a party
Set the scene for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve by decorating your home. Black and gold decorations add a classic, festive feel, and adding matching balloons or streamers makes it even more festive.
This year, I’ll be using the balloon stands I ordered for St. Patrick’s Day—they worked perfectly, and I’m excited to bring them out again for New Year’s Eve.
A little effort in decor can make the night feel like a true celebration, even if you’re ringing in the new year from the comfort of home!
Last Updated on 11 November 2024 by Clare Brown